A 20-year-old national university student representing Oita, Yuka Itoko, was crowned Miss Earth Japan 2019 at the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo on Monday, July 22. She beat 31 other beauties to win the national title.

The runners-up were Mioka Kuniyoshi (Okinawa), Yoshino Kotake (Osaka), and Himari Ichinomoya (Fukuoka). They received Miss Air, Miss Water, and Miss Fire Japan 2019 titles, respectively.

Yuka will represent her country at the Miss Earth 2019 pageant in the Philippines next October.

Miss Earth Japan 2018 and Miss Earth 2018 Top 18 semi-finalist, Mio Tanaka, crowned her successor at the end of the competition.

Japan is yet to win the Miss Earth crown. The country’s highest placement was in 2010 when Marina Kishira made it to the Top 7.

Photos: Miss Earth Japan