Miss Japan of foreign origin causes controversy

Karolina Shiino, a 26-year-old model, was born in Ukraine and is Caucasian in appearance. She is a naturalized citizen and has lived in Japan for more than 20 years. "I live as a Japanese, but there are racial barriers and there are many cases where I am not accepted," Shiino said in fluent Japanese during a tearful acceptance ceremony on Monday (Jan. 22).

The beauty of the new Miss Japan Karolina Shiino. Photo: X

Over the years, Japan has increasingly opened its doors to foreigners as a way to reverse its falling birthrate, one of the lowest in the world .

"I am so grateful that today I have truly been accepted as a Japanese person," Shiino said.

However, after her coronation, a fierce debate arose in Japanese public opinion. Some questioned whether Shiino was really suitable for the title of Miss Japan. "A person with no Japanese blood and no Japanese features should represent Japanese women?", one person on the social media platform X commented.

Others argued that Shiino had the right to represent the country she belonged to. "If you have Japanese nationality, you are Japanese. Isn't that all that is needed? What else do you need to prove?", another X social media account commented.

Despite mixed reactions, Shiino said she hoped to be accepted by everyone despite her non-Japanese face. On the pageant's website, Shiino wrote that although she looked foreign, her mind had "become Japanese."

The reaction to Shiino's win was reminiscent of the controversy surrounding Ariana Miyamoto, who represented Japan at the 2015 Miss Universe pageant. She has a Japanese mother and an African-American father.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hoa-hau-goc-ukraine-gay-tranh-cai-o-nhat-ban-post282595.html