Ito's first appearance at a major international competition was the 1981 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, where she won the free skating with a sensational performance that included a triple loop, a triple salchow, and two triple toe loop combinations.
Ito's first appearance at a major international competition was the 1981 World Junior Championships. She placed 20th in the compulsory figures but won the free skate with a triple loop, a triple salchow, and two triple toe loop combinations.