All-Japan Figure Skating Championships Always Deliver Excitement and Emotion on Par with Top International Events — A Look Back at the 2024 All-Japan Figure Skating Championships — Part two men

On December 22, 2024, the 93rd All-Japan Figure Skating Championships concluded successfully at Towa Pharmaceutical RACTAB Dome in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, wrapping up the competition amid awe and emotion. As the Olympic season approaches, the athletes and the skating federation are both facing numerous decisions and challenges. We'll be focusing on Japan's two most competitive events—the men's singles and women's singles—in this article.

Following the retirement of six-time national champion Shoma Uno, the spotlight naturally shifted to the new generation of rising star skaters, intensifying the competition within the men's singles. As world champion Ilia Malinin, makes continuous progress, difficulty has simultaneously increased for Japanese male skaters to reach the top in international competitions. Meanwhile, on the women's side, Kaori Sakamoto aimed for her fifth title, while the rest of the field have their eyes on breaking through the difficulty barrier of the notorious triple Axel jump (3A). Many strong contenders set their sights on surpassing the 200-point mark—an achievement worthy of a Grand Prix Series podium finish.

This National session became an ideal stage for skaters to showcase their ambition and capability. In the senior or junior divisions alike, every participant yearned to prove that the gap between Japanese figure skating and the world's best is truly narrowing.

Although the champion Yuma Kagiyama completed the event with a smile and Kaori Sakamoto successfully defended her title by a narrow margin, soaring expectations and mounting pressure had caused skaters competing in the Grand Prix Series and vying for World Championship spots to falter, falling short of their potential—a stark contrast to last year's Nationals. In comparison, the junior skaters demonstrated both dedication and talent, proving they have the strength to carry the future.

In this competition, the ages of the men's singles skaters ranged from 14 to 37, and the women's singles from 14 to 29, clearly reflecting the flourishing talent of the figure skating sport in Japan.

Yuma Kagiyama: A Champion Who Blossomed Under Pressure

Yuma Kagiyama delivered a consistent performance, placing first in both the short program and the free skating, to earn a total score of 297.73 and claim his first-ever Japan National Championship title. Since 2020, he has continued working with the world-class choreographer Lori Nichol; and in this season, he maintained his signature understated style. Both of his programs featured delicate guitar melodies that highlighted his smooth and refined skating skills.

His short program, The Sound of Silence, featured a simple yet ethereal melody creating a captivating sense of stillness. Kagiyama opened with a clean quadruple Salchow, followed by a high-quality quadruple toe loop+triple toe loop combination. His takeoffs and landings were fluid and seamless, retaining the graceful flow of the music. However, he under-rotated and fell on the triple Axel in the second half, which had impacted his score, resulting in his lowest short program score of the season.

His father and coach, Masakazu Kagiyama, was overcome with tears in the Kiss & Cry Area, unable to stand for a while; beside them, his other coach—former World Champion Carolina Kostner-gently stayed by his side. The scene was more than deeply moving.

For Yuma Kagiyama, this title is more than a victory—it is a milestone forged through perseverance, growth, and the power to rise under pressure.

Rio Nakata: Teen Wave of Courage and Breakthrough

Soaring into second place was the 16-year-old junior skater Rio Nakata, who set new personal bests in both the short and free programs, earning a total score of 263.99 (though this is a non-ISU-recognized score). This has been a challenging season for Nakata. Last season, he captured the Junior Grand Prix Final title and the silver medal at the World Junior Championships, putting him firmly in the center of spotlight. However, at the Junior Grand Prix Final held in early December this season, he placed only third—failing to continue his winning streak, which dealt him a psychological blow.

Ambitious and technically capable, Nakata had already set his sights at the start of the season on landing two quadruple jumps in his free skating. After enduring a slump, he returned with renewed determination to give his all in this event.

In the short program, Nakata executed a quadruple toe loop+triple toe loop combination—which is technically prohibited in junior competitions—and followed with a clean triple Axel jump. After landing his final triple flip, he clenched his fist in celebration. Set to vibrant and passionate flamenco music, his performance featured rich upper-body movement and intricate, expressive footwork that the crowd reponsed with a big round of applause. The program's highlight was the choreography where he slapped the ice with both hands—a moment that had often passed unnoticed in past performances, but this time perfectly matched the rhythm. Nakata's short program was also the only men's short program of the day to earn all level-fours with no jumping errors.

