Marybelen Sakamoto of Chiba, Japan speaks Japanese, Spanish and English. She was born in Tokyo, Japan to a Peruvian father and a Japanese mother.
In 2021, Sakamoto graduated from Seisen University in Shinagawa, Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. On August 25, 2022, she won Miss Universe Japan 2022 at Yamano Hall in Shibuya City, Tokyo.
Runner-up to Sakamoto was Saria Oikawa of Iwate. The respective second, third and fourth runners-up were Megumi Wilson of Tokyo, Kozue Kanzaki of Tokyo and Aska Taira of Okinawa.
Miss Universe Japan 2023
On August 30, 2023, Sakamoto will go back to Yamano Hall in Shibuya to crown her successor. It is the 26th edition of the national beauty pageant that selects Japan’s Miss Universe candidate.
There are 36 women competing for the Miss Universe Japan 2023 crown. If facial beauty is the only criterion, these will be my Top 5 candidates:
5. Misaki Matsumoto (松本美咲)
4. Nana Miwa (三輪奈南)
3. Rina Iuchi (井内リナ)
2. Risa Morishita (森下理沙)
1. Yuma Enomoto (榎元悠真)
Japan was represented in Miss Universe by the winner of Miss Japan from 1952 to 1995 and Miss Universe Japan since 1998. Hiroko Mima has been the national director of Miss Universe Japan since 2018.
Currently, Japan has 20 Miss Universe placements, including the coronation of Akiko Kojima in 1959 and Riyo Mori in 2007. The most recent one was in 2021 when Juri Watanabe finished in the Top 16.
On July 14, 2008, Mima represented Japan at Miss Universe 2008 and competed against 79 other candidates at the Crown Convention Centre in Nha Trang, Vietnam. She finished in the Top 15.
On January 14, 2023, Sakamoto represented Japan at Miss Universe 2022 and competed against 83 other candidates at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. She was unplaced.
CONAN Daily 