Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won a historic pairs gold, while Kaori Sakamato topped the women's short program in another day of strong results for Japan at figure skating's Grand Prix Final on Friday.

Miura and Kihara scored 136.50 points for their free skate at the Palavela in Turin to total 214.58 and claim Japan's first-ever pairs medal at the event.

They finished 1.30 points ahead of Americans Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, who beat them at the world championships earlier this year, with Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii third on 187.02.

"Overall, the performance seemed a little stiff, but I'm happy we were able to win," Miura said. "It ended up being a great experience."

Reigning world champion Sakamoto set a season-best score of 75.86 in the short program to lead compatriot Mai Mihara by 1.28. Belgium's Loena Hendrickx finished the segment a further 0.34 back in third.

Japan's Rinka Watanabe will head into the free skate in fourth place, with Isabeau Levito of the United States fifth and South Korea's Kim Ye Lim sixth.

Mao Shimada became the fifth Japanese skater to win the women's junior competition, with the 14-year-old totaling 205.54 after topping both the short program and free skate.