# Miss International Japan

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Japanese beauty pageant

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Miss International Japan Formation 1960 Type Beauty pageant Headquarters Tokyo Location Japan Members Miss International Official language Japanese President Akemi Shimomura Website https://www.miss-international.org/jp/

**Miss International Japan** is a national [Beauty pageant](/source/Beauty_pageant) in Japan. It was created in 1960 in response to Japan's then-recent lack of finalists at the [Miss International](/source/Miss_International) pageant.

## History

Miss International Japan Beauty pageant has consisted of the passion and energy given by the “Goodwill Ambassadors of Beauty" from all over Japan country who aspire for "contribute to global society". This pageant is under of [Miss International](/source/Miss_International) Organization by ICA (International Cultural Association).

The winner of Miss International Japan will be contributing at the [Miss International](/source/Miss_International) pageant. Since 1960 participating at the pageant, Japan has only one winner, [Ikumi Yoshimatsu](/source/Ikumi_Yoshimatsu) (吉松 育美) from [Tosu](/source/Tosu%2C_Saga), [Japan](/source/Japan).[1]

## International Cultural Association

The Association was approved and founded in April 1969 (Showa 44) as an incorporated organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cultural Exchange Division), for the purpose of "friendship and goodwill between all nations of the world" through international exchange.[2]

