Another of Hanyu’s masterful free skates received a record 219.48 points, and a record total of 330.43 that shattered milestones he set last month at the NHK Trophy.
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Hanyu, 21, had achieved world bests in all three just over two weeks ago in the NHK Trophy in Nagano, becoming the first skater to break the mythical 300-point mark.
Local favourite and world champion Javier Fernandez skated last – immediately after Hanyu’s stunning performance.
The 2015 world silver medallist achieved a new personal best 140.09 points and moved up from fourth to second with 208.85.
“But overall it wasn’t bad so I’m hoping to do better tomorrow”, she continued. He was greeted with huge applause before skating and a standing ovation complete with a shower of flowers from his fans, many waving Japanese flags, when he finished.
The women’s junior free skate will be held on Saturday.
“I always want to perform my best and be No. 1”, Hanyu said.
Asada was struggling from her opening triple Axel jump in her “Madame Butterfly” free skate, popping the following planned triple-triple combination.
China’s Boyang Jin was third with 86.95 points.
Gracie Gold (194.79) followed in fifth place, while four-time Grand Prix Final champion and three-time world title holder Mao Asada (194.32) placed a shocking sixth after an error-filled free skate.
Hanyu reeled off a quadruple Salchow, quadruple toeloop, quadruple-triple toeloop and six triple jumps including two Axels in his exquisite programme to Japanese movie soundtrack “Seimei”. The Canadian was left last of the six finalists with 70.61 points, which is almost 30 points off his personal best.
“I got a world record, but I can’t even think about it now I’m so exhausted”, said the skater from Sendai after being reduced to tears as his scores appeared.
“I’ll be honest… initially I was kind of relieved that I didn’t have to do a long program”, Chan admitted. “I just have to put that behind me and have a fresh start”.
In the December 11 pairs final, 2014 Olympic silver medalists Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov (229.44) of Russian Federation ended a dominant run by Canadians Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford (216.67) to take the gold. “It gave us a ton of confidence going into the rest of the year”. Falling on a throw triple is uncharacteristic of us. And you still have to bring it every competition, and there’s nothing that means you’ll then be the champion at some other event.
“My next goal is nationals, and to get a higher score in the short programme”.
Seguin and Bilodeau also posted a season’s best score.
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Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu broke more world records on his way to a sensational third straight consecutive men’s title at the ISU Grand Prix Final of figure skating on Saturday.
