In shattering Nathan Chen's free skate record for points, Ilia Malinin had a phenomenal performance and dethroned two-time champion Shoma Uno.
Uno is seeking to match Patrick Chan's accomplishment (2011-13), while Sakamoto is aiming to equal Peggy Fleming's feat (1966-68) at the world championships.
Choreographer Benoit Richaud and coach Brian Orser, who have both worked with top Japanese skaters, also received accolades at the annual skating awards gala.
In the Grand Prix Final men's free skate, Malinin fell hard on his opening quadruple axel, then he responded by landing a mind-blowing five quads.
In a banner performance at the Grand Prix Final, Malinin becomes the first skater to land a quadruple axel in a short program at a major...
Japanese skating stars Uno and Kagiyama target strong performances at the NHK Trophy in the run-up to December's GP Final in Beijing.
Competing in just her second senior Grand Prix, Hana Yoshida vaulted from third place after the short program to take the gold with a strong free...
In France, following a stellar performance in the short program, Yuma Kagiyama weathered a few jump issues in his free skate but held on to make...
Among the women, Yelim Kim is in first place, while Kaori Sakamoto and Rion Sumiyoshi are second and third, respectively, after the NHK Trophy short program.
Sota Yamamoto collects silver, Kazuki Tomono with bronze for the men, and senior GP debutante Rion Sumiyoshi hauls in bronze at the Grand Prix de France.