Miss Universe Japan is an annual national pageant held in Japan, responsible for selecting the representative of Japan for the Miss Universe international pageant. 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.
Until the year 2007, the Miss Universe Japan organization only twice managed to produce a Top 5 finalist. However, in the year 2007, when Riyo Mori won the second Miss Universe crown for Japan, the country was back in the international spotlight.
Before the establishment of Miss Universe Japan organization, the delegate to Miss Universe pageant was sent through Miss Japan. The Miss Japan pageant existed from 1952 to 1997, during which the pageant managed to produce a winner (1959) and five times top 5 finalists (1953, 1955, 1969, 1970 and 1988) at the Miss Universe pageant.
After the memorable win at the Miss Universe 2007 pageant, Japan has not been able to establish any winning moment so far. Last was in the year 2008, where Japan managed to make it to the Top 15 semi-finalists.
The reigning Miss Universe Japan is Keiko Tsuji, who was crowned as Miss Japan 2014 in Tokyo on March 18’ 2014. Keiko represented Japan at the Miss Universe 2014 international pageant, but could not make it to the Top finalists' list.
Miss Universe Japan 2015 is scheduled to be held on March 12’ 2015.