Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto dominated the short program on Friday, putting herself in prime position to defend her title at what she says will be her final NHK Trophy. Sakamoto, who announced her plans to retire after next year’s Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, dazzled in her performance set to “Time to Say Goodbye.” She landed a triple lutz, a double axel, and a spectacular triple flip-triple toe loop combination, scoring a season-best of 77.05 points. This achievement has placed her almost 10 points ahead of her challengers: Sofia Samodelkina from Kazakhstan and South Korea’s You Young, who scored 67.75 and 67.66 respectively.
Sakamoto’s successful run at the NHK comes off the back of a recent competitive data shift. After winning three consecutive world championships leading up to 2024, she secured a second-place finish at this year’s worlds in Boston. The 25-year-old also earned a bronze medal in women’s singles figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Despite a close call with 17-year-old compatriot Ami Nakai, who beat her at the season-opening Grand Prix de France last month, Sakamoto arrived at her home Grand Prix eager to reclaim her status as a dominant force in figure skating.
“I was a little nervous since arriving here but was able to put that behind me and skate a solid program,” Sakamoto reflected after her stunning performance. “I completed all my jumps successfully and look forward to continuing that momentum in the free skate tomorrow.”
With attention now shifting towards the upcoming Olympic Games, Sakamoto is not just defending her title but also eyes the podium against fellow competitors like Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian, who recently claimed gold at the ISU Skate to Milano Figure Skating qualifier. Meanwhile, in the men’s short program, local favorite Yuma Kagiyama led with a score of 98.58, executing a flawless quad lutz at the outset.
This year’s NHK Trophy continues to showcase globally renowned talents, including ice dance world bronze medalists Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, who are currently first after the rhythm dance. As the ISU Grand Prix series unfolds, every performance counts, with top point-earners aiming for a spot in the upcoming Grand Prix Final.
