Two-time defending women's world champion Kaori Sakamoto led a Japanese wave in Friday's ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating short programs despite dealing with a foot injury.
Sakamoto and Rion Sumiyoshi finished one-two, respectively, in the women's opening round, while Japanese compatriots Kao Miura took the top spot among the men with Shun Sato second at Finland's Grand Prix Espoo, the fifth of six meets on the circuit before December's Grand Prix final in Beijing.
Sakamoto, who won her first Grand Prix event this year, Skate Canada International, scored 69.69 points, well off her career best short program score of 80.32, as she continued to deal with pain in her right foot that has troubled her since August.
"It troubled me in practice," said Sakamoto, who messed up a double flip.
"I can't afford mistakes. I want to maintain my concentration from the start to the very finish."
Sumiyoshi goes into Saturday's free skate 1.04 back with South Korea's Kim Chae Yeon third on 66.19.
The 18-year-old Miura scored 93.54, while Sato heads into Saturday's free skate on 90.41, 10.22 ahead of Jimmy Ma of the United States, in third.
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