## Titleholders

**Color key**

- Declared as Winner

- Ended as runner-up

- Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists

- Ended as special award winner

Year Miss International Japan Japanese Represented Placement Special Awards National competition date World competition date 2026 Michiru Yakuwa 八鍬ミチル Yamagata TBA TBA December 9, 2025 TBA 2025 Ai Nozaki 野崎愛 Yamanashi Top 20 Miss Friendship December 10, 2024 November 27, 2025 2024 Mei Ueda[3] 上田芽生 Kumamoto Top 20 Miss International Asia November 28, 2023 November 12, 2024 2023 Tamao Yoneyama[4] 米山珠緒 Tokyo November 8, 2022 October 26, 2023 2022 Kiko Matsuo 松尾 綺子 Saga Miss International Asia November 30, 2021 December 13, 2022 2021 Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, no pageant in 2021 2020 Chiho Terauchi[5] 寺内 千穂 Tochigi Did not compete November 26, 2019 N/A 2019 Tomomi Okada 岡田 朋峰 Tokyo October 23, 2018 November 12, 2019 2018 Hinano Sugimoto 杉本 雛乃 Tokyo Top 8 October 30, 2017 November 9, 2018 2017 Natsuki Tsutsui 筒井 菜月 Saitama 4th Runner-up Best National Costume October 25, 2016 November 14, 2017 2016 Junna Yamagata 山形 純菜 Iwate Top 15 November 3, 2015 October 27, 2016 2015 Arisa Nakagawa 中川 愛理沙 Chiba Best National Costume November 4, 2014 November 5, 2015 2014 Rira Hongo 本郷 李來 Tokyo January 25, 2014 November 11, 2014 2013 Yukiko Takahashi 高橋 由紀子 Tokyo November 4, 2012 December 17, 2013 2012 Ikumi Yoshimatsu[6] 吉松 育美 Saga Miss International 2012 Miss Photogenic November 20, 2011 October 21, 2012 2011 Nagomi Murayama 村山 和実 Kanagawa November 20, 2010 November 6, 2011 2010 Etsuko Kanagae 金ヶ江 悦子 Osaka Top 15 Miss Elegance December 13, 2009 November 7, 2010 2009 Yuka Nakayama 中山 由香 Fukuoka Top 15 Miss Congeniality October 25, 2008 November 28, 2009 2008 Kyoko Sugiyama 杉山 恭子 Kanagawa Top 12 October 15, 2007 November 8, 2008 2007 Hisako Shirata 白田 久子 Osaka Top 15 Miss Photogenic October 15, 2006 October 15, 2007 2006 Mami Sakurai 櫻井 麻美 Tokyo Top 12 September 26, 2005 November 11, 2006 2005 Naomi Ishizaka 石坂 直美 Tokyo Top 12 October 5, 2004 September 26, 2005 2004 Tamiko Kawahara 川原 多美子 Ibaraki Top 15 October 8, 2003 October 16, 2004 2003 Saeko Matsumi 松見 早枝子 Tokyo Top 12 Miss Congeniality September 30, 2002 October 8, 2003 2002 Hana Urushima 漆島 華 Kyoto 2nd runner-up September 30, 2002 2001 Hanako Suzuki 鈴木 華子 Saitama Top 15 October 4, 2001 2000 Kanako Shibata 柴田 加奈子 Hokkaido Top 15 October 4, 2000 1999 Kana Onoda 小野田 加奈 Fukushima Top 15 1998 Megumi Taira 平 恵 Tokyo Top 15 1997 Sayuri Seki 関 さゆり Saitama Top 15 1996 Akiko Sugano 菅野 安希子 Tokyo Top 15 1995 Yuka Kondo 近藤 由夏 Osaka Top 15 1994 Tomomi Hanamura 花村 ともみ Aichi Top 15 1993 Masayo Shibasaki 柴崎 雅代 Kanagawa Top 15 1992 Tomoko Nishiki 錦 知子 Osaka 1991 Miho Takata 高田 美穂 Ehime Top 15 1990 Hiroko Ohnishi 大西 啓子 Hyōgo Top 15 1989 Tamae Ogura 小倉 玉江 Osaka 1988 Yuki Egami 江上 有希 Fukui Top 15 1987 Yayoi Morita 盛田 弥生 Yamanashi Top 15 1986 Rika Kobayashi 小林 利花 Shizuoka Top 15 1985 Makiko Matsumoto 松本 万貴子 Osaka Top 15 1984 Junko Ueno 上野 順子 Osaka Top 15 1983 Akemi Fujita 藤田 明美 Yamaguchi Top 15 1982 Yukiko Tsutsumi 堤 由記子 Hokkaido 1981 Mika Moriwaki 森脇 美香 Okayama Top 15 1980 Mayumi Kanbara 蒲原 まゆみ Osaka Miss Congeniality 1979 Hideko Haba 羽場 秀子 Tokyo 4th runner-up 1978 Atsuko Taguchi 田口 淳子 Akita 1977 Mieko Kojima 小島 三恵子 Saitama 1976 Kumie Nakamura 中村 久美江 Osaka 4th runner-up 1975 Sumiko Kumagai 熊谷 澄子 Tokyo Top 15 1974 Hideko Shigekawa 茂川 秀子 Osaka Top 15 1973 Miki Yaita 矢板 美季 Hokkaido Top 15 1972 Yuko Tamehisa 為久 優子 Yamaguchi Top 15 1971 Reiko Yoneyama 米山 礼子 Yamanashi Top 15 1970 Toshie Suda 須田 敏恵 Yamanashi 3rd Runner-up 1969 Akemi Okemoto 桶本 明美 Hiroshima Top 15 1968 Yoko Sunami 砂見 葉子 Fukuoka Top 15 1967 Hiroko Sasaki 佐々木 裕子 Tokyo Top 15 1966 cancellation 1965 Hiroko Fukushima 福島 宏子 Tokyo 1964 Naoko Matsui 松井 尚子 Fukuoka Top 15 1963 Shizuko Shimizu 清水 静子 Tokyo 1962 Kaoru Maki 牧 かほる Tokyo Top 15 1961 Atsuko Kyoto 京藤 敦子 Fukui 1960 Michiko Takagi 高木 美智子 Osaka Top 15

### Winners by prefectures

Prefectures Titles Years Tokyo 16 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1975, 1979, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2023 Osaka 10 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1995, 2007, 2010 Saitama 4 1977, 1997, 2001, 2017 Yamanashi 1970, 1971, 1987, 2025 Kanagawa 3 1993, 2008, 2011 Hokkaido 1973, 1982, 2000 Fukuoka 1964, 1968, 2009 Saga 2 2012, 2022 Fukui 1961, 1988 Yamaguchi 1972, 1983 Kumamoto 1 2024 Tochigi 2020 Iwate 2016 Chiba 2015 Ibaraki 2004 Kyoto 2002 Fukushima 1999 Aichi 1994 Ehime 1991 Hyōgo 1990 Shizuoka 1986 Okayama 1981 Akita 1978 Hiroshima 1969

## Controversy

In 2013 edition, for the first time in history, the winner of [Miss International 2012](/source/Miss_International_2012) [Ikumi Yoshimatsu](/source/Ikumi_Yoshimatsu) of Japan did not crown her successor; instead [Miss International 2008](/source/Miss_International_2008) Alejandra Andreu took over in passing on the crown to [Bea Santiago](/source/Bea_Santiago) of the Philippines. This is also the first time when a past winner crowned two Miss Internationals, one in 2009 where she crowned her successor, [Anagabriela Espinoza](/source/Anagabriela_Espinoza) of Mexico.

