94th All Japan Figure Skating Championships 2025 – Day 1 review: Yuma Kagiyama and Kaori Sakamoto lead after the short program
The 94th All Japan Figure Skating Championships, which also serve as the final selection event for the Milano–Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, have opened at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium (competition dates: 18–21 December). On Day 1 (19 December), the men’s and women’s single short programs (SP) were held, with Yuma Kagiyama leading the men and Kaori Sakamoto topping the women’s standings.
As befits Japan’s national championships, which gather many of the world’s top skaters, both events were packed with high-difficulty jumps and highly polished performances. The battle for the three Olympic spots for Milano is now truly underway.
Men’s SP: Yuma Kagiyama dominates with 104.27 points, chased by Kao Miura and Ritsu Nakata
In the men’s short program, Yuma Kagiyama (Oriental Bio/Chukyo University) scored 104.27 points to take the lead. He cleanly landed a quadruple toe loop–triple toe loop combination, a quadruple Salchow and a triple Axel – a three-quad-quality layout – earning high marks in both technical elements and program components.
Kao Miura (Oriental Bio/Meiji University) sits 2nd with 95.65 points, followed by Ritsu Nakata (TOKIO Inkarami) in 3rd with 89.91 points. Miura showcased his presence with an attacking layout including a quad Salchow–triple toe, triple Axel and quad toe, while junior skater Nakata also delivered quad toe–triple toe, quad Salchow and triple Axel to position himself firmly in podium contention.
Among the veterans, Kazuki Tomono is 4th, Shun Sato 5th and Sota Yamamoto 6th. Depending on the free skate, a come-from-behind victory is still very much within reach for them. The men’s free skate will take place on the evening of the 20th and will be a crucial event where Olympic berths will start to come into focus.
Men’s short program – top results
| Rank | Skater | Club/Team | Score (TSS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Yuma Kagiyama | Oriental Bio / Chukyo University | 104.27 |
| 2nd | Kao Miura | Oriental Bio / Meiji University | 95.65 |
| 3rd | Ritsu Nakata | TOKIO Inkarami | 89.91 |
| 4th | Kazuki Tomono | Daiichi Juken Group | 88.05 |
| 5th | Shun Sato | aim Services / Meiji University | 87.99 |
| 6th | Sota Yamamoto | MIXI | 82.21 |
Women’s SP: Kaori Sakamoto leads with 79.43 points, chased closely by Mao Shimada and Ami Nakai
In the women’s short program, Kaori Sakamoto (Sysmex) scored 79.43 points to take the lead. With a solid layout featuring a triple Lutz, double Axel and a triple flip–triple toe combination, she combined speed and stability, also receiving high program component scores.
Mao Shimada (Kinoshita Group) is 2nd with 79.33 points, just 0.10 points behind the leader after attempting a high-difficulty layout that included a triple Axel. Ami Nakai (TOKIO Inkarami) sits 3rd with 77.50 points, also landing a triple Axel that brought the crowd to its feet.
Mone Chiba is 4th, Mayuko Oka 5th and Rinka Watanabe 6th, with no large gaps separating the top group. With the free skate still to come, major shifts in the standings are possible, and the women’s race for Olympic spots is shaping up to be more intense than ever.
Women’s short program – top results
| Rank | Skater | Club/Team | Score (TSS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kaori Sakamoto | Sysmex | 79.43 |
| 2nd | Mao Shimada | Kinoshita Group | 79.33 |
| 3rd | Ami Nakai | TOKIO Inkarami | 77.50 |
| 4th | Mone Chiba | Kinoshita Group | 74.60 |
| 5th | Mayuko Oka | Kinoshita Academy | 73.20 |
| 6th | Rinka Watanabe | Sanwa Kensou / Hosei University | 71.36 |
Outlook for Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic selection
This championship doubles as the final selection event for Japan’s team for the Milano–Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics to be held next February. Japan has three entries each in the men’s and women’s singles. If a senior skater wins the national title, that skater will automatically secure an Olympic berth, while the remaining two spots will be decided based on a comprehensive evaluation of results from the All Japan Championships, the Grand Prix Final and other ISU-recognised events, including season’s best scores.
Looking only at the short program, the men’s field is currently led by the younger generation – Kagiyama, Miura and junior skater Nakata – while the veterans are aiming to fight back in the free skate. On the women’s side, Sakamoto has taken a slight lead, but Shimada and Nakai, armed with ultra-difficult jumps, are close behind. In the free, not only jump execution but also stamina and overall polish will be tested even more severely.
Main schedule for the remaining days
The main schedule for All Japan Figure 2025 is as follows (all events at Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium, local time):
- Saturday, 20 December – 13:30: Junior Ice Dance Rhythm Dance
- Saturday, 20 December – 14:10: Ice Dance Rhythm Dance
- Saturday, 20 December – 15:50: Pairs Short Program
- Saturday, 20 December – 16:45: Men’s Single Free Skating
- Sunday, 21 December – 13:10: Junior Ice Dance Free Dance
- Sunday, 21 December – 14:00: Ice Dance Free Dance
- Sunday, 21 December – 15:15: Pairs Free Skating
- Sunday, 21 December – 16:45: Women’s Single Free Skating
With potential comebacks in the men’s free, a high-level battle for Olympic spots in the women’s free, and national titles being decided in pairs and ice dance, there is no shortage of highlights. It promises to be a gripping weekend of competition that will directly shape Japan’s team for Milano 2026.
Official information and related social media posts
The latest results and competition information are being updated on the official website of the Japan Skating Federation and the official results site. In addition, posts from the federation’s official X account and from skaters and staff give a vivid sense of the atmosphere in the arena.
