The Miss International Japan organization hosted the latest edition of the Miss International Japan pageant, i.e. Miss International Japan 2022 on 30th November 2021, at Byuti and Wellness College, where stunning delegates from all over the country competed for the coveted crown and an opportunity to represent Japan at the international stage. At the end of the event, Kiko Matsuo from Saga Prefecture was crowned as the new queen as she succeeded Miss International Japan 2020 Chiho Teruchi of Utsunomiya City for the title.

Kiko is 22 years of age and hails from Saga prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. She is passionate about learning languages, business nuances and appreciates both inner and outer beauty. Growing up, Matsuo was often bullied in school, these experiences made her want to change the world for better and now she aspires to empower others and create a positive influence in people’s life.

Driven by a sense of responsibility and sheer empathy, she strives to support those in need and those who are suffering, both in developing and developed countries. She wants to use the Miss International beauty platform to empower others just as she had been empowered in the difficult chapters of her life.

"You are strong and beautiful. Life is beautiful. Life is precious. I won't ever take it for granted. I have lived by these values and I will continue to do so going forward. Through the Miss International Beauty Pageant and afterwards throughout my life journey, I will devote myself to making a positive influence in my community and in the international society. I am still an amateur, but I will do my best forever and ever,” she remarked on her experiences.

Miss International Japan 2022 Kiki Matsuo’s court included –

First runner-up- Alice Tanaka

Second runner-up- Yuumi Kato

Third runner-up- Erina Kakuto

Fourth runner-up- Maria Ishida

Kiko expressed her gratitude on her social media yesterday and shared, “First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers, sponsors, and all those who supported me for this brilliant time. We were able to receive such an award because everyone supported us and poured a lot of love into us, thank you very much. Encounter is very important to me in my life. Every good encounter makes me feel warm and peaceful. In my speech, I said that "life is beautiful", but I think that's because there were people who helped me when I was having a hard time. And I will never forget the time I spent with all the people involved and the finalists, and I think that I will be happy every time I think back on this encounter.”

“It was really nice to be able to participate in Miss International. With the gratitude, preciousness, and mission of being utilized so that we can make use of this wonderful experience that we have received, make use of my life, and deliver that feeling of peace to everyone in Japan and around the world. , I will continue to devote myself every day. Once again, thank you very much for this time. And thank you for your continued support. We are looking forward to seeing you all,” she further added.

She bested 38 candidates to the national crown and will now head to the 60th Miss International Beauty Pageant, which is rescheduled to the autumn of 2022 due to rising cases caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant.

Congratulations to the newly crowned queen!