## See also

- [Miss Universe Japan](/source/Miss_Universe_Japan)

- [Miss World Japan](/source/Miss_World_Japan)

- [Miss Earth Japan](/source/Miss_Earth_Japan)

- [Miss Japan](/source/Miss_Japan)

- [Miss Nippon](/source/Miss_Nippon)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ADELSTEIN, JAKE (11 December 2013). ["Celebrity stands up to talent agency 'stalker'"](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/12/11/national/celebrity-stands-up-to-talent-agency-stalker/#.U0IMDvmSyol). *japantimes.co.jp*. Retrieved 7 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [History of ICA](http://www.miss-international.org/en/aboutICA.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["兄は日本代表植田直通 植田明依さんミスインターナショナル選出「私も世界と戦えるような人に」"](https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202311280000988.html) [Her brother is Naomichi Ueda, Japan's representative. Mei Ueda is selected as Miss International. "I want to become someone who can compete on the world stage, too."]. *[Nikkan Sports](/source/Nikkan_Sports)* (in Japanese). November 28, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["東京都出身のモデル米山珠央さんミス・インターナショナル日本代表に選出 今年で60回目"](https://www.nikkansports.com/m/entertainment/news/202211080000760_m.html?mode=all). *[Nikkan Sports](/source/Nikkan_Sports)* (in Japanese). 8 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Chiho Terauchi crowned Miss International Japan 2020"](https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019112601199&g=etm). [Jiji Press](/source/Jiji_Press). Retrieved November 26, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Desai, Purva (22 October 2012). ["JAPAN WALKS AWAY WITH MISS INTERNATIONAL 2012 TITLE!"](http://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/news/Japan-walks-away-with-Miss-International-2012-title/articleshow/16903551.cms). *indiatimes.com*. Retrieved 7 April 2014.

## External links

- [Miss International Japan official website](https://www.miss-international.org/jp/)

v t e Beauty pageants in Japan Miss Earth Japan Miss Grand Japan Miss International Japan Miss Japan Miss Nippon Miss Universe Japan Miss World Japan

v t e Miss International participant countries and territories Active (1960–present) Africa Angola Cape Verde Côte d'Ivoire Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Mauritius Namibia Nigeria Réunion Sierra Leone South Africa South Sudan Tanzania Tunisia Zimbabwe Americas Argentina Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico Turks and Caicos Islands United States United States Virgin Islands Venezuela Asia Bangladesh Cambodia China Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Kyrgyzstan Laos Macau Malaysia Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Philippines Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Taiwan Turkey Thailand Vietnam Europe Albania Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Greece Ireland Italy Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Spain Ukraine United Kingdom Oceania Australia Hawaii New Zealand Inactive since 2024 Africa Burkina Faso (2019) Cameroon (2019) Democratic Republic of the Congo (1987) Egypt (2018) Equatorial Guinea (2019) Gabon (2014) Lesotho (2023) Liberia (2019) Madagascar (2018) Morocco (2019) Republic of the Congo (2008) Senegal (2004) Seychelles (1995) Sudan (2009) Togo (2022) Uganda (2023) Zambia (2019) Americas Aruba (2019) Bahamas (2010) Belize (2019) Bermuda (1971) Curaçao (2018) Guadeloupe (2019) Guyana (2014) Haiti (2022) Martinique (2023) Suriname (2013) Trinidad and Tobago (2011) Uruguay (1999) Asia Armenia (2019) Georgia (2014) Israel (2014) Jordan (1963) Kazakhstan (2005) Lebanon (2018) Pakistan (2023) Uzbekistan (2022) Europe Austria (1994) Belarus (2022) Croatia (2003) Cyprus (2006) England (1986) Estonia (2023) Germany (2022) Gibraltar (2017) Hungary (2018) Iceland (2013) Latvia (2012) Lithuania (2023) North Macedonia (2002) San Marino (2001) Scotland (1986) Serbia (2023) Slovakia (2022) Sweden (2019) Switzerland (1993) Wales (1986) Oceania Cook Islands (2018) Fiji (1996) French Polynesia (2019) Guam (2019) New Caledonia (2006) Northern Mariana Islands (2022) Palau (2001) Inactive non-existing countries and former territories Czechoslovakia (1992) Latin (Ethnic Representative) (2003) Native American (Ethnic Representative) (2003) North Borneo (1960) Serbia and Montenegro (2006) South Pacific (1960) Soviet Union (1990) West Indies (1965)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Miss International Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_International_Japan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_International_Japan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.