With a victory in Shiga Prefecture, world junior champion Mao Shimada would become the third three-time women's winner at the Japan Junior Championships.
Rena Uezono earned a runner-up finish in her Junior Grand Prix debut, while compatriots Rio Nakata and Daiya Ebihara were second and third in the men's...
In the season-opening Junior Grand Prix in the Thai capital, Nakai and Nakata both achieved narrow victories over the second-place finishers.
After excelling at the Japan Junior Championships and two wins earlier this season, Shimada is the favorite to claim the Junior Grand Prix Final women's title.
Men’s runner-up Rio Nakata and women’s bronze medalist Ami Nakai were emotional when their free skate scores were shown during their JGP debuts.