The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating arrives in Asia with the NHK Trophy returning to Tokyo’s Yoyogi Gymnasium.

When is it on?

NHK Trophy begins Friday, 8 November with the rhythm dance and concludes Sunday, 10 November with the exhibition gala.

Who is skating?

Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) makes his Grand Prix season debut in Tokyo and will seek to defend the title he won last year. The 2022 Olympic silver medallist has already had a solid outing in September when he finished second behind World champion Ilia Malinin (USA) at Lombardia Trophy. Kao Miura (JPN) picked up a bronze medal at Skate America and will be aiming for another podium spot at NHK Trophy, as will Andrew Torgashev (USA) who was third at last weekend’s Grand Prix de France. Three-time European medallist Matteo Rizzo (ITA) and 2022 European silver medallist Daniel Grassl (ITA) are also likely to be in the mix for the medals.

After a lacklustre performance at Skate Canada, Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) will be hoping for a better showing this weekend. Despite not skating her best in Halifax, the three-time World champion still has that win in her back pocket and another victory in Japan will secure her place in the Grand Prix Final to defend her title there. 2024 Four Continents champion Mone Chiba (JPN) finished fourth at Nebelhorn Trophy six weeks ago and will try and claim a medal to kick off her Grand Prix campaign. Comeback kid Alysa Liu (USA) got a great start at Skate Canada coming second in the short programme, but things went awry for her in the free skating and she dropped down to sixth. It was a similar story for Bradie Tennell (USA) at Skate America where she was in silver medal position after the short before falling to fifth overall after the free skating.

Three out of the top four pairs at Skate America will face off against each other again at NHK Trophy. Riku Miura and Ryuichi KIhara (JPN) will be the favourites to win a first NHK Trophy title since 2022 and comfortably qualify for December’s Grand Prix Final. Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea (USA) earned a silver medal in Allen and will do their utmost to join the Japanese in Grenoble. Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) narrowly missed out on a medal at Skate America and will want to avoid a similar fate as indeed will Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel (GER) who also took the dreaded fourth place at Skate Canada.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) suffered a shock defeat at Skate America and will be hoping to bounce back with a strong performance at NHK Trophy. Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) already have a silver from Nebelhorn Trophy and a gold from Budapest Trophy under their belts this season. 2024 European bronze medallists Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU) were edged out of the medals by the tiniest of margins at last weekend’s Grand Prix de France and will be looking for a better result in Tokyo.

Everything you need to know (and some things you did not) about the skaters, the competition schedule and results can be viewed here.

When is the skating on?

Late night till early morning in North America, early morning till lunchtime in Europe and afternoon till evening in Asia. The times listed for NHK Trophy are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Tokyo then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

This season’s ISU Grand Prix can be viewed on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Geographic restrictions may apply.

What are the hashtags?

#NHK杯フィギュア #GPFigure #FigureSkating