Jingu Ice Messengers win Japan’s titles and earn 2026 Worlds selections

The 32nd Japan National Synchronized Skating Championships were held in Tokyo (7–8 February 2026), staged alongside the 2026 Japan Synchronized Skating Open Competition. Teams competed in Senior, Junior, Intermediate, Juvenile and Open Age categories.

Jingu Ice Messengers Senior team skating towards World Championship. • Roy Ng - 2026

Key takeaways

  • Senior: Jingu Ice Messengers won the national title (162.62).
  • Junior: Jingu Ice Messengers (Junior) confirmed Japan’s selection for GdaĹ„sk (132.03).
  • Open Age: Toyohashi Synchro Sparkle claimed a third straight title (49.53).

Senior: Jingu selected for Worlds

Jingu Ice Messengers won the national title with 59.72 (SP) and 102.90 (FS), totaling 162.62. Team Brilliance placed second with 111.02. Jingu’s total increased compared with the U.S. Synchronized International Classic held the week before. 

The national result confirmed Jingu Ice Messengers as Japan’s selection for the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships (april 2026).
Dynamic twists and gliding across ice were incorporated in Jingu’s Free Skate to express the “Twister” theme. • Roy Ng – 2026

Junior: scores increase ahead of Gdańsk

As the only entry in Junior, Jingu Ice Messengers (Junior) posted 132.03 points (46.09 in the SP, 85.94 in the Free Skate). The team improved its marks compared with the U.S. Synchronized International Classic the week before. The result confirmed Japan’s selection for the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Gdańsk.
Anime plays an important role in the choice of music by Jingu Ice Messengers Junior this season. Their Short Program is based on "Suzume". • Roy Ng - 2026

Open Age: Toyohashi retain the title

Open Age featured ten teams. Toyohashi Synchro Sparkle won with 49.53 skating to "The Phantom of the Opera", securing a third consecutive title after victories in 2024 and 2025. Saitama Crystal Ace earned silver (46.84). Pleasures Harmony finished third (35.20) skating to ABBA’s "Super Trouper" and "Dancing Queen".

Team Moments placed seventh (28.53). Shiga Prefectural Higashi Otsu High School entered two teams, finishing eighth (24.26) and ninth (23.35).
The Open Age field varies from year to year, but Toyohashi Sparkle fended off the competition to win three consecutive titles. • Roy Ng - 2026

Team Emotion on top in the Intermediate division

Founded in 2025, Team Emotion, coached by former Team Surprise skater Chisako Kiuchi, won Intermediate with 70.10 points. Yamabiko Starland took silver (56.87) skating to "La La Land". 

Last year’s winner, Uji Synchro Intermediate, finished third (52.22), ahead of Jingu Ice Messengers in fourth (48.42).
Team Emotion’s speed a nd tight formation set the bar high in the Intermediate category. • Roy Ng - 2026

Juvenile: Kyoto Uji Synchro defend their title

Kyoto Uji Synchro retained the Juvenile title with 35.14 points skating to music from the animated film "Coco". Yamabiko Sunrise placed second with 32.05 skating to "Mary Poppins" soundtracks.
Probably the event’s most original costume: Pleasures Harmony, with solid unison and edge control for an adult team. • Roy Ng - 2026
The Japan Skating Federation and the Tokyo Skating Union granted permission for photography and press coverage.

The official result of Junior and Senior categories is available here and the detailed results for the other divisions are here

There are still some Japanese synchro competitions to be held in February and March 2026. Stay tuned for
news, updates and competition photos !

UUTISET