The Ukrainian-born winner of a Miss Japan contest has reawakened a long-simmering question on the archipelago: What does it mean to be Japanese?
Ms Karolina Shiino, the 26-year-old winner of the 2024 competition, moved to the country when she was five and became a citizen in 2023. Her unexpected victory in a contest that, most years, passes little-noticed has sparked a debate on “Japanese-ness” – one that is less simple than you might think.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you
