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Following several rounds of auditions and screenings, the 34 contestants vying for Miss Universe Japan 2023, and their official headshots, have been officially revealed online. Their pre-pageant training sessions already kicked off with the presence of national director Hiroko Mima, former titleholder Miyako Miyazaki, and last year's winner. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Japan Official (@missuniversejapan) This year's winner will be crowned in August by reigning Miss Universe Japan Marybelen Sakamoto and will represent the "Land of the Rising Sun" at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador. Who will be the next Miss Universe Japan? Meet the contestants: Ai Mariaximena Sakuraba Aki Yavas Angelene Seki Emi Ozaki Eri Fujita Hiroka Takise Kaho Tanaka Kana Takada Karen Miyazawa Kotoha Abe Kyoka Hori Madoka Higuchi Mao Eguchi Mariya Nagasawa Mayuka Oyama Miho Yamabe Mika Maeda Mina Yasukawa Mio Yamamoto Misaki Matsumoto Miyu Matsu

Erina Hanawa, a 29-year-old Japanese-Filipino beauty representing Japan, was crowned Miss Tourism World 2022 on Saturday, December 10 in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam. The runners-up were Justine Felizarta of the Philippines (first), Le Thi Huong of Vietnam (second), Iana Sharikova of Russia (third), and Adeduro Adetola of Nigeria (fourth). Rounding out the Top 12 semi-finalists were from China, Hanyu Zhang; Ghana, Emmanuella Apuri; Indonesia, Ade Yunita; Italy, Maria Carmen Crescenzi; Singapore, Delvina Katerina Luther; Thailand, Pakinee Duangpattra; and Turkey, Duygu Cerit. The continental titles were awarded to Colombia's Hazel Zuñiga Pinedo (Miss Tourism America), Thailand's Pakinee Duangpattra (Miss Tourism Asia), Ghana's Emmanuella Apuri (Miss Tourism Africa), and Turkey's Duygu Cerit (Miss Tourism Europe). Apart from the title, the new Miss Tourism World was also awarded the Best Tourism Video along with Thailand's Pakinee Duangpattra and Siberia's Milena Vatsil. Th

Tamao Yoneyama beat over 30 other contestants to be crowned Miss International Japan 2023 on Tuesday, November 8 at the Nissho Hall in Tokyo. The 26-year-old model from Tokyo, who now wears the newly unveiled crown by Long Beach Pearl, will represent Japan at the Miss International 2023 pageant. Mio Ikeda placed second while Sumire Akune, Kumi Miyamaru, and Marika Goto were third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. While this year's Miss International will be held on December 13 at Tokyo Dome City Hall, the date and venue for the 2023 edition have not yet been announced. Since 1960, Japan has only won Miss International once, in 2012, with the now actress and book author Ikumi Yoshimatsu. Meet the new Miss International Japan: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss International Japan (@missinternationaljapan) Photos: Miss International Japan / Instagram

Mayuko Hanawa was crowned Miss Supranational Japan 2022 on Saturday, September 24 at the Kanda Myojin Hall in Tokyo. The 27-year-old Japanese-Filipino teacher who represented the Ibaraki Prefecture will now prepare to compete in the Miss Supranational 2023 pageant in Poland. Miss Aichi, Ayano Shinkawa, 28, and Miss Shizuoka, Riho Sasaki, 22, were the first and second runners-up, respectively. A total of 18 finalists were selected to participate in the national final. At the end of the event, last year's winner Rina Okada relinquished her reign. Meet the new Miss Supranational Japan: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mayuko Hanawa (@hanawa_mayuko) Photos:  Ben Gonzalez  / Mayuko Hanawa / Instagram

Kana Yamaguchi bested 30 other finalists (including her sister) to be crowned Miss World Japan 2022 on Thursday, September 22 at the Hulic Hall Tokyo. The 24-year-old licensed teacher, model, and TV host from Toyama Prefecture succeeds last year's winner Tamaki Hoshi and will now prepare to represent Japan at the 71st Miss World pageant. Years prior to winning her national title, the new Miss World Japan has never imagined standing in front of an audience. "I would be happy if my challenge could be someone's courage, strength, and hope. Thank you for giving me the chance to stand here again, and next time I will spread my wings to the world," she said in her bio for the competition. Kana also wants a society where sports enrich the lives of children and increase the number of people who aim for a well-being lifestyle through sports. She believes that with her new position, she can communicate with the government and the board of education to realize it. Apart from the

