I’m not exaggerating when I say that—at least for me—the Japan Figure Skating Championships this week is the most intriguing competition of the season so far. Much of that has to do with the depth of the singles fields competing in Osaka. After all, Japanese men hold eight of the top 20 season best scores and Japanese women hold nine of the top 20.
2022-23 Japan Nationals predictions
Official hashtag: #全日本フィギュア
Women Top 10 predictions
GOLD Mai Mihara
SILVER Mao Shimada*
BRONZE Kaori Sakamoto
4. Rika Kihira
5. Rinka Watanabe
6. Mana Kawabe
7. Ami Nakai*
8. Rion Sumiyoshi
9. Mone Chiba
10. Rino Matsuike
*Not age-eligible for senior ISU championships
Before the Grand Prix Final happened, it might have been logical to think that Kaori Sakamoto would be on her way to her third national title. But GPF showed that she was vulnerable—she landed two clean triples in a free skate that was her lowest-scoring effort since 2017. It would not be a complete upset if two-time Japanese junior champ and Junior Grand Prix Final winner Mao Shimada to walk away with the win here, especially given her triple axel and quad toe in the free skate. But perhaps it’ll be steady cleanness from Mai Mihara that will win the week.
There are a lot of skaters to watch for, though, as this is an incredibly deep field. Rika Kihira has been stealthily making her comeback from injury, and depending on her level of difficulty this week, she could very well land on the podium. Rinka Watanabe has been inconsistent, but she’s also been one of the skaters who has beaten Sakamoto this season—a couple of triple axels won’t hurt.
Men Top 10 predictions
GOLD Shoma Uno
SILVER Kao Miura
BRONZE Yuma Kagiyama
4. Sota Yamamoto
5. Shun Sato
6. Kazuki Tomono
7. Tatsuya Tsuboi
8. Koshiro Shimada
9. Sena Miyake
10. Nozomu Yoshioka
Four of these guys were at the Grand Prix Final, and a fifth guy is the current Olympic silver medalist. It’s another embarrassment of riches in this event. Even without Yuzuru Hanyu, who has been a staple of the event almost every year since 2008, the competition this year will be super exciting. Shoma Uno is looking for his fifth Japanese title. And the rest of podium could realistically be any combination of five other guys.
Last year’s Japanese junior champ, Kao Miura, could jump onto the podium after finishing fourth last year and having a brilliant senior debut season. Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama, who has been out of competition all season, is back and has a big question mark around his readiness in his recovery from a left foot injury. Grand Prix Final silver medalist Sota Yamamoto has a great opportunity if he can repeat what he did at GPF two weeks ago. And Shun Sato and Kazuki Tomono have had success here before and could get on the podium.
Pairs predictions
GOLD Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara
SILVER Haruna Murakami/Sumitada Moriguchi
For Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara, it’s a pitstop to what could be a historic first World pair title for them and for Japan. But before they get there, they will be looking for their second national title this week. They didn’t make the trip to Japan Nationals the past two years with the bevy of COVID travel restrictions, so this will be their first Nationals in three years. Haruna Murakami/Sumitada Moriguchi, both doing the singles-pairs double this week, are coming off a fourth-place finish at the Junior Grand Prix Final.
Dance predictions
GOLD Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi
SILVER Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto
BRONZE Nicole Takahashi/Shiloh Judd
4. Akari Kinoshita/Takahiko Tamura
5. Haruno Yajima/Tsutomu Matsui
6. Saiko Kikuchi/Yosimitu Ikeda
After a subpar rhythm dance kept them from the title and a spot at the Olympics, Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi are back to try for the win this year. It would be Muramoto’s fourth national title and Takahashi’s first national ice dance title, to add to his five singles golds. They will once again be up against Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto, who are looking for their fifth Japan Nationals win this week.