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Indian-origin woman wins Miss Japan crown

Many Japanese have expressed their unhappiness over Priyanka's win as they believe someone of "pure" Japanese descent should have won the title.

Priyank

Source: Facebook

A Japanese woman of Indian descent has been crowned Miss Japan on Monday.

22-year-old Priyanka Yoshikawa’s win continued the trend of controversy that Japanese-African Ariana Minamoto kicked off since her win in Miss Universe Japan 2015.

Miss Japan
Priyanka Yoshikawa Source: Twitter

While some twitter users from Japan were seemingly unhappy over Priyanka’s win, there was plenty of support for her on social media.

An elephant trainer license holder and a kickboxer, Priyanka will represent Japan at the Miss World contest later this year.

Priyanka Yoshikawa
Priyanka Yoshikawa was born in Tokyo to Indian father and Japanese mother. Source: Twitter

She was born in Tokyo to an Indian father and Japanese mother.

"We are Japanese," she said. "Yes, I'm half-Indian and people are asking me about my 'purity'. Yes, my dad is Indian and I'm proud of it. I'm proud that I have Indian in me. But that does not mean I'm not Japanese".

Priyanka
The 22-year-old Japanese beauty queen will represent Japan at Miss World contest later this year. Source: Twitter

Her win was greeted with disappointment on some online sites, with one anonymous poster demanding: "Just pick a proper Japanese."

Elsewhere, a Twitter poster asked: "What is the point of holding a pageant like this now? Zero national characteristics."

Another commented: "It’s like we’re saying a pure Japanese face can’t be a winner.”

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2 min read

Published

Updated

By Shamsher Kainth



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