Japanese-Ghanaian, Aisha Harumi Tochigi Whip Competitors To Win Miss Universe Japan

Aisha Harumi Tochigi (杤木 愛シャ 暖望), 24, of Chiba was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2020 on October 29, 2020. She bested 29 other candidates.

Tochigi is Ghanaian-Japanese. She is the second Miss Universe Japan who is hafu or of mixed race, following Miss Universe 2015 Ariana Miyamoto (宮本 エリアナ), 26, of Nagasaki.

Miyamoto is African-American-Japanese. She finished in the Top 10 in Miss Universe 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, which was won by Pia Wurtzbach, 31, of the Philippines.

Runner-up to Tochigi is Raimu Kaminashi (上梨 ライム), who is Nigerian-Japanese. Second runner-up Yuki Sonoda (園田 悠希) is Filipino-Japanese.

Third runner-up Kilala Watanabe (渡辺 耀) is the only one in the Top 5 who is not hafu. Fourth runner-up Marina Little (リトル 満里菜) is Kiwi-Japanese.

“I’d like to spread that nobody should be judged by their color (or) from… where they come from because this year, there was so much discrimination,” Tochigi said in the question-and-answer portion. “It’s not only about racism but there was discrimination towards ages when COVID-19 started so I’d like to tell people that we shouldn’t judge people by their appearance but understand them, understand each other. It is the key to end discrimination. I’d like to spread that. Thank you.”