Miss Universe Japan
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The Miss Universe Japan Organization was created in 1998 in response to Japan's recent lack of finalists at the Miss Universe pageant. It is a branch from the late Miss Japan pageant.
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[edit] 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, in 1988, where Mizuho Sakaguchi took 4th place.
[edit] Miss Universe Japan Pageant
Since its founding in 1998, the Miss Universe Japan pageant, run by acclaimed French national director, Ines Ligron. It has achieved the impressive result of having three top 5 finalists and one winner at the Miss Universe pageant within a short span of 9 years. Ines Ligron was catapulted to the international spotlight when Riyo Mori won Japan's second Miss Universe crown in Mexico in 2007.
[edit] Miss Universe Japan 2003
Miyako Miyazaki is a fashion model and catwalk diva that won the Miss Universe Japan title in 2003, and placed 5th at Miss Universe 2003 pageant held in Panama City, Panama. She is considered by most to be, physically, the best Miss Universe Japan so far. Her catwalk is still unrivaled at Miss Universe Japan. She was involved in the training of Kurara Chibana and Riyo Mori before their participations at the Miss Universe pageant.
[edit] Miss Universe Japan 2006
Kurara Chibana has placed the second best for Japan in the 21st century. She placed 1st runner up to Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico in the Miss Universe 2006 pageant. Her sweet personality, freshness, natural glide, intelligence and interview skill made her the crowd's favorite of the final night. She has a very large international fanbase. It's even greater than the actual Miss Universe. Kurara is now on contract with Maybelline New York, Tokyo Beauty Center, Ask.jp, and Asience.
[edit] Miss Universe Japan 2007
Riyo Mori, a ballet dancer from Shizuoka won the Miss Universe Japan title and later went on to claim the Miss Universe title in Mexico City, Mexico. She is Japan's first Miss Universe in 48 years. In a pageant filled with mishaps and controversy, during the crowning of Riyo with the official Mikimoto crown, it slipped from her grasp 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 $250,000. The crown is now secure for the one year reign of Ms. Mori, while Akiko Chubachi took over the title of Miss Universe Japan 2007.
- Winner - Riyo Mori
- 1st runner up - Rei Hamada (refused the vacant crown of Miss Universe Japan 2007)
- 2nd runner up- Akiko Chubachi
The top 5 delegates were:
- Riyo Mori
- Rei Hamada
- Akiko Chubachi
- Maiko Kitagawa
- Reiko Iida
The remaining candidates were:
- Ako Koizumi
- Anna Sado
- Kiko Matsuyama
- Meri Wakui
- Yuko Ishizaka
- Yu Kizaki
[edit] 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 9 other finalists and a total of about 4000 entrants. Staged at the Tokyo International Forum, the final competition featured a "Fashion Island" performance. She 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 will represent Japan at the Miss Universe pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in July.
[edit] Winners
| Year | Winner | Hometown | Miss Universe placing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Hiroko Mima | Tokushima | |
| 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 | 14th in preliminary |
| 1999 | Satomi Ogawa | Saitama | 13th in preliminary |
| 1998 | Nana Okumura | Tokyo |
[edit] External links
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