A one-two finish by Yuzuru Hanyu and Shoma Uno allowed Japan to maintain its lead at the International Team Trophy on Friday, the event's second day.
Hanyu, the world champion, bounced back from a poor short program on Thursday to win the men's free skate with 200.49 points, while Uno nearly matched him with 198.49. After two days, Japan lead the competition with 81 points ahead of the United States (78) with Russia third on 74.
Saturday will see the women's free program, where Russia has a chance to catch up when two-time defending world champion Evgenia Medvedeva again takes the ice at Yoyogi Gymnasium.
Although Hanyu helped secure Japan the lead, he appeared disappointed upon leaving the ice.
"To some extent, I'm satisfied, but I felt I could have done just a little better," said Hanyu, who lost points on two of his jumps but executed a flawless quad toe loop-triple salchow combination.
"For myself, I am happy I did that quad-triple in the second half of the program (when bonus points are awarded)."
Uno completed Japan's comeback after the tournament hosts fell out of the lead after the day's first two competitions. Like Hanyu, however, he had reservations.
"I skated the free program the way I do in practice," Uno said. "But I still have a lot of practice to do."
Japan started the day in first place, but even on points with Russia, but fell behind after last-place finishes in the pairs short program and the free dance.
Sumire Suto and Francis Boudrewu-Audet scored 54.84 points in the pairs short program, won by France's Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres (75.72)
In the free dance, won by Canada's Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje with 113.83 points, Kana Muramoto and Chris Reed narrowly missed an extra point for Japan, scoring 92.68, 0.24 points behind France's fifth-placed couple, Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac.
Muramoto and Reed, who failed to earn a berth at next year's Olympics in the recent world championships, are now aiming to earn a spot in next season's Olympic qualifying.