Overview
- Wataru Morishige won the men’s 500 meters in 34.36 at M-Wave, a domestic-best time that delivered his first national title.
- Tatsuya Shinhama placed second in 34.40, and both he and Morishige surpassed the Japan federation’s top ‘SS’ standard of 34.51 to secure Olympic selection.
- Yukino Yoshida captured the women’s 500 meters in 37.36, breaking the tournament record previously held by Nao Kodaira at 37.55 from 2019.
- Already provisionally named to the Milan–Cortina team, Yoshida is scheduled to race the 1000 meters on December 27 as she pursues a second Olympic distance.
- Morishige said he is not at his peak despite his time, while Yoshida described finding focus at the start after reporting her worst condition of the season the day before and reverting to earlier blades.