The Japan Inter Culture Foundation (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Akemi Shimomura) held the visit Niigata day, where the contestants of the 2019 Miss International World Pageant visited Niigata prefecture, where they paid a courtesy visit to the prefectural office, participated in a welcome party, and visited an earth art festival.

The "Miss International Beauty Pageant" (hereinafter "Miss International") is one of the world's three largest beauty pageants, along with Miss World and Miss Universe. It started in 1960 and celebrates its 59th anniversary this year. The aim is to deepen exchanges among beautiful and high-willed women who want to contribute to the international community, such as international friendship and world peace.

On Tuesday, October 29, the contestants paid a courtesy visit to the Niigata Prefectural Government Office and Niigata City Hall, and participated in a welcome party with about 450 attendees. On Wednesday, October 30, they were divided into four groups and visited “New World Institute of Total Fashion”, “International Beauty Mode college”, “Imayo Tsukasa Brewery” and “Minemura Brewery”.
During the school visits, they interacted with students through fashion, hair, and makeup. In order to deepen their understanding of sake brewing, one of Niigata's leading industries, they visited the sake brewery and learned about its history.
They also visited the “Echigo-Tsumari Art Filed” held in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, where they enjoyed artworks spread out in nature.

<Outline of event>
■ Date and time: October 29 (Tue)-30 (Wed), 2019
■ Overview:
[Tuesday, October 29]
・ 12:30-14:00 Lunch (Northern Culture Museum)
・ 14:45-15:15 Courtesy visit to Niigata Prefectural Government and Niigata City Hall
・ 18:30-20:00 Welcome party
・ 20:15-21:30 Dinner party

[October 30 (Wednesday)]
・ 10:00-11:30 "New World Institute of Total Fashion"
"International Beauty Mode college"
“Imayo Tsukasa Brewery”  “Minemura Brewery”.
・ 13:30-15:30 Appreciation of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Filed (Kiyotsu Gorge)

A scene from Niigata visit day

■ The 59th Miss International World Pageant

■ About “Miss International”
Miss International, officially called “Miss International Beauty Pageant”, started in the United States in 1960. Although it was held in the United States for the first seven years, the right to hold the event was transferred to Japan in commemoration of the Japan World Exposition (1970 / Osaka). The world pageant where representatives of each country wishing for international peace gather as “goodwill ambassadors of beauty and peace” is held every year with a purpose to broadcast "prayers for peace" and the beauty of Japan to many countries around the globe. Also, Miss International conducts international exchange activities at the individual level. Through social contribution activities such as “Greening Promotion Campaign” and “Miss International Forum” as well as “Charity Events”, we are deepening friendship and goodwill between Japan and the rest of the world. “Miss International” official website: https://www.miss-international.org/jp/

■ About the "Japan Inter Culture Foundation”
In April 1969, the Japan Inter Culture Foundation was authorized and established as an external organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cultural Exchange Department) for the purpose of "friendship and goodwill with countries around the world" through the exchange of world culture and art. Since then, as an international contribution project, we have been developing a wide range of interchange of people based on the slogans of "realizing world peace through mutual understanding" and "correct understanding of Japan in the international community."