Akiko Suzuki of Japan performs during the women's free skate at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Akiko Suzuki of Japan performs during the women's free skate at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
The winning women's figure Akiko Suzuki, right, and second-placed Mao Asada of Japan pose for photographer after the awarding ceremony of women's free figure skating at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Akiko Suzuki of Japan performs during the women's free skate at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Ashley Wagner of the United States performs during the women's free figure skating at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
The winning pair of Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the United States is flanked by second-placed Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Canada, left, and third -placed Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia as they pose for photographers after their awarding ceremony of the ice dance at the NHK Trophy Figure Skating in Sapporo, Japan, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
SAPPORO, Japan (AP) ? Akiko Suzuki of Japan won the NHK Trophy on Saturday and Brandon Mroz of the United States made skating history by becoming the first to land a quadruple lutz in international competition.
Suzuki held off Mao Asada in the free skate to earn her first Grand Prix title in two seasons. Suzuki, who had an eight-point lead over Asada after the short program, made several mistakes in the final but scored 119.43 points for a total of 185.98, just 1.79 points ahead of Asada.
"I'm very happy to have won my first NHK Trophy, but I'm not at all satisfied with my free skate," Suzuki said. "I will reflect on my mistakes and try to improve them."
Russian skater Alena Leonova was third with 170.68 points, and Ashley Wagner of the United States finished fourth.
In the men's short program, Vancouver bronze medalist Daisuke Takahashi of Japan finished first, hitting all his jumps to score a personal-best 90.43 points. Takahiko Kozuka of Japan was second with 79.77.
The 20-year-old Mroz, who placed third with 74.83, hit the quadruple lutz on his opening jump.
"I'm excited to get it done in an international competition," Mroz. "Getting another jump done is awesome for generations of skaters to come."
As she did in the short program, Asada's failure to hit a triple axel on her opening element cost her valuable points. She tried the triple again Saturday but only managed a double.
"I cleared my own goals, except for the triple axel," Asada said. "I skated my other elements well. I'm not yet at the level I want to be. I can level up."
Suzuki, skating to "Die Fledermaus" did a single lutz instead of a planned triple lutz later in her routine and singled a triple loop but her lead from the short program was big enough to secure the win.
It was Suzuki's first victory at the senior Grand Prix series since the 2009 Cup of China. Her victory here, coupled with a second-place finish as Skate Canada, qualified her for the Dec. 8-11 Grand Final in Quebec City, Canada.
Mroz previously made the quadruple lutz on Sept. 16 at the Colorado Spring Invitational, a U.S Figure Skating sanctioned event.
In the ice dance, Maia and Alex Shibutani of the United States rallied from third place to win their first Grand Prix title.
The Japanese-American pair received a personal-best 92.83 points in the free dance to capture their first senior Grand Prix title with a total of 151.85.
"After the short dance, we felt pretty confident going into today's program," Alex Shibutani said. "It's great to get our first Grand Prix title here in Japan where the fans really support us."
Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Canada were second with 151.76 while Russians Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov, first after the short dance, took the bronze medal.
The Shibutanis won the bronze medal at the 2011 world championships. Their previous best result at a Grand Prix event was second place at last week's Cup of China in Shanghai.
Lynn Kriengkairut and Logan Giulietti-Schmitt of the United States collided with Cathy Reed and Chris Reed of Japan in the warm-up. Both couples were able to perform their routines and finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
In the pairs final, Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov of Russia won the gold medal after receiving 122.49 points in the free skate. The Russian pair was fifth after the short program but impressed the judges with near-flawless performance to finish with 177.51.
Narumi Takahashi and Mervin Tran of Japan were second with 172.09, while world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany finished third.
The NHK Trophy is the fourth event of the 2011 International Skating Union's Grand Prix series.
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