Japan's Rika Kihira finished second in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy on Saturday as Russia's Alena Kostornaia took top honors.

Both skaters will compete again in December's Grand Prix Final, where Kihira, with two second-place finishes in this year's Grand Prix series, will be the defending champion.

Kihira started the day 5.15 points back of the 16-year-old Kostornaia after Friday's short program and made only a few mistakes en route to a free skate score of 151.95 and a two-day total of 231.84.

"I'm pretty happy to have landed two triple axels, but I also made some mistakes," Kihira, 17, said. "I haven't yet included the quad salchow into my program, but that could be in the cards at the final, when I want to skate my best ever short and free programs."

(Alena Kostornaia)

Like Kihira did last year, Kostornaia has exploded onto the scene in her senior debut season. Although she flubbed a triple axel, Kostornaia made up for it with soaring jumps en route to a 154.96 free skate score and a total of 240.00. Russian compatriot Alina Zagitova was third with 151.15.

Japan's Yuhana Yokoi and Mako Yamashita finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time reigning Olympic champion was due to compete later in the men's free skate along with compatriots Koshiro Shimada and Sota Yamamoto.

More photos:

(Rika Kihira)

(Alina Zagitova)

(Yuhana Yokoi of Japan)

(Mako Yamashita of Japan)