Mao Shimada performs her short program at the Japan Junior Championships on November 16 in Hiroshima. (©KYODO)
Two-time world junior champion Mao Shimada is halfway to winning a record fourth consecutive title at the Japan Junior Championships after taking a big lead in the short program on Saturday night, November 16 in Hiroshima.
The 16-year-old star is in first place with a score of 72.69 points, more than six points in front of fellow Junior Grand Prix Finalist Kaoruko Wada, who is second at 66.40. Shimada's training partner Ikura Kushida stands in third place on 64.54.
Ami Nakai, who has also qualified for December's JGP Final, is fifth at 62.52.
Fourteen-year-old Sena Takahashi is in front in the men's competition with 79.28. Rio Nakata, the 2023 JGP Final winner, is second with 77.92, while Taiga Nishino is in third place on 75.85.
The women's and men's free skates are set for Sunday.
Chasing History at the Japan Junior Championships
Shimada is currently tied with Shizuka Arakawa (1994-96) and Miki Ando (2001-03) for the most consecutive victories at the Japan Junior Championships. A win this weekend would make her the only singles skater in Japanese history to triumph four times in the event.
The Tokyo native skated to "Defying Gravity" "and smoothly ran through her program. She opened with a double axel, then landed a triple flip, and went on to hit a triple lutz/triple toe loop combination jump. The young star earned level fours on all of her jumps and step sequence.
"This competition has many great skaters," Shimada was quoted as saying. "I could not make any mistakes in the short program."
Added Shimada, "When I think about winning for the fourth time in a row, I get nervous in a bad way. If I perform well, the results will follow."
Wada, a 14-year-old from Nagoya, competed to "How Does A Moment Last Forever" and was judged a quarter rotation short on the back end of her triple lutz/triple toe loop combo. She received level fours on her spins and a level three on her step sequence.
The 17-year-old Kushida under-rotated the back end of her triple lutz/triple toe loop combo in her performance to "Sway" and "Mucho Mambo," but notched level fours on all of her spins and step sequence.
Takahashi Delivers a Stellar Performance
Takahashi, who has also clinched a spot in the JGP Final, landed all of his jumps without issue in his skate to "This Is Me." He recorded level fours on two spins, while receiving a level three on another and his step sequence.
"I am very happy that I was able to enjoy it with confidence until the end," Takahashi stated. "At this rate I will do my best and go all out in the free skate."
Nakata, a 16-year-old from Chiba, competed to "Aroul" and "Uccen" and hit all of his jumps, but managed just a level two on his step sequence. Two of his spins were level fours and the other was a level three.
"This year I am absolutely aiming for first place," Nakata commented. "I want to land two quadruple jumps tomorrow and take first place."
Nishino, who turned 15 in October, performed to "Smile" and landed all of his jumps, but registered level threes on two of his spins and his step sequence.
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Author: Jack Gallagher
The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page, and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan.
