Okay if it's
1.) Hanyu
2.) Machida
3.) Kozuka
4.) Oda
5.) Takahashi
The spots goes as follows:
1.) Winner of nationals
2.) 2nd at nationals/3rd at nationals/Highest GPF finisher
3.) 2nd at nationals/3rd at nationals/Upper 3 world standing/season's best. The exact language is: Those who leaked out from the selection of No. 2, the upper three Japanese in the world standing at the time of the ending of Japan nationals and the upper three Japanese of ISU season best score.
So:
1.) Hanyu
2.) Machida (2nd) /Kozuka(3rd) /Hanyu (Highest GPF finisher). Hanyu is in under No. 1 So I'd say Machida.
3.) Kozuka (3rd at Nationals) or Takahashi (Season's Best/World Standing)
If Oda and Kozuka switch places.
1.) Hanyu
2.) Machida
3.) Oda (3rd at Nationals) or Takahashi (Season's Best/World Standing)
So yes, technically Takahashi (and Machida and Hanyu also)can technically be chosen for the No. 3 spot regardless of the Nationals placement because of his high SB/World ranking. Even if Oda beats Daisuke by placing 4th, he doesn't fit any of the criteria. Kozuka, in placing third, also is in danger of losing out the spot to one Machida or Takahashi. The road is harder to plow for Oda and Kozuka, it seems. Basically Kozuka and Oda basically would have to get up to the silver medal position to avoid a federation showdown for the third spot.
1.) Hanyu
2.) Machida
3.) Kozuka
4.) Oda
5.) Takahashi
The spots goes as follows:
1.) Winner of nationals
2.) 2nd at nationals/3rd at nationals/Highest GPF finisher
3.) 2nd at nationals/3rd at nationals/Upper 3 world standing/season's best. The exact language is: Those who leaked out from the selection of No. 2, the upper three Japanese in the world standing at the time of the ending of Japan nationals and the upper three Japanese of ISU season best score.
So:
1.) Hanyu
2.) Machida (2nd) /Kozuka(3rd) /Hanyu (Highest GPF finisher). Hanyu is in under No. 1 So I'd say Machida.
3.) Kozuka (3rd at Nationals) or Takahashi (Season's Best/World Standing)
If Oda and Kozuka switch places.
1.) Hanyu
2.) Machida
3.) Oda (3rd at Nationals) or Takahashi (Season's Best/World Standing)
So yes, technically Takahashi (and Machida and Hanyu also)can technically be chosen for the No. 3 spot regardless of the Nationals placement because of his high SB/World ranking. Even if Oda beats Daisuke by placing 4th, he doesn't fit any of the criteria. Kozuka, in placing third, also is in danger of losing out the spot to one Machida or Takahashi. The road is harder to plow for Oda and Kozuka, it seems. Basically Kozuka and Oda basically would have to get up to the silver medal position to avoid a federation showdown for the third spot.