The Japan Figure Skating Championships 2025 promises to be a thrilling spectacle, particularly for the elite women competing this week in Tokyo. With Olympic qualification hanging in the balance, the stakes could not be higher. The atmosphere is charged, reminiscent of an arena filled with the motivational chords of Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger.
Among the high-profile contenders is Shimada Mao, the astonishing junior standout. The three-time world junior champion recently clinched her fourth consecutive Junior Grand Prix Final title in Nagoya, propelling her status in the figure skating landscape. However, there is a major caveat: due to her age, she cannot compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Born just three months after the eligibility cut-off date, Mao is set to crown her junior career while her impact on senior selections becomes a subject of keen interest.
The dynamic becomes particularly complex as the winner of this prestigious national event earns an automatic spot for the Olympics. Unfortunately for Shimada, winning may complicate the paths of her senior competitors, such as defending champion Sakamoto Kaori, who dominated the event in previous years, and promising rising star Nakai Ami.
The Japan Skating Federation’s selection criteria will likely weigh the performances of second and third-place finishers, spotlighting those podium contenders, including Chiba Mone and others like Sumiyoshi Rion and Watanabe Rinka. If Shimada captures the championship title, the ranking system becomes murky, presenting substantial implications for Olympic selections.
Shimada has demonstrated her prowess with plans to incorporate a triple Axel in her short program and aim for a quadruple jump in her free skate. This fearless approach puts pressure on her senior rivals and has all the makings of a major upset.
“I want to take the fight to the seniors,” Shimada stated during the Junior Grand Prix Final. “Four years ago, I was just a spectator; now, I’m competing alongside them.” With her fierce ambition and promising skills, one can only speculate how this weekend at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium will unfold. It’s a monumental chance to glean invaluable experience ahead of the Olympic season, blending elements of excitement and uncertainty as they converge in this pivotal competition.
