Keiko Tsuji Crowned Miss Universe Japan 2014

Miss Universe Japan was created in 1998 in response to Japan's then-recent lack of finalists at the Miss Universe pageant. It is a branch from the former Miss Japan pageant.

When the Miss Universe Japan pageant was founded in 1998, it was ran by French national director Ines Ligron. Until 2007, the organisation managed to produce one winner, two top 5 runners-up and one top 15 semifinalist at the Miss Universe pageant. Ligron was catapulted to the international spotlight when Riyo Mori won the second Miss Universe crown for Japan in 2007. In 2009, Ligron left the organisation which resulted in a different team now leading the organisation.

The Miss Japan pageant had existed from 1952 to 1997. During that period, the pageant managed to produce a winner and three top 5 finalists at the Miss Universe pageant. In 1959, Akiko Kojima claimed the first crown for Japan. After a top 12 semifinalist placement in 1975, Japan managed to place only one more time prior to 1997, when Mizuho Sakaguchi took fourth place in 1988.

Forty-three Japanese women took part in the Miss Universe Japan beauty pageant.

Japanese college student Keiko Tsuji, 20, reacts after winning Miss Japan for the 2014 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Tokyo.