In Pairs, with Riku MIURA & Ryuichi KIHARA still out for medical reasons, only one couple competed and took the gold medal: Yuna Nagaoki/Sumitada Moriguchi
Sadly, they don't yet have the TES minimums for 4CC or Worlds but there may be time for them to get them for Worlds at a late season ISU-recognized event.
30 men skated the SP with the top 24 able to skate the FS. Jackie Wong (RockerSkating) was watching it all live and he said
The overall results for the top 6:This is quite possibly the most incredible group of six free skates I've ever seen
Japan Nationals Men FINAL
Shoma Uno 宇野昌磨 298.04
Yuma Kagiyama 鍵山優真 292.10
Sota Yamamoto 山本草太 287.004 Kao Miura 三浦佳生 280.08
5 Shun Sato 佐藤駿 273.04
6 Kazuki Tomono 友野一希 271.52
The winner of the gold in the Men and the Women is guaranteed a spot at Worlds. There are very detailed criteria for the selection of the other spot(s). The announcement will be made after the Women FS on Dec. 24th.
The Women SP, where 28 skated, was a very "messy" affair and Jackie Wong predicts significant changes in the standings after the FS. The top 12 after the SP:
1 Kaori Sakamoto 坂本花織 78.78
2 Mako Yamashita 山下真瑚 69.92
3 Mone Chiba 千葉百音 68.02
4 Mai Mihara 三原舞依 67.70
5 Mana Kawabe 河辺愛菜 67.25
6 Rena Uezono 上薗恋奈 66.22
7 Mao Shimada 島田麻央 65.23
8 Rinka Watanabe 渡辺倫果 63.66
9 Hana Yoshida 吉田陽菜 62.73
10 Kinayu Yokoi 横井きな結 62.49
11 Yuna Aoki 青木祐奈 61.44
12 Rino Matsuike 松生理乃 58.97
Jackie said with
The standings after the RD:7.5 points between 2nd and 10th after the short program - that’s basically the value of a 3Lz2T. The fs is gonna be like a roller coaster ride
1 Azusa Tanaka/Shingo Nishiyama 71.08
2 Misato Komatsubara/Takeru Komatsubara (Tim Koleto) 70.89
3 Utana Yoshida/Masaya Morita 64.00
4 Ayano Sasaki/Yosimitu Ikeda 51.47
5 Akari Kinoshita/Takahiko Tamura 47.30
6 Yuri Kunimura/Kaiji Sakabe 40.71
The Free Dance will take place on Dec. 24th.
