Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara made their long-awaited return to the 2024-25 Japanese National Championships in Osaka, Japan, reclaiming the Pairs’ title on Sunday. Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi took the silver medal, while Sae Shimizu and Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda earned the bronze, completing the podium at this year’s championships.
After overcoming challenges with multiple injuries, Miura and Kihara returned to the national stage for the first time since 2019. The pair recently won silver at the 2024-25 Grand Prix Final a few weeks ago and returned to Japan to compete in their national championships.
In the short program, the pair skated to “Paint It Black”, choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne. The highlight of their routine was the step sequence. Its shifts in music and tempo added a dramatic touch to the performance. Despite a slight underrotation and a step-out on the triple toe from Miura, they scored 74.16 points, comfortably taking the lead.
In the free skate, the 2023 World champions made a big mistake on their jump sequence, earning less than two points for it. However, they quickly regained focus and executed the rest of the elements, each receiving positive grades of execution (GOE). This included a throw triple loop and a throw triple Lutz. Even with the mistake early on in their skate, they finished strong, earning a solid free program score of 138.17 points to win with 212.33 total.
Miura and Kihara will compete at the Four Continents Championships and the World Championships in the second half of the season.
As Miura and Kihara had withdrawn from the event last year, Nagaoka and Moriguchi entered this year’s competition as the defending champions. They finished second overall, with 176.68 points. The pair splits their training time between Japan and Canada.
Skating to “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” for their short program, the highlights included a soft triple toe and a gorgeous lift. The pair clearly expressed joy throughout their step sequence. They scored 61.82 in that segment. Nagaoka and Moriguchi kept their free skate from last year, “Space Table Symphony,” choreographed by Cathy Reed. Fans on social media noted the pair’s difficult level-four lifts, calling them “gorgeous.” They placed second in the free skate and overall (114.86/176.68).
Nagaoka and Moriguchi are also set compete at the Four Continents Championships and the World Championships, after earning their minimums earlier in the season at the 2024 NHK Trophy.
Shimizu and Honda finished third with 136.72, behind teammates Nagaoka and Moriguchi as they made their debut on the senior national level. After recently finishing fourth at their first Junior Grand Prix Final, the pairs ranked third in both segments at the national championships. They earned 54.22 and 82.50 points in the short and free program, respectively.
Shimizu and Honda were named to the 2025 Worlds team alongside Miura and Kihara and Nagaoka and Moriguchi, pending technical minimum scores.
Miyu Yunoki and Tristan Taylor Yunoki and Taylor finished fourth at their first outing together at this event with 126.81 points. As Yunoki’s previous partner announced his retirement, she had since been looking for a new partner. The newly formed team trains in Colorado Springs, Colo., and are coached by Drew Meekins and Natalia Mishkutenok.
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