PAGEANT Circle

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