1950's
Akiko Kojima
Akiko Kojima takes pride being the first Asian to win an international pageant. She wass a 22-year-old model from Tokyo, Japan when she bested four other finalists from Norway, the USA, England, and Brazil for the 1959 Miss Universe title. Akiko measured 37-23-38 inches, which many believed as "incredible dimensions" for an Asian. She denied having undergone breast surgery. Akiko settled into a quiet married life after her reign.
1960's
Kikuyo Osuka
Ten years after Akiko's victory, Japan returned to the Top 5 with Kikuyo Osuka. Her charisma was her biggest weapon in penetrarting into the finals. But during the final question, Kikuyo was nowhere to be found. Still, this lady is Japan's best finish in Miss Universe that decade.
1970's
Jun Shimada
In my opinion, Jun Shimada was one of the best looking Japanese in pageantry. Her short hairtsyle was new to pageants in those times but Jun was able to carried it well. Aside fro being 3rd runner up in Miss Universe 1970, she was one of the 10 ladies named best in swimsuit.
1980's
Mizuho Sakaguchi
Japan's only placement in Miss Universe in the 80's came from the pretty Mizuho Sakaguchi. She was one of the Asian powers in the 1988 Miss Universe Pageant.
1990's
Satomi Ogawa
She is the second from the Ines Ligron angels. Satomi competed in Miss Universe 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago. I chose her over Nana Okumura and the other Japanese semifinalists in Miss International because she looks modern and edgy.
2000's
Kurara Chibana
When we hear the name Kurara, the first thing that we remember is her national costume. She wore a samurai/ninja-style outfit designed by the artist Yuichi Miyagawa and the designer Yoshiyuki Ogata which made her won the Best in National Costume.
Definitely, Kurara is the most popular and most loved Japanese in beauty pageants. She has the spunk and charisma.
During the 2006 Miss Universe Pageant, held in Los Angeles, Kurara was the crowd favorite and her flirty winks drew an unusually enthusiastic response from the audience.