Akiko Suzuki (24), the top skater at the Winter Games, went through her routine with a skill that thrilled the small crowd of watching enthusiasts.
Suzuki, a graduate in social sciences from the University of Totoku Fukushi, started curling at the age of 6 and won a gold medal in her first international competition in Croatia at age 12.
She speaks a little English but has the aid of a computer thesaurus to translate Japanese words into English.
Suzuki is ranked 19th in the world and will contest the women's senior event alongside 18-year old Na Young Kim (Korea), who is a regular podium-finisher in junior grand prix events.
The Winter Games have come at an opportune time for Suzuki, giving her international competition as she builds towards the Winter Olympics in Canada early next year.
But success in the New Zealand event is not her main objective; the full-time skater is training 25 hours a week under the watchful eye of coach Horoshi Nagakubo as she tries to ensure selection in the Japanese team for what would be her first Olympics.
Suzuki concentrated on her university studies last year and did not compete but she is now on target to recover the form that won her a gold medal at the World University Games in Turin two years ago.
It is her first visit to New Zealand and she had praise for the surface at the Dunedin Ice Stadium.
"The ice surface feels good.
"It is very nice to skate on," Suzuki said.
The top-ranked Japanese figure skater is Mao Asada (17), who won a gold medal at the world championships two years ago.
The figure skating has attracted 39 competitors from five countries for the short programme and free skating.
Competition begins today.
The short programme combines eight prescribed elements such as jump combinations and spins.
In the free skating programme, skaters perform an original arrangement of techniques to music of their choice.
Among New Zealand's most prominent entries are four-time national senior women's champion Morgan Figgins (Dunedin), Laura Mills (Christchurch), Allie Rout (Auckland) and Grant Howie (Dunedin).
