Sari Nakazawa has been crowned as the winner of Miss Universe Japan 2016, at the finals held on March 01’ 2016. Sari Nakazawa succeeds Ariana Miyamoto from Nagasaki, Miss Universe Japan 2015. Sari will now represent Japan at the Miss Universe 2016 pageant. Sayaka Matsumoto was titled first runner-up, Kaori Arike was titled second runner-up, Sayaka Nishimura was adjudged third runner-up and Yukari Shiotsuki finished as the fourth runner-up.
Also See : Miss Universe 2016 Winners
Miss Universe Japan 2016 commenced with a series of musical performances. The contestants looked all energized and the crowd was equally elated.
The pageant moved ahead with the forty-six contestants battling out at the finals in the Preliminary Competition, including, Evening Gown and Swimsuit Rounds. The Preliminary Competition concluded with the announcement of Top 16 finalists - Yukari Shiotsuki, Momoe Yada, Keiko Fukushima, Ayumi Nakazawa, Mako Sato, Yukiko Takano, Arika Sakamoto, Sari Nakazawa, Miku Takahashi, Sayaka Nishimura, Sayaka Matsumoto, Risako Nakamura, Kaori Arike, Mizue Todoroki, Haruka Yoshino, Konatsu Itokazu.
The announcement of Top 16 was followed by the Swimsuit Competition, after which the Top 5 finalists were announced - Sayaka Matsumoto, Sari Nakazawa, Mako Sato, Sayaka Nishimura, Yukari Shiotsuki. The Top 5 finalists then went through a question and answer round, which led to the final announcement of the winner.
The Miss Universe Japan was found in the year 1998 and was run by French national director Ines Ligron. The pageant was created in retort to Japan's then-recent lack of finalists at the Miss Universe pageant. Prior to 1998, the representative for Miss Universe was sent from Miss Japan pageant. Miss Universe Japan is a branch of the former Miss Japan pageant.
What do you think of the newly crowned Miss Universe Japan?