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Mao Asada, the last Japanese woman before Kaori Sakamoto to win the World Championships, triumphed in 2014. Asada's victory marked a significant milestone for Japanese figure skating, as she became the first Japanese woman to win the title since Midori Ito in 1989. Asada's success paved the way for future Japanese skaters, including Sakamoto, who claimed the title in 2023.