The newly-crowned Miss Japan, Karolina Shiino, is flanked by her court after her coronation in Tokyo "There have been racial barriers, and it has been challenging to be accepted as Japanese." ...

Japan is an ethnically homogenous country with ... pageant circuit and is unaffiliated with global competitions like Miss ...

Crowned Miss Japan this week, Ukrainian-born Carolina Shiino cried with joy, thankful for the recognition of her identity as Japanese. But her Caucasian look rekindled an old question in a country ...

Of the five finalists – those representing Japan, South Korea, Brazil, the United States and Venezuela – the first won the Miss Universe 2007 title in a decision that surprised many.