The magnificent pageant of Miss Universe Japan 2017 is on its road to the finale, and is scheduled to be held on 4th July 2017. A total of 47 contestants are competing for the coveted title, one from each province of Japan. The winner of this pageant will represent Japan at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant to be held later this year. At the conclusion of the finale, Sari Nakazawa from Shiga will crown her successor.
The luminous nation pageant is walking slowly and steadily, yet in full swing towards the finale. Japan has produced two Miss Universe winners till date. The Miss Universe Japan pageant was founded in the year 1998 and was headed by Ines Ligron till 2009. Amidst all provinces, Tokyo is the most successful province at Miss Universe Japan pageant and holds the highest record of producing seven winners. Following Tokyo is Nagasaki which has produced two winners at the pageant, the recent being Ariana Miyamoto, who was also a Top 10 finalist at Miss Universe 2015.
After the memorable win at the Miss Universe 2007 pageant, Japan has not been able to establish any winning moment so far. Miss Universe Japan 2016, the 19th edition of Miss Universe Japan pageant, was held on March 01’ 2016 in Tokyo. At the end of the magnificent finale, Sari Nakazawa was crowned as the winner of Miss Universe Japan 2016.
The 47 contestants competing for the coveted title of Miss Universe Japan 2017 are –
Miku Makino
Tomoka Konno
Keito Souma
Momoko Abe
Kanako Fukuoka
Mayuka Takai
Nana Furusho
Ai Kobayashi
Saori Takeuchi
Mari Kibe
Riko Manabe
Shihori Matsui
Akari Maeda
Nanami Tomita
Misaki Tabata
Haruhi Maseki
Nene Yokode
Yuki Fuse
Erina Shirahama
Haruka Maeda
Mami Noguchi
Yukako Wakisaka
Ayumi Matsui
Tomoka Abe
Kanami Maeda
Natsuki Konishi
Kino Nishimura
Natsuki Usuki
Haruka Komagata
Saki Sunagawa
Mutsue Kobara
Erea Taira
Mayuka Yoshimoto
Yuuka Araki
Saori Kudo
Narumi Yamaguchi
Sayaka Fujimoto
Mai Goudo
Kana Kato
Rina Miyoshi
Ayaka Koshiba
Honami Nishikawa
Yuika Matsui
Nagisa Nakanishi
Kaori Kouyama
Makana Ozaki
Natsumi Tagawa
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Akiko Kojima who was crowned as Miss Universe 1959, was the first Asian to win Miss Universe crown. The second Japanese who wore the coveted Miss Universe crown was Riyo Mori, who was titled in 2007. Entering into alma mater of the luminaries are, Kurara Chibana, who is the only first runner-up from the country, Kinuko Ito, who was crowned as second runner-up at that 1953 edition of Miss Universe, Jun Shimada, second runner up at Miss Universe 1970 and Mizuho Sakaguchi, who was adjudged as the third runner-up in Miss Universe 1988. Apart from these legendary beauty queens, Kikuyo Osuka and Miyako Miyazaki were titled as the fourth runner-ups at Miss Universe 1955 and Miss Universe 2003 respectively.