Two-time defending world champion Kaori Sakamoto took a commanding lead at the Japan national figure skating championships Friday by winning the women's short program with a score of 78.78.Sakamoto, who has also won the last two nationals and is fresh off her maiden Grand Prix Final title in Beijing this month, delivered a flawless program. The meet at Nagano Big Hat is the final qualifying event ahead of March's world championships in Montreal."I'm relieved to have had my best short program of the season here. I'm completely satisfied with 78 points," Sakamoto said. "Recently, I've been ma…READ FULL ARTICLE
