- Miss Universe Japan
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Not to be confused with Miss Japan.
Miss Universe Japan (Japanese: ミス・ユニバース・ジャパン) was created in 1998 in response to Japan's recent lack of finalists at the Miss Universe pageant. It is a branch from the former Miss Japan pageant.
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Miss Japan pageant
The Miss Japan pageant had existed from 1952 to 1997. During that period, the pageant managed to produce three top 5 finalists and a winner, Akiko Kojima, who claimed the first crown for Japan in 1959. After a semi-finalist placement in 1975, Japan managed to place only one more time prior to 1997, when Mizuho Sakaguchi took 4th place in 1988.
Miss Universe Japan pageant
Since its founding in 1998, the Miss Universe Japan pageant has been run by French national director, Ines Ligron. It has achieved the impressive result of having one semifinalist, two runner-ups, and one winner at the Miss Universe pageant within the short span of 10 years. Ligron was catapulted to the international spotlight when Riyo Mori won Japan's second Miss Universe crown in Mexico City, on May 28, 2007.
Miss Universe Japan 2003
Miyako Miyazaki is a fashion model who won the Miss Universe Japan title in 2003, and placed 5th at the Miss Universe 2003 pageant held in Panama City, Panama. She was involved in the training of Kurara Chibana and Riyo Mori before their participations at the Miss Universe pageant.[citation needed]
Miss Universe Japan 2006
Kurara Chibana placed the second-best for Japan in the 21st century. She placed 1st runner-up to Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico in the 2006 Miss Universe pageant. Chibana is now on contract with Maybelline New York, Tokyo Beauty Center, Ask.jp, and Asience.[citation needed]
Miss Universe Japan 2007 wins Miss Universe 2007 crown.
Miss Universe Japan 2007
Riyo Mori, a ballet dancer from Shizuoka won the Miss Universe Japan pageant and later went on to claim the Miss Universe title in Mexico City, Mexico. She is Japan's first Miss Universe in 48 years. During the crowning of Mori with the official Mikimoto crown, it slipped and nearly fell to the floor. Mori was able to hold on to the crown, which is made of diamonds and pearls and is valued at over US$250,000.
After the refusal of the 1st runner-up, Rei Hamada, to take over the vacant national title, 2nd runner-up Akiko Chubachi held the title of Miss Universe Japan 2007 and completed the remaining reign.
The two delegates who also advanced to the top 5 were Maiko Kitagawa and Reiko Iida, while the rest of the participating candidates were Ako Koizumi, Anna Sado, Kiko Matsuyama, Meri Wakui, Yuko Ishizaka and Yu Kizaki.
Miss Universe Japan 2008
Hiroko Mima, a 21-year-old physical education student from Tokushima in Western Japan, was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2008 on April 3, beating out nine other finalists and a total of about 4000 entrants. Staged at the Tokyo International Forum, the final competition featured a "Fashion Island" performance. The nine other contestants that competed against Hiroko Mima were: Kana Anan, Sayo Yamaguchi, Yukari Honna, Moe Aoki, Yuri Horita, Rui Watanabe, Yoshimi Sato, Chie Hirai, and Azusa Nishigaki. Mima competes on the track and field team with a high jump of 1.65 m., approaching her own height of 1.73 m. Originally from Awa she excels in the Awa Odori dance and holds up actress Audrey Hepburn as her ideal of cuteness combined with womanly elegance. Hiroko represented Japan at the Miss Universe pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 13, placing in the Top 15 and continued Japan streak of placements.
Miss Universe Japan 2009
The Miss Universe Japan 2009 pageant took place on May 11, 2009. Twenty-one contestants competed for the title, attempting to become Hiroko Mima's successor. The winner competed in Miss Universe 2009 in the Bahamas on August 23, 2009. The 21 contestants who competed for the title are: Mika Yoshinaga, Chiharu Ijima, Naomi Obata, Ai Tsuchiya, Emiri Miyasaka, Ayaka Koyanagi, Arika Sano, Marie Igarashi, Ayumi Shiotani, Chinatsu Hata, Keito Suzuki, Ayaka Hanawa, Mitsuyo Uesaka, Minami Suzuki, Megumi Fujisaku, Saemi Masuda, Marie Ooyama, Aya Taue, and Mariko Tsukamoto. The Top 5 were: Naomi Obata, Ayaka Koyanagi, Emiri Miyasaka, Mitsuyo Uesaka and Marie Igarashi
The winner of the pageant was Emiri Miyasaka of Tokyo.
Miss Universe Japan 2010
The 2010 Miss Universe Japan pageant took place on March 9, 2010. Eleven contestants competed for the title. The winner competed in Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 23, 2010. The 11 contestants that competed for the title were: Chie Ishii, Kanako Mitobe, Mai Morita, Marina Kishira, Yuka Eguchi, Noriko Kitamura, Momoka Yoshida, Saya Watatani, Maiko Itai, Tomie Eguchi, and Moeko Fukuda.
Maiko Itai of Oita won the title.
Winners
Year Winner Hometown Miss Universe placement 2011 Maria Kamiyama Osaka 2010 Maiko Itai Oita 2009 Emiri Miyasaka Tokyo 2008 Hiroko Mima Tokushima Top 15 semifinalist 2007 Riyo Mori Shizuoka Winner Akiko Chubachi Tokyo (Alternate Miss Universe Japan) 2006 Kurara Chibana Okinawa 1st runner-up 2005 Yukari Kuzuya Ichinomiya 2004 Eri Machimoto Hiroshima 2003 Miyako Miyazaki Kumamoto 4th runner-up 2002 Mina Chiba Tokyo 2001 Misao Arauchi Tokyo 2000 Mayu Endo Tokyo 1999 Satomi Ogawa Saitama 1998 Nana Okumura Tokyo External links
Categories:- Miss Universe by country
- Beauty pageants in Japan
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