FIGURE SKATING
Sizzling Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) on golden track after NHK Trophy Short Program
08 Nov 2024
Hot favorite Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is on shimmering form in the Women’s Short Program – and led the second Japanese sweep of the day as the first day of competition concluded at the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN) Friday.
Passionate Kaori Sakamoto skates to lead
Three-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto led her teammates Mone Chiba and Yuna Aoki to a Short Program sweep of the Japanese Women. It was a thrilling event with lots of season and personal best scores.
Top seed Sakamoto left no doubt that she owns this ice, and put out a passionate Tango performance to “Resurreccion del Angel” and “La Muerte del Angel” that featured her trademark huge double Axel, a triple Lutz, triple flip-triple toe and level-four spins and footwork. The 2022 Olympic medalist set a new season’s best with 78.93 points.
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) in the Women's Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan © ISU
“In today's short program, I was focusing on each single piece and I think I was able to concentrate. So I believe it was the best performance that I could put out today,” Sakamoto said.
The Japanese Women were inspired by their male teammates who took the three top slots in the Short Program as well.
“I saw the standings and the performance of each Japanese skater. Tatsuya Tsuboi, whom I'd been practicing with all along, was in third place. Him doing well was what gave me a lot of joy. I saw his performance, and when he did the victory gesture at the end, I cried.”
Chiba was ready to dance in her fun performance to “Let’s Dance”, but she didn’t forget she had a job to do. She nailed a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, double Axel and triple flip for a new personal best of 71.69 points.
Mone Chiba (JPN) in the Women's Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan © ISU
“For my short program today, I wanted to really have fun and show a dazzling smile,” the 2024 ISU Four Continent Champion said. “I also wanted to make sure that I was careful about each single element. I was able to concentrate, so that was very good.”
Aoki redeemed herself after her disappointing Short Program at Skate America three weeks ago. Skating to “Adios Nonino” by Astor Piazzolla, the 22-year-old produced a rare triple Lutz-triple loop combination, but the Lutz was underrotated. She followed up with a double Axel and triple flip to improve her personal best significantly by 11 points to now 69.78 points.
Yuna Aoki (JPN) in the Women's Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan © ISU
“I was so disappointed in Skate America and it took me some time to recover from that,” Aoki shared.
This time everything was different.
“When I arrived (at the venue) I was so impressed with Yuma Kagiyama's performance and the atmosphere was great,” Aoki told the press. “I was able to watch Kao Miura. There was a lot of cheering and clapping and I felt like I'm going to also get the same kind of applause and support, so that gave me a lot of energy.”
2022 World bronze medalist Alysa Liu (USA) who returns this season to competition after sitting out two seasons, came fourth at 65.03 points followed by her teammate Bradie Tennell (62.05 points) and Lara Naki Gutmann (ITA) with 61.51 points.
For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix Event Page & ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy Event Page & Official NHK Trophy Website.
Check out the ISU Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final:
Men Women Pair Skating Ice Dance
What & When
The schedule of the NHK Trophy is as follows
Friday, Nov 8: Rhythm Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Short Programs
Saturday, Nov 9: Free Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, Nov 10: Exhibition Gala
Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:
- 18 - 20 Oct 2024 Skate America in Allen, TX (USA)
- 25 - 27 Oct 2024 Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
- 01 - 03 Nov 2024 Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
- 08 - 10 Nov 2024 NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
- 15- 17 Nov 2024 Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)
- 22 - 24 Nov 2024 Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final:
- 05 - 08 Dec 2024 Grenoble (FRA)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
