Miss Universe Japan
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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.
Miss Japan pageant
The Miss Japan pageant had existed from 1952 to 1997. During that period, the pageant managed to produce a winner and three top 5 finalists at the Miss Universe pageant. In 1959, Akiko Kojima claimed the first crown for Japan. After a top 12 semifinalist placement in 1975, Japan managed to place only one more time prior to 1997, when Mizuho Sakaguchi took fourth place in 1988.
Miss Universe Japan pageant
When the Miss Universe Japan pageant was founded in 1998, it was ran by French national director Ines Ligron. Until 2007, the organisation managed to produce one winner, two top 5 runners-up and one top 15 semifinalist at the Miss Universe pageant. Ligron was catapulted to the international spotlight when Riyo Mori won the second Miss Universe crown for Japan in 2007. In 2009, Ligron left the organisation which resulted in a different team now leading the organisation.
Miss Universe Japan 2003
Miyako Miyazaki is a fashion model who won the Miss Universe Japan title in 2003 who eventually placed 4th runner-up at the Miss Universe 2003 pageant held in Panama City, Panama. After relinquishing the national title, she was involved in the training of Kurara Chibana and Riyo Mori before their participations at the Miss Universe pageant.
Miss Universe Japan 2006
Kurara Chibana participated in Miss Universe 2006 and was placed 1st runner-up in the pageant. After returning to Japan, Chibana modeled for Maybelline New York, Tokyo Beauty Center, Ask.jp, and Asience.
Miss Universe Japan 2007
Riyo Mori, a ballet dancer from Shizuoka won the title of Miss Universe Japan and later went on to claim the Miss Universe crown in Mexico City, Mexico. She is the first Japanese Miss Universe in 48 years. During the crowning, the Mikimoto crown slipped and nearly fell to the floor. Mori was able to hold on to the diamonds-and-pearls studded crown which is valued at over US$250,000.[1]
After Rei Hamada, the 1st runner-up of Miss Universe Japan 2007, turned down the opportunity to take over the vacant national title, the 2nd runner-up Akiko Chubachi stepped in and and completed the remaining reign.
At the 2007 Miss Universe Japan pageant, the remaining delegates who 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. She prevailed over nine other finalists and a total of 4,000 entrants for the competition. 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.
Originally from Awa, Mima excels in the Awa Odori dance. She also competes on the track and field team, achieving a high jump of 1.65 metres which is almost equavalent to her height of 1.73 m. Mima holds up actress Audrey Hepburn as her ideal of cuteness combined with womanly elegance.
Mima represented Japan at the Miss Universe pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 13, placing in the top 15 and contributed to a third consecutive placement for Japan.
Miss Universe Japan 2009
The Miss Universe Japan 2009 pageant took place on May 11, 2009. 21 contestants competed for the title to become Hiroko Mima's successor.
The winner of the pageant was Emiri Miyasaka of Tokyo who later competed at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant held in Nassau, Bahamas. She was unplaced on the final night.
Miss Universe Japan 2010
The 2010 Miss Universe Japan pageant took place on March 9, 2010. 11 contestants competed for the title. The winner competed in Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 23, 2010.
Maiko Itai of Oita did not qualify for a semifinalist position.
Miss Universe Japan 2011
Maria Kamiyama was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2011 and competed in Miss Universe 2011 in São Paulo, Brazil on September 12, 2012, where she was unplaced.
Miss Universe Japan 2012
Ayako Hara was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2012 and will compete in Miss Universe 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 19, 2012.[2]
Winners
| Year | Winner | Hometown | Placement at Miss Universe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ayako Hara | Tokyo | |
| 2011 | Maria Kamiyama | Osaka | Non-finalist |
| 2010 | Maiko Itai | Oita | Non-finalist |
| 2009 | Emiri Miyasaka | Tokyo | Non-finalist |
| 2008 | Hiroko Mima | Tokushima | Top 15 |
| 2007 | Riyo Mori | Shizuoka | Winner |
| Akiko Chubachi | Tokyo | did not compete | |
| 2006 | Kurara Chibana | Okinawa | 1st runner-up |
| 2005 | Yukari Kuzuya | Ichinomiya | Non-finalist |
| 2004 | Eri Machimoto | Hiroshima | Non-finalist |
| 2003 | Miyako Miyazaki | Kumamoto | 4th runner-up |
| 2002 | Mina Chiba | Tokyo | Non-finalist |
| 2001 | Misao Arauchi | Tokyo | Non-finalist |
| 2000 | Mayu Endo | Tokyo | Non-finalist |
| 1999 | Satomi Ogawa | Saitama | Non-finalist |
| 1998 | Nana Okumura | Tokyo | Non-finalist |
References
- ^ May 29, 2007 12:00AM (2007-05-29). "Japan's Riyo Mori wins Miss Universe | thetelegraph.com.au". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Ayako Hara : Miss Universe Japan 2012 | MISS UNIVERSE 2012 | livewireworld | livewireworld". Livewireworld.info. 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-08-25.