A new Miss International Japan crowned.

Kiko Matsuo was crowned Miss International Japan 2022 at the end of the pageant, held on November 30, 2021 at the soon-to-be-opened Professional University of Beauty and Wellness in Yokohama City. Beating 38 other finalists, the representative of Saga Prefecture succeeds Miss International Japan 2020 Chiho Terauchi for this title and earns the opportunity to represent her country at the at the 60th Miss International Beauty Pageant in 2022.

The 22-year-old Saga Prefecture native is a classic ballet performer and also works part-time as a translator.

From left to right – Erina Kakuta, Alice Tanaka, Kiko Matsuo, Yuumi Kato and Maria Ishida

Finishing as 1st Runner-up is Alice Tanaka (21) of Fukuoka, who is proud of her German-Peruvian background on her mother’s side. Former Miss Universe Japan 2018, Mie Prefecture’s Yuumi Kato (25), who was also the crowd favorite, only settled for the 2nd Runner-up position. Half-American Erina Kakuta (26) of Aomori was 3rd Runner-up. Maria Ishida (26) of Kanagawa, who grew up in New York, was 4th Runner-up.