Miss Universe Japan 2022 is Marybelen Sakamoto
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.