The Japan Inter Culture Foundation (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Akemi Shimomura) held Mie Prefecture Visit Day as a part of friendship activities of the TOP 5 from the Miss International Beauty Pageant 2019, where they visited Mikimoto Pearl Island and Ise Jingu Shrine.

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.
Miss International was held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, and Thailand representative Sireethorn Leearamwat (25) was selected as Miss International 2019.

From November 15 (Fri), five of the 82 Miss International Beauty Pageant contestants who were selected as the TOP5, including the representative from Thailand, visited Mikimoto Pearl Island and Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture. At Mikimoto Pearl Island, they saw a demonstration of fishing by women and experienced the work of extracting pearls from the pearl oyster. Many questions were asked by the Miss contestants during this first-time experience. They eagerly listened to the stories by the women divers at the exchange meeting, and were very interested and impressed. On November 16th (Sat), they visited Ise Shrine and reported on their Miss International activities this year.

<Overview of Mie Prefecture Visit Day>
■ Date: November 15(Fri) - 16 (Sat), 2019
■ Summary
[November 15 (Fri)]
・ 12:00-15:20 Mikimoto Pearl Island
・ 16:00-20:00 Welcome party (XIV Toba)

[November 16 (Sat)]
・ 10:00 - 12:00 Visit Ise Shrine
・ 12:00 - 13:20 Lunch

Photos from Mie Prefecture 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."