The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues with the NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan, running November 7–9. As the fourth stop of the 2025–26 Grand Prix season, the event offers a crucial opportunity for skaters to earn points toward qualifying for December’s Grand Prix Final in Nagoya. 

Japan’s home stars will command much of the attention at this event of the Grand Prix series. Yuma Kagiyama, the 2022 Beijing silver medalist and one of Japan’s top men’s skaters, returns to NHK Trophy looking to extend his strong early-season form. Known for his power and precision, Kagiyama seems largely back to full strength after injuries in previous seasons. This event marks an important benchmark, as he builds toward the 2026 Milan Cortina Games as one of the only skaters likely to come close to U.S. phenom, Ilia Malinin.

The men’s competition also features Korea's Cha Jun-Hwan, the 2023 world silver medalist, who brings his theatrical artistry and technical firepower back to Japan. He’ll face off against Jin Boyang, China’s pioneering quad jumper and two-time world medalist, who remains a crowd favorite for his explosive jumps and longevity on the international stage. With Kagiyama, Cha, and Jin all in the mix, the NHK Trophy men’s event could be one of the most competitive of the Grand Prix season.

As for the women’s field, Kaori Sakamoto enters as the heavy favorite. A three-time NHK Trophy winner and three-time world champion, Sakamoto’s dynamic skating and deep edges have made her nearly-untouchable on home ice. She’ll aim to regain her winning momentum after earning the silver medal at the Grand Prix de France earlier this fall. A victory here would further cement her status as the skater to beat heading into the Grand Prix Final.

In ice dance, all eyes will be on Maia and Alex Shibutani, the American sibling duo making their long-anticipated return to Grand Prix competition. The 2018 Olympic bronze medalists announced earlier this year they would return to the sport after seven years away. Known for their chemistry, crisp musicality, and crowd-pleasing programs, the “Shib Sibs” bring veteran presence to a deep international field that includes Grand Prix de France silver medalists Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson from Great Britain, and Italy's European champions Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri. Their rhythm dance in Osaka will mark their first competitive outing since PyeongChang — and a key test of their competitive readiness ahead of the Olympic run-up.

The NHK Trophy traditionally delivers some of the season’s most memorable performances, and with Japan’s stars competing on home ice, expectations are high. The rhythm dance will be streamed live on Peacock Thursday, Nov. 6, followed by the short programs and free dance on Friday, and the free skates and the gala on Saturday. There will be a highlight of the event aired on NBC on Sunday at 2 p.m..

As the Grand Prix series moves past its midway point, Osaka could prove decisive in shaping the road to the Final — and perhaps offer an early glimpse of who might stand atop the Olympic podium in 2026.