On Monday, half-Indian, half-Japanese Priyanka Yoshikawa was crowned Miss World Japan.
This is the second year in a row that a mixed-race woman has won the pageant. In 2015, Ariana Miyamoto, who is African-American and Japanese, was crowned Miss Universe Japan.
In fact, Yoshikawa has openly said that Miyamoto was an inspiration for her to participate in the pageant. She said:
“Before Ariana, haafu girls couldn’t represent Japan,” Yoshikawa told AFP after winning the title in Tokyo on Monday night. “That’s what I thought too. I didn’t doubt it or challenge it until this day. Ariana encouraged me a lot by showing me and showing all mixed girls the way.”
“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.”
"Hāfu" is what people who are ethnically half-Japanese are called in the Japanese language.
Even the Indian Embassy in Japan congratulated Yoshikawa on her win with a tweet.
Congratulations to Ms.Priyanka Yoshikawa for winning the Miss World Japan 2016
Since the debate around being mixed-race in Japan is murky, there were people who were unhappy with the result.
「象使い」の資格持つ日印ハーフの吉川プリアンカさん ミス・ワールド日本代表に https://t.co/DElrbbz95o ハーフを選ぶなとは言わないし差別をしない日本のアピールには最適かもしれない。だけどせめて誰が見ても美人を選んでほしいと思う
Translation: “I won’t say that we shouldn’t select a haafu, and she’s suitable for Japan to make an appeal that we don’t discriminate people. But I want them to select someone who’s seen as beautiful by everybody."
また東京の田舎土人の「はあふ」とかいうマヌケな田舎言葉のニュースが出てるね。 ミスワールドの日本代表にまたミックスレースの女が選出。 でも顔が汚いね。 日本人が混じると顔が必ず汚くなる。 最もハズレのアジア人種だな。 'Haafu' https://t.co/KgvtuabrX0
Translation: “There's news again about ‘haafu,’ a word only countryside Tokyo uses. Another mixed-race woman is selected for an international pageant contest. But her face is dirty. When a Japanese person is mixed, the face always becomes dirty. She’s a disappointment to the Asian race."
There were also those who were openly supporting her victory and dismissing the mixed-race debate.
WOW!~! Congrats to Priyanka Yoshikawa! This is the second year in a row that a haafu has been crowned Miss Japan! Happy for them :)
CORRECTION
Yoshikawa told the AFP that she initially believed that haafu girls couldn’t represent Japan. An earlier version of this post misstated that.