Miss Shiga, Sari Nakazawa is Miss Japan 2016
Sari Nakazawa from Shiga has been crowned Miss Universe Japan 2016 by the outgoing titleholder, Ariana Miyamoto on the grand finale held on 1st March 2016 in Chinzanso Hotel, Tokyo, Japan. At the same event, Sayaka Matsumoto from Kumamoto was titled as first runner up, Kaori Arike from Fukushima was adjudged as second runner up, Sayaka Nishimura from Kochi was declared as third runner up and Yukari Shiotsuki from Shizuoka was announced as fourth runner up.
Standing 171 cm tall, Sari Nakazawa is a dentistry student and a a part-time model.
Comprising the Top 16 semi-finalists were:
- Yukari Shiotsuki
- Momoe Yada
- Keiko Fukushima
- Ayumi Nakazawa
- Mako Sato
- Yukiko Takano
- Arika Sakamoto
- Sari Nakazawa
- Miku Takahashi
- Sayaka Nishimura
- Sayaka Matsumoto
- Risako Nakamura
- Kaori Arike
- Mizue Todoroki
- Haruka Yoshino
- Konatsu Itokazu
The 16 semi-finalists then competed against each other in evening gown round, swimsuit round and question and answer round, subsequent to which the finalists were announced, which comprised:
- Sayaka Matsumoto
- Sari Nakazawa
- Mako Sato
- Sayaka Nishimura
- Yukari Shiotsuki
Thereafter, the contestants were assessed on the basis of a common question and answer round, after which the hosts declared Sari Nakazawa as the winner of Miss Japan 2016. When asked who was the most influential person in her life, Sari Nakazawa smilingly replied: “Audrey Hepburn is the most influential person in my life. Not only was she beautiful on the outside, she had also shown her inner beauty by being involved in various charity activities. It is also for that reason why I joined Miss Universe Japan, which is to do charity works, and help the underprivileged.”
Miss Universe Japan 2016 was the 19th edition of the Miss Universe Japan pageant wherein 47 contestants from all the provinces of Japan vied for the coveted title. Sari Nakazawa will now represent Japan at Miss Universe 2016.
Last year, Ariana Miyamoto placed as the Top 10 finalist at Miss Universe 2015 held on 20th December 2015 in Las Vegas, which was eventually won by Pia Wurtzbach of Philippines. 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. 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 crowned in 2007.
Where do you see the newly crowned beauty queen in the race of Miss Universe 2016 as of now? Do share your opinions regarding Sari Nakazawa.
