Overview
- Yuma Kagiyama posted a personal-best 108.77 to lead the men's short program in Nagoya, with Shun Sato second at 98.06 and world champion Ilia Malinin third.
- Pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara scored 77.32 to top the pairs short program despite an under-rotation call on their side-by-side triple toe loop.
- Junior standout Mao Shimada led the junior women's short program by a wide margin as the only skater to break into the 70s while pursuing a fourth straight junior title.
- Sato said a recent MRI shows his leg is not fully healed according to doctors, though he reported no pain and plans to continue without overexertion.
- Competition opened Dec. 4 at IG Arena in Nagoya, with the women's short and pairs free on Dec. 5 and both senior free skates slated for Dec. 6.