Three-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN), 2022 Olympic silver medallist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN), 2022 Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) and two-time ISU World bronze medallists Sara Conti & Niccolo Macii (ITA) headline the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy November 7-9 in Osaka (JPN). Sakamoto, Conti/Macii and others hope to secure a spot in the ISU Grand Prix Final at this fourth stop of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2025/26 while Kagiyama starts his Grand Prix season on home ice in Japan. 

The top contenders in Osaka

Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) starts into the ISU Grand Prix

• Multiple ISU World medallist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) starts into the ISU Grand Prix series here in Osaka hoping to make the first step towards the ISU Grand Prix Final
• ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalist Shun Sato (JPN) is aiming high after winning the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China two weeks ago
• 2025 ISU European Champion Lukas Britschgi (SUI) wants to follow up on his fourth-place finish from the ISU Grand Prix de France
• 2023 ISU World silver medalist Junwhan Cha (KOR) is looking for redemption after struggling in China
• Other contenders include Matteo Rizzo (ITA) and Boyang Jin (CHN)

Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) will compete in his first ISU Grand Prix event this season © ISU

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) aims at the ISU Grand Prix Final 

• Three-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) plans on booking her ticket to the ISU Grand Prix Final after taking the silver at the Grand Prix de France
• 2024 ISU European Champion Loena Hendrickx returns to the ISU Grand Prix series after sitting out the past season due to injury
• 2024 ISU Grand Prix Finalist Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) enters the ISU Grand Prix series
• Sofia Samodelkina (KAZ) debuts on the ISU Grand Prix 

                                                               Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is aiming at the ISU Grand Prix Final after taking silver at the Grand Prix de France © ISU

Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) and Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) to fight for the Final

• Two-time ISU World bronze medalists Sara Conti & Niccolo Macii (ITA) hope to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final again after claiming silver at the Cup of China
• 2022 Olympic Champions Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) continue their comeback in Osaka and also have a shot at the Final after claiming bronze in China
• Alisa Efimova & Misha Mitrofanov (USA) compete in their first ISU Grand Prix event this season and aim for the podium
• Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) hope to get into the Final again after winning bronze at the Grand Prix de France

 Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) won silver at the Cup of China and want to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final at NHK Trophy © ISU

Exciting Ice Dance battle expected

• 2025 ISU World bronze medalists Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR) hope to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final again after earning the silver at the Grand Prix de France
• Three-time ISU European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) are aiming at the podium 
• 2018 Olympic bronze medalists Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) return to competition after a break of seven years
• Other contenders include Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) and Natalie Taschlerova/Filip Taschler (CZE)

Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR) have a chance at making the ISU Grand Prix Final again at NHK Trophy © ISU

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Skate NHK Trophy is as follows:

Friday, November 7: Rhythm Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Short Programs
 Saturday, November 8: Free Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
 Sunday, November 9: Exhibition Gala

ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out who is on their way to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men                 Women        Pairs       Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.

Where to Watch

Follow the Where to Watch News here.

Connect with the world of ice skating through the new ISU App.

Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

5. 17 - 19 Oct 2025     Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
6. 24 - 26 Oct 2025      Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
7. 31 Oct-2 Nov 2025  Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)
8. 07 - 9 Nov 2025        NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)
9. 14- 16 Nov 2025      Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)  
10. 21 - 23 Nov 2025    Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

5. 04 - 07 Dec 2025                        Nagoya (JPN)