Defending champion Kaori Sakamoto placed second, just over half a point behind Bradie Tennell of the United States, after the women's short program at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships on Thursday.
American Mariah Bell is third and Sakamoto's Japanese compatriot Rika Kihira fifth heading into Friday's free skating at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The Four Continents is the final tune-up event prior to March's world championships in Saitama.
Sakamoto landed all her jumps, including a triple flip-triple toe loop, in her performance to "From My First Moment." She scored a season-high 73.36 points to position herself not far behind Tennell, who earned 73.91, also her best score this season.
"I was a nervous wreck but I easily jumped my jumps," said the 18-year-old Sakamoto, who earned the highest program component scores of the segment with 33.38.
"I thought I did something stupid again when I wobbled during my last spin. I hope I'll be able to do what I have to (in the free program)," she said.
(Kaori Sakamoto)
Kihira failed to land her three-and-a-half rotation triple axel and finished with a score of 68.85. Also for Japan, 2017 Four Continents champion Mai Mihara under-rotated her opening triple Lutz-triple toe, and placed eighth with 65.15 points.
Kihira, who won the 2018-2019 Grand Prix Final, is dealing with an injury to her left ring finger. She skated with taping on the finger, which was partially dislocated.
"I decided to jump the triple axel after the six-minute (official) practice, but I lacked speed. I hope to practice a lot more and include at least one in my (free) program for sure," Kihira said.
(Rika Kihira)
Later on Thursday, American Vincent Zhou scored 100.18 points to take the lead after the men's short program, followed by South Korea's Cha Jun Hwan (97.33) and defending champion Jin Boyang of China (92.17).
Shoma Uno finished fourth with 91.76 for Japan's best result, while Keiji Tanaka was seventh place and Tomoki Hiwatashi ninth.
Jin, who beat Uno for gold at last year's Four Continents, failed to complete a quad lutz. Uno stepped out of his opening quad toe loop and triple salchow-triple toe loop combination.
(Shoma Uno)
Uno is looking for his first Four Continents title, but he only resumed training a week ago after suffering repeated ankle sprains.
"I didn't practice enough to say I'm disappointed so I don't have the right to say that. The only thing I have to do now is give it my all. I'm not going to play it safe, I'm skating aggressively (in the long program)," he said.
The men's field is missing two of the biggest names -- Yuzuru Hanyu and Nathan Chen. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Hanyu is recovering from a right ankle injury and reigning world champion Chen opted to focus on his studies as a freshman at Yale University.
The men's free skate will be held Saturday. The four-day meet concludes Sunday with ice dancing (free dance) and exhibition gala.
Related coverage:
Figure skating: Shoma Uno sets sights on 1st Four Continents title
Figure skating: Rika Kihira has worlds on her mind at Four Continents
