Keiji Shirahata successfully defended his men's overall crown by winning the 10,000 meters Friday to clinch a record-equaling sixth triumph at the National Championships.
Shirahata, who had slipped to second after finishing 10th in the 1,500, clocked 13 minutes, 57.18 seconds in the 10,000 at the Ikaho rink to seal his victory and match Toru Aoyanagi's record of winning six national titles.
Shirahata amassed a winning total of 158.158 points, finishing in front of 1,500-meter winner Takahiro Ushiyama who placed second overall with 159.382.
Toshihiko Itokawa took third with 159.738.
Maki Tabata, meanwhile, broke her own meet record in the women's 1,500 in 2:00.13 and then breezed home in 7:43.42 to win the 5,000 for her third victory out of the four distances in the two-day event.
Tabata also set a meet record by totaling 169.125 points.
The victory ensured Tabata her third straight national crown while Nami Nemoto took second with 172.547 and Eriko Seo, second overnight, slipped to third with 173.652.