Miss Kanagawa, Shiori Kojima, was named Miss Japan 2022 in a national final held on Friday, September 16 at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo. The 27-year-old advertising agency employee triumphed over 41 other finalists to win her title. Rounding out the Top 5 finalists were Nanaha Takaoka of Ehime, Risa Kitano of Tokyo, Kanako Tamura of Kumamoto, and Akari Motojima of Nagano. For the first time, Miss Japan Premium 2022 Mari Uehara (for age 30 plus) was also crowned at the same event. She beat 15 other finalists in her division. Miss Japan first ran from 1952 until 1995 and was re-established in 2019 in addition to Mister Japan by HDR Corporation, the same organization which has in the past staged Miss Universe and Miss Earth Japan. From left to right: Miss Japan Premium Mari Uehara, Miss Japan Shiori Kojima, and Mister Japan Kaito Iwami Although the winner of Miss Japan does not compete in any international pageants, she will engage in official events and charity events during her reign. The new

Marybelen Sakamoto was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2022 in a glittering national competition held on Thursday, August 25 in Tokyo. The 23-year-old beauty bested over 30 other finalist to win her national title. She will represent Japan at Miss Universe 2022, possibly later this year. Last year's winner Juri Watanabe, who placed in the Top 16 at Miss Universe 2021, relinquished her reign at the end of the event. Saria Oikawa and Megumi Wilson were named the first and second runners-up, respectively while Kozue Kanzaki and Aska Taira completed the Top 5 finalists. Former titleholder and model Hiroko Mima, who placed in the Top 15 at Miss Universe 2008, has been running the Miss Universe Japan competition as its national director since 2018. Since its debut at the Miss Universe pageant in 1952, Japan has won two Miss Universe editions with Akiko Kojima in 1959 and Riyo Mori in 2007. Photos: Miss Universe Japan / Instagram

Seira Inoue was crowned Miss Grand Japan 2022 during the national competition held on Saturday, August 6 at Yokosuka Arts Theater in Kanagawa Prefecture. The 26-year-old Japanese-Filipino beauty bested 24 other finalists to win the national title. She succeeds last year's winner Chika Mizuno and will represent Japan at Miss Grand International 2022 in Indonesia this October. Maria Nasu, Mizuki Takashima, Anna Yamanouchi, and Yukino Jahana were the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The rest of the Top 10 were Mika Takeda, Rika Asanuma, Yume Uchida, Yuriko Teshima　and Ai Ikegami. "I would like to express my gratitude to the many people who cheered me on," the new Miss Grand Japan wrote in a statement on social media. "I am still lacking in strength, but I would like to work hard so that I can show even more growth at the world tournament," she added. Miss Grand Japan was established in 2015 and is currently headed by former titleholder Eri

Manae Matsumoto bested 24 other finalists to be crowned Miss Earth Japan 2022 on Tuesday, July 26 at Hotel Chinzanso in Tokyo. The 25-year-old beauty representing Saitama succeeds last year's winner Konatsu Yoshida and will now prepare to represent Japan at Miss Earth 2022 in the Philippines. Airi Higa of Okinawa, Narumi Ota of Hyogo, and Riko Kato of Kagawa were the rest of the Top 4 and were respectively named Miss Earth Japan Air, Water, and Fire. Photos: Miss Earth Japan

Tamaki Hoshi edged out 30 other contestants to be crowned Miss World Japan 2021 in a national final held in Tokyo on Tuesday, October 12. The 20-year-old social sciences student at Waseda University, professional ballet dancer and media content writer succeeds Marika Sera and will now prepare to represent Japan at the 70th Miss World pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico this December. "For me, “Miss World Japan 2021” is not only a title, but a platform on which we can make our Beauty with a Purpose ideas into a reality. This coming year, I will give my utmost efforts to become the representative of Japanese youths with passion for creating positive social change," she said. Photos: Miss World Japan

Juri Watanabe was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2021 in a national competition held in Tokyo last Wednesday, September 22. The 25-year-old beauty bested over 30 other contestants to win her title and succeed Aisha Harumi Tochigi. She will represent Japan at the 70th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2021) pageant in Eilat, Israel this December. Juri holds a bachelor’s degree in development economics and international development from the University of California. She is no stranger to pageantry as she won Miss Asia USA 2016 and a Top 10 finalist during Miss World Japan 2019. Photo: Miss Universe Japan