Kaori Sakamoto performs her winning free skate routine at the Japanese national figure skating championships at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo on Dec. 21, 2025. (Photo not for sale)(Editorial use only)(Kyodo)
TOKYO – Kaori Sakamoto delivered a triumphant farewell performance at the Japanese national figure skating championships on Sunday, qualifying for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics by winning her fifth straight women’s singles crown and sixth overall at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium.
The 2022 Beijing Olympic bronze medalist, who is retiring after this season, followed her first-place finish in Friday’s short program with the highest free skate score of 154.93 to total a season-best 234.36.
Three-time junior world champion Mao Shimada totaled 228.08 to finish runner-up for the second year in a row, with Mone Chiba rounding out the podium on 216.24 points, just ahead of fourth-place Ami Nakai on 213.56.
Mao Shimada performs on the way to finishing runner-up at the Japanese national figure skating championships at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo on Dec. 21, 2025. (Photo not for sale)(Editorial use only)(Kyodo)
With Shimada ineligible due to her age, Chiba and Nakai will head to their first Olympics at the Feb. 6-22 games in northern Italy.
Opening with a double axel, followed by a triple flip and a triple lutz-double toe loop combination, Sakamoto delivered a virtually flawless performance that was met with a standing ovation from the audience.
“I was able to concentrate carefully on each element, thinking only about skating, so I’m satisfied with the performance,” said the 25-year-old Sakamoto, who has been selected for her third Winter Games.
“That was the biggest relief. My main goal is to win at least a silver medal in both the team and individual competitions.”
Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi won the pairs competition with a 215.30 total following the withdrawal of defending champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara from the free skate after Miura injured her shoulder during the previous day’s short program. Both pairs will represent Japan at the Winter Games.
In ice dance, Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita followed their first-place finish in the rhythm dance by topping the free skate and sealing Olympic qualification with a total of 172.29 points.
AloJapan.com