Japan Nationals: Olympic Roster Decided

Shimada Mao © Pinterest

The Japan Figure Skating Championships 2025, held at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium from 19-21 December, is the decisive national event for selecting the team for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Japan has already secured the maximum number of quota places in the major individual events, making the Nationals a true battle for selection:

• Men’s Singles: 3 quota places
• Women’s Singles: 3 quota places
• Pairs: 2 quota places
• Ice Dance: 0 individual quota places (but 1 additional spot for the Team Event)

The final team, which must consist of athletes who have achieved the required minimum technical scores (minimum Total Technical Elements Score, or MTECS) at an ISU-recognised international competition, will be announced on Sunday, 21 December, after the women’s free skating.

Olympic Selection Criteria Highlights

The Japan Skating Federation (JSF) uses a multi-faceted approach to fill the Olympic slots, prioritizing performance at the National Championships:

1. First Skater Selected (Discretionary/Direct): The winner of the National Championships will be given strong consideration for the first spot. In the event a junior (such as Shimada Mao) wins, the first position will be filled according to the subsequent criteria, with the junior remaining ineligible for the Olympic team.
2. Second Skater Selected (High Performance): This spot is typically decided from a pool including:
   • The second and third-place finishers at the National Championships.
   • The top two Japanese finishers at the recent Grand Prix Final (GPF).
   • The skater with the highest ISU Season Best Total Score.
3. Third Skater Selected (Comprehensive): The final spot considers all remaining top skaters and factors in:
   • ISU World Standings.
   • Consistency of performance across the season’s international competitions.

This complex system means skaters who performed well internationally (like the GPF medalists Kagiyama Yuma and Sato Shun) must still deliver a top-three performance at Nationals to guarantee their spot.

Crucial Discipline: Ice Dance Team Event

While Japan did not secure a place in the individual Ice Dance event, the nation’s strong overall ranking secured them a spot in the Olympic Team Event. Crucially, Japan’s high ranking (second only to the USA) in the 2025-26 Team Event standings earned them an additional Ice Dance quota solely for the team competition. The national champions in Ice Dance will be selected to fill this spot, which is vital for Japan’s medal chances in the Team Event.

Schedule at a Glance (All times JST, UTC+9)

• Friday, 19 December: Men’s SP, Women’s SP
• Saturday, 20 December: Ice Dance RD, Pairs SP, Men’s FS (Olympic Team decided)
• Sunday, 21 December: Ice Dance FD, Pairs FS, Women’s FS (Olympic Team announced)
• Monday, 22 December: Exhibition gala

The Ice Dance event, though fielding only one Olympic team spot, is expected to see a tight contest. The reigning National Champions, Yoshida Utana and Morita Masaya, are the presumptive favourites, having consistently represented Japan on the Grand Prix circuit (including NHK Trophy 2025). However, a breakthrough performance from any competing duo could change the outcome, as the Federation must select the highest-performing team to maximize Japan’s potential in the Olympic Team Event.

Source: article by Shintaro Kano on olympics.com, published December 15, 2025.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer