{, 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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 t placements.
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