The fourth round of the figure skating Grand Prix (GP) series, the NHK Trophy, was held on the 9th in the women’s free skate at the National Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo, with Kaori Sakamoto (Sysmex) scoring 152.95 points and a total of 231.88 points. They won the NHK Trophy for the first time since then. Both the free skate and the total set new world bests this season. With consecutive wins following the second round at Skate Canada, he advanced to the GP Final (December, France). She is the second Japanese woman to make the finals, following Shinba Higuchi (Noevir).

As I descended the final triple loop, a smile broke out on my face. She staggered in the finishing pose, but that was a charm. “I never thought I’d get this far. I’m just so happy.” Sakamoto seemed to be feeling great as he spoke to the crowd of cheers pouring down from the packed venue.

The song was given by choreographer Marie-France Dubruil as “suitable for a champion.”