Sakamoto Kaori opened her final figure skating season with a modest 65.25 at the ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2025, placing fourth in the women’s short program. Despite stumbling on her triple combo, she remains upbeat about her Olympic journey. Chiba Mone leads the pack with 73.11 as skaters gear up for Milano Cortina 2026.
Cha Junhwan captured the men’s short program lead at the inaugural ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 in Osaka, scoring 87.76 points despite a slip on a quadruple toeloop. The two-time Olympian topped Japan's Tomono Kazuki and Sota Yamamoto, showing his artistic strength ahead of the Grand Prix Series.
At the ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2025, Japanese pairs world champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi lit up the ice with a score of 79.94 in their short program, nearly hitting a personal best. Eyes set on Japan's first Olympic medal in pairs, they topped the leaderboard, outpacing Georgia's Metelkina/Berulava. The season kickoff is promising!
In a thrilling finale at the ISU CS Kinoshita Group Cup 2025, Chiba Mone triumphed over three-time world champion Sakamoto Kaori, clinching victory with a total of 216.59 points in her international debut. Chiba's flawless free skate overshadowed Sakamoto's comeback as the competition sets the stage for an electrifying Olympic season.
In an exhilarating display at the Kinoshita Group Cup 2025, Japanese pair Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi claimed their first title of the Olympic season with a total score of 222.94. Despite a couple of mistakes, they showcased resilience and skill, outpacing Georgia's Metelkina/Berulava. Ice dance leaders Lauriault/Le Gac also shone, securing victory.
Cha Junhwan, the Republic of Korea's two-time Olympian, clinched the inaugural men's title at the Kinoshita Group Cup 2025 in Osaka with a total score of 253.31 despite a shaky free skate performance. Finishing well above runner-up Tomono Kazuki (236.78), Cha emphasized growth for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 season.