Two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu made a dazzling return to the ice Friday at Japan's national figure skating championships, throwing down a marker for the Beijing Winter Games with an outstanding short program performance.
The 27-year-old superstar scored 111.31 at Saitama Super Arena to take a big lead in the men's singles competition over Pyeongchang Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno, who earned 101.88 for a clean and composed routine. Former junior national champion Yuma Kagiyama placed third on 95.15.
The final qualifying event for February's Beijing Games, the nationals are Hanyu's first competition of the Olympic season as he recovers from right ankle ligament damage.
After withdrawing from the NHK Trophy and Rostelecom Cup in the Grand Prix series last month, Hanyu stoked fears about his fitness by skipping a training session on the eve of the Thursday-Sunday nationals.
But the reigning Olympic champion and five-time national champion put concerns to rest with a short routine incorporating a quadruple salchow, quad toe loop-triple toe loop combination and a triple axel.
"I was able to land that first jump really well. Everything went exactly as I'd planned it over six days of practice," said Hanyu, who received a standing ovation from the packed arena. "I had the feel for my program that I expected to, and was able to stay calm."
"I think I'm calm now that I've cleared my first competition."
Having repeatedly expressed his desire to perform a quad axel over the past year, Hanyu plans to incorporate the jump into his free skate for the first time on Sunday, the championships' final day.
"Well, first of all, I was able to take care of business today. I'm not completely satisfied as there were things I can do better, while I did uncover some things I could do well, and want to do my best (in the free skate)," he said. "Of course, I'm still planning to attempt that (quad axel)."
Four-time national champion Uno remained on track to qualify for his second Olympics, opening with a quadruple flip and following with a quad toe loop-double toe loop combination and triple axel.
"I can't say that it was an amazingly good performance, there were lots of things that I never seem to get right. But since I got here, I've been focusing on the jumps and was able to cobble enough things together," Uno said.
The 18-year-old Kagiyama, who finished third at the past two nationals, landed a quad salchow-triple toe loop combination and a triple axel but fell on his second jump, a quad toe loop.
The current junior national champion, 16-year-old Kao Miura, made a big impression as the first skater onto the ice, scoring 92.81 with a pair of quad jumps to place fifth.
Kaori Sakamoto will take a 4.57-point lead into the women's free skate on Saturday as she bids for her second straight Olympic berth.
Two-time reigning women's national champion Rika Kihira withdrew ahead of the competition due to a stress fracture in her right ankle and will not compete at the Olympics.
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