Hikaru Ono was one of the country's success stories at the Movistar Arena in the Chilean capital, as she battled to the final of the women's kata.

The world number five will take on world number three Viviana Bottaro of Italy in a tightly-matched final.

Naoto Sago is another Japanese finalist after he defeated Spain's Alejandro Ortiz Fernandez in the men's under-60 kilograms kumite last four.

He will face Turkey's reigning grand winner Eray Samdan, who reached his third final in four Series A events by beating world champion Angelo Crescenzo of Italy.

Hiroto Gomyo is Japan's representative in the men's 67kg final after edging Chile's home hope Camilo Velozo in the last four.

Brazil's Vinicius Figueira will be his opponent after he ousted Kazkahstan's Didar Amirali.

Ayaka Saito of Japan fought her way to the final of the women's over-68kg division by beating Brazil's Isabela Rodrigues in her semi-final.

Her opponent will be world number 85 Johanna Kneer of Germany, a surprise finalist after she beat another Brazilian in Rafaela Silva.

Japan will also contest the men's team kata final, where they will take on Italy.

There will be home interest in the men's under-75kg gold medal bout after Chile's Joaquin Gonzalez Lavin defeated Brazil's Hernani Verissimo to book his spot.

He will face Ukraine's Stanislav Horuna, the European Games champion who saw off Yassine Sekouri of Morocco.

The women's under-68kg final will be a battle between Switzerland's world rankings leader Elena Quirici and China's Li Gong.

Quirici defeated Italy's Silvia Semeraro in her semi-final with Li beating Kayo Someya of Japan.

The event will conclude tomorrow with a full programme of finals.