Japan's strong showing at the recent Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia, set the table for what promises to be a fascinating 14 months leading up to the 2014 Olympic Games in the same city.
With six of the 12 skaters in singles being Japanese, the odds were in favor of the Hinomaru going in, and they didn't disappoint. Japan took home four of the six medals in singles and both golds.
Mao Asada won her third straight competition this season, doing it again without the triple axel, and heads into the Japan nationals this week in Sapporo with a real head of steam. Mao, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, will be seeking her sixth senior title when she takes the ice in Hokkaido.