Japan's Miki Ando performs during the women's free skating program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo. Ando won the gold medal in the event. Katsumi Kasahara | Associated Press

Japan swept the top two women's places today at the World Figure Skating Championships, with Ando taking the title and Mao Asada the silver, after South Korea's Kim Yu-na fell twice in her final skate and had to settle for bronze.

Defending champion Kimmie Meissner of the United States was fourth.

Ando didn't do the quad she had been practicing, but her seven triples to a Mendelssohn violin concerto earned her a total score of 195.09. That was enough to edge Asada, who had the best marks in the free-skating portion to total 194.45 points.

''I didn't think I would end up at the top of the podium,'' Ando said. ''So I was very happy to hear I won the gold medal.''

Kim, last year's junior world champion, had a commanding lead entering the free skate after a record 71.95 in the short program. Two minutes into her free skate, it appeared she would take home her country's first title.

But it all fell apart quickly for the 16-year-old, who needed acupuncture during the world championships because of a back problem.

She fell on the first jump of what was to be a three-jump combination, fell again and had another combination ruled scoreless. Her final score was 186.14, relegating her to third place.

''I didn't really feel any pain in my back. But my legs felt heavy and so I was unable to perform well and I wasn't as confident in my jumps,'' said Kim, who won the Grand Prix final over Asada and Ando in December.

Meissner, who performed to flamenco music, said skating against the Japanese in Tokyo was a challenge.

''It was tough tonight,'' Meissner said. ''Mao skated before me and obviously did very well, so the crowd was really into it. It was very emotional and intense. I couldn't tune out the screams.

''It was not my best, I can do better,'' she said. ''So I will regroup and come back next year.''

Emily Hughes, the sister of 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes, came in ninth. Another American, Alissa Czisny, was 15th.

Ando's victory is another big skating crown for Japan. Shizuka Arakawa won the title last year at the Turin Olympics, as well as the world title in 2004.

''I am very happy to have won the title in my home country,'' Ando said, tears streaming down her face.

Skating last, the 19-year-old Ando kept her poise and delivered a solid performance. Known more for her jumps than her artistry, Ando had a triple-triple for starters and landed all her jumps cleanly. But her routine was also smooth and graceful.

Asada won the free skating, but was just fifth after the short program the day before, and Ando's score in the free skate was good enough to put her on top.

''After the Turin Games I had such a hard time,'' Ando said, tears running down her face. ''I came back strong.''

Until winning the world title, Ando's main accomplishment had been her quadruple salchow. She is the only woman to land one in competition, though that was more than four years ago.

Going into Saturday's free skate, she had been coy about whether she would unleash it here. She tried it in Turin, and it cost her. She fell, and then melted down, failing to get a medal as Arakawa wowed the crowd and took the gold.

Ando was ready to try it again here if she needed it. She landed it in practice, creating a buzz in Japan's media. But she chose to play it safe.

''I decided not to jump the quadruple because I wanted to give all of my best effort to my performance,'' Ando said. ''That was my priority tonight and so I just did a triple salchow.''

The women's free skate was the last event of the world championships.