The event is the opening competition of the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating season.

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic silver medallist Uno impressed in the men’s short programme today at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.

Uno achieved a score of 102.58 points after his routine featured a quad flip, quad toe-double toe, triple Axel and level-four spins when performing to Oboe Concertos by Marcello and Vivaldi.

The Japanese skater earned a three-point lead over the United States' Vincent Zhou, who lies second with a score of 99.51 points.

Junhwan Cha completes the top three with a score of 95.92.

Sakamoto tops the standings after the women’s short programme event having received a score of 76.56 points.

The judges rewarded Sakamoto for a routine that included a triple Lutz, double Axel, triple flip-triple toe and three spins.

The short programme score sets up Sakamoto for potential back-to-back wins at the NHK Trophy after winning last year’s event.

She could become the first woman since Mao Asada to win the event in consecutive years, with the Japanese skater winning in 2012 and 2013.

Japan’s Mana Kawabe is second in the standings at the halfway mark on a score of 73.88, with South Korea’s Young You third on 68.08.

The pairs competition features a Russian one-two after the short programme.

Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov top the standings on 78.40 points, with their compatriots Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov second on 75.78.

Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara complete the top three on 73.98.

The ice dance competition appears set for a battle between Russia and the US for victory.

Russia’s Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov have the edge after the rhythm dance section of the event, after scoring 86.33 points.

The pairing has a slender lead over US' Madison Chock and Evan Bates, as the two-time Four Continents champions lie second on 86.02.

 Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are third on a score of 76.43.