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Kaya Chakrabortty bested over 30 other contestants to win Miss Universe Japan 2024 during the national competition held on Thursday, July 25 in Tokyo. The 22-year-old Japanese-Bangladeshi from Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture will represent Japan at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico this November. She succeeds last year's winner Rio Miyazaki. Naomi Kamidate, Yukie Yamaguchi, Honoka Shimamori, and Chika Mizuno were the Top 5 finalists. Completing the Top 11 were Erina Hanawa, Misaki Komori, Nanami Hagiwara, Mami Miyamaru, Hana Yanagi, and Mai Amano. The new Miss Universe Japan is a figure skating champion and a certified paramedic. She graduated from Michigan State University with a double major in human biology and neuroscience. Her mother is Japanese and her father is of Bangladeshi and Indian descent. "I strive to create a world where a single piece of education can be the decisive factor between life and death, and regardless of background, one’s ability to save a life remains with

Rio Miyazaki was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2023 in a national competition held on Wednesday, August 30 at the Yamano Hall in Tokyo. The 20-year-old early childhood education student at Kyoritsu Women's University from Shizuoka Prefecture beat 30 other competitors to win the coveted national title. Nana Miwa and Risa Morishita were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Mio Yamamoto and Misaki Matsumoto rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The rest of the Top 11 semifinalists were Kana Takada, Karen Miyazawa, Mina Yasukawa, Ria Iuchi, Sayaka Uechi, and Yuma Enomoto. Last year's winner Marybelen Sakamoto crowned her successor at the end of the glittering event. The new Miss Universe Japan will now prepare to represent her country at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador this November. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Japan Official (@missuniversejapan) Photos: Miss Universe Japan RELATED POST: Miss Universe Japan 2023: Meet t

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

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

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