His free skating to Pirates of the Caribbean continued the momentum, opened with a successful quadruple loop. He followed up with a well-executed quadruple toe loop+triple toe loop combination and several clean triple jumps. However, the physical limitations typical of younger skaters began to show in the latter half—his skating looked strained, footwork barely maintained the pace. Fortunately, his final spins were solid, putting the performance together. The entire free skating avoided any negative GOE, demonstrating both technical prowess and artistry. Although his habit of frequently punching the air during performances has been noted by some coaches and spectators as slightly excessive, the very raw emotional energy and unfiltered sincerity are exactly what give his skating the unique charm of a passionate 16-year-old.

However, with silver medalist Mao Shimada in the women's division alike, Nakata is ineligible to compete in the upcoming World Championships and the 2026 Winter Olympics due to age restrictions.

Tatsuya Tsuboi: A Strategic Medalist with Steady Execution

Although Tatsuya Tsuboi made a major error on triple Axel jump in the short program and ranked only 14th, he executed a well-planned strategy in the free skating and delivered a stable performance. Based on the difficulty of his jumps and the overall quality of his execution, he earned the third-highest score of the day.

Nobunari Oda: A Heartfelt Farewell

One of the most talked-about stories this year is undoubtedly Nobunari Oda's remarkable fourth-place finish with total score 234.68. The ever-spirited and beaming 37-year-old retired skater made a stunning return to the Japan National Championships after an 11-year absence. Starting from the lowest level of regional qualifiers, he battled his way up step by step, competing alongside the younger generation and ultimately earning a spot in the nationals—a truly admirable comeback journey.

In the years since stepping away from competition, Oda has remained active in ice shows and the entertainment industry, charming fans with his humor and amiable personality. For his competitive return, he choreographed his own short program to Matsuken Samba, a piece infused with retro style and vibrant rhythm. His dramatic performance perfectly showcased his lovable character and stage charisma. Opening with a clean quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop combination and a triple Axel jump, he left the audience in awe—many couldn't help but wonder, "How does a 37-year-old keep his knees in such shape?" The crowd was swept up by his infectious energy and rhythm, clapping along, the atmosphere instantly lifted.

In fact, several top-tier skaters had faltered before Oda took the ice, casting a tense, subdued mood over the competition. But his exuberant performance melt the tension, that the audience momentarily forgot this was a competition—it was more like a joyous carnival. Without a doubt, he was the most heartwarming and moving highlight of the day.

For his free skating, Oda chose Angels by British singer Robbie Williams. Although he fell on his opening quad toe loop jump, he rebounded with a clean triple Axel+Euler+triple Salchow combination that seemed to echo the lyric: "Cause I have been told that salvation lets their wings unfold." His gliding, wing-spread movements defied age, full of passion and conviction. In previous regional events, he had lost points due to weaker spins and step sequences; however, he has shown marked improvement here, demonstrating the focus and perseverance of a seasoned competitor.

When the performance ended, Oda couldn't hold back his tears. He confessed that this would be his final competition—"My knees have reached their limit"—and he plans to retire officially after this season. This wasn't just the end of a contest; it was the final curtain call of a skating artist. Through his final steps on the ice, he conveyed his enduring love and deep reluctance to leave the sport, making this winter all the more tender and moving.

The Ups and Downs of Core Competitors

At 2024 Japan National Championships, three highly anticipated contenders—Kazuki Tomono, Shun Sato, and Kao Miura—ultimately placed fifth, seventh, and eighth respectively. All of them has encountered significant errors across both programs, falling short of expectations.

Kazuki Tomono delivered a steady short program and secured a strong starting position by placing third, raising hopes for a podium finish. However, in the free skating, he failed all three of his planned quadruple jumps, falling on two of them, and placed only eighth in that segment. He finished fifth overall with a total score of 233.95, a performance leaving some regret.

Shun Sato also faced a turbulent competition. In the short program, he under-rotated and fell on his quadruple Lutz jump. In the free skating, he again fell on the opening quadruple Lutz jump, followed by a series of technical errors, including disrupted jump timing and a fall on the triple Axel+Euler+triple Salchow combination in the latter half, which affected both his flow and execution. He finished seventh with a total score of 230.80.

Kao Miura, known for his speed and crisp jumps, was clearly affected by injuries this season. He fell on a quadruple toe loop jump in the short program. Although the first half of his free skating was relatively solid, he mistakenly repeated a quadruple toe loop jump in the second half, rendering it invalid and incurring a significant loss in points. He placed eighth overall with a score of 230.09. Despite not being in peak physical condition, he demonstrated resilience and fighting spirit throughout.

The three skaters above possess extensive international experience and high-level technical skills, but their performances in this competition revealed the need for further adjustment in consistency and form. As the new season approaches, whether they can regroup and return to peak condition remains something to watch closely.