Competing for the first time in two years, two-time world champion Miki Ando took the ice on Thursday in the Nebelhorn Trophy and finished second in the short program.
The 25-year-old Ando, who is still looking for a coach, landed all her jumps: a triple-double combination as well as another triple and a 2½-rotation jump and finished with 59.79 points. Russia's Elena Radionova was first with 64.69 points.
American Ashley Cain is in third place on 57.87.
Ando, who is aiming to earn a place on Japan's team for the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics, had not competed since participating in the Japan Open in October 2011.
Ando, the only Japanese woman entered in the competition, is bidding to skate in her third straight Olympics. She was fifth at the 2010 Vancouver Games and 15th at the 2006 Turin Games, where teammate Shizuka Arakawa won the gold medal.
Ando, who skated to Frank Sinatra's "My Way," surpassed the International Skate Union's minimum Olympic short program standard.
"I think that music is suitable for where I am right now," said Ando, who gave birth to a baby girl in April. "I want to do my best as a competitor for one year.