Multiple ISU World medallist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) won his third consecutive NHK Trophy title, edging teammate Shun Sato in a thrilling Men’s Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN) Saturday. 

Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) takes another Osaka gold

2022 Olympic silver medallist Kagiyama clinched the gold in a close Men’s Free Skating, pipping his teammate Sato by just one and a half points. Switzerland’s Lukas Britschgi rose from fifth place after the Short Program to earn the bronze. 

Kagiyama opened his powerful performance to “Turandot” with an easy-looking quad Salchow but then he missed the quad toeloop. The 2025 ISU World bronze medallist recovered instantly to reel off a quad toe-double toe and six triple jumps as well as level-four spins and footwork. 

At the end of the routine he collapsed on to the ice, not knowing whether he had done enough because Sato had skated brilliantly just before him. Kagiyama was second to Sato in the Free Skating with 188.66 points but had enough of a cushion to hold on to the gold with 287.24 points. It is Kagiyama's third successive NHK Trophy gold and his fourth overall after having won the 2020 competition, also in Osaka.

Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) collapsed to the ice after his Free Skate, not knowing whether he had done enough to secure a third successive NHK Trophy gold. He had. © ISU

“My Free Skating was bearable. Of course, there was the fall on quad toe but I didn’t panic,” Kagiyama admitted. “I was able to change my mindset and do all the other elements so that is a great take away.

“Through the two days of NHK Trophy, I think I lacked a little bit of confidence. However, if I practice more and accumulate the experience, I know that I will be able to go into the competition more confidently. So, that's another thing I could work on,” he explained.

Kagiyama pocketed 15 points for the Grand Prix standings and will compete again in two weeks in his second event in Helsinki, Finland. 

“In the coming two weeks I have to be focused on the next competition and spend these two weeks without any injuries and keep fit. I also have to think about the spins and jumps and all the details that I need to work on. I know what I need to do”, he shared.

Performing to “Firebird”, Sato put out an excellent performance that included a quad Lutz, two quad toes as well as five triple jumps. The reigning ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalist posted a new personal best in the Free Skating with 189.04 points and won the segment. Overall, he remained in second place on 285.71 points.

Shun Sato (JPN) won the Free Skating with his 'Firebird' routine, securing the silver medal and a place in the ISU Grand Prix Final in Nagoya (JPN). © ISU

With his gold from the Cup of China and the silver from NHK Trophy, Sato advanced to the ISU Grand Prix Final.

“I was really feeling great about landing all these wonderful jumps,” Sato noted. “Especially the quad Lutz tonight was the best I’ve done compared to practice. 

“There were some little mistakes so I need to do some fine-tuning to prepare for the Grand Prix Final.”

Britschgi stood in fifth place after tripling his planned quad toe in the Short Program. The 2025 ISU European Champion made sure this didn’t happen again and nailed two quad toes in his innovative routine “Journey through the Orient”. He collected more points with his solid triples and strong spins. However, the Swiss champion had problems with the triple Axel, doubling the first one and stepping out of the second one. 

Britschgi scored 163.49 points, racking up a total of 246.94 points to take his second ISU Grand Prix medal after winning bronze, also in Osaka, in 2023. 

Swiss champion Lukas Britschgi climbed from fifth to third to win his second ISU Grand Prix bronze medal two years after bagging his first, also in Osaka. © ISU

“I’m having flashbacks from two years ago,” Britschgi told the post-event press conference. 

“Two years ago, I was sitting here with Yuma and Shoma [Uno Shoma (JPN)]. It was an amazing event as usual here in Japan. The support we receive here is just amazing and makes it even more fun. 

“There were some mistakes but overall it was a great pleasure to be on the podium. I didn’t skate clean but I fought until the end, maybe it’s watching them [Kagiyama and Sato] in practice. There are 40 points difference between us but I’ll try hard to keep up.” 

Sato, Kagiyama and Britschgi show off their medal haul after successful weekends at the NHK Trophy. © ISU

Boyang Jin (CHN) gave a season’s best performance to finish fourth on 239.05 points while Junwhan Cha (KOR) slipped from third to fifth after some errors (230.36 points). 

Two-time ISU World Junior bronze medalist Adam Hagara (SVK) moved up from ninth to sixth place in his ISU Grand Prix debut (230.00 points). 

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.

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

17 - 19 Oct 2025                      Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)

24 - 26 Oct 2025                      Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)

31 Oct - 2 Nov 2025                Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)

7 - 9 Nov 2025                         NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)

14- 16 Nov 2025                        Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)  

21 - 23 Nov 2025                      Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN) 

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

4 - 7 Dec 2025                       Nagoya (JPN)