Miss Universe Japan crown desirable again after pageant facelift

(17 Mar 2007) music on catwalks not cleared for use. replace with your own clearable music 15 March 2007 1. Wide of screen saying "Miss Universe Japan", zoom into Riyo Mori as she is announced the winner 2. Fans waving banners 4 March 2007 3. Miss Universe Japan 2007 contestants greeting singer Michael Jackson at Tokyo's Narita Airport, Michael walks by escorted by Kurara Chibana, Miss Universe Japan 2006 and runner-up in Miss Universe 2006 world competition 14 March 2007 4. Wide of Miss Universe Japan organiser Ines Ligron speaking to staff and contestants at Miss Universe Japan office 5. Close-up Ligron 6. Photos of swimsuits 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ines Ligron, Miss Universe Japan organiser : "My background is more fashion but I have been leaning to that to make an event which is entertainment, which is something that has the flair of the Grammy Awards that has the red carpet, where there is a beautiful gown, where there is beautiful people coming. And it became like a high profile event every year for the Japan celebrities and Japan's top knocker. March 2007 8. Various of performances and catwalks shows by contestants at Miss Universe Japan finals March 2007 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ines Ligron, Miss Universe Japan organiser : "I turned the event from a one night event to a one year event. It means that all the finalists when they apply they have five to seven months training. The training we give them in terms of classes and different backgrounds it can be how to eat, how to take care of themselves, how to walk, how to pose, how to answer a question, how to introduce themselves. I mean this is something, Japanese people love to go to school. They pay a tonne of money for that and what we are doing we are giving them all this for free. So even if they don't basically become 'Number One', they will have had an incredible "woman" scholarship, that will help them anyway in their life in the future." 12 March 2007 10. Various of contestants practicing in studio 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ako Koizumi, Miss Universe Japan 2007 finalist : "I think that we need more Japanese women who are strong and who can say - or who is more opinionated? Is that how you say it ? So that's what we need. And I would love to be the leader of that." 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Riyo Mori, Miss Universe Japan 2007 finalist and eventual winner : "I think that models they are beautiful but they don't talk right? But we have to talk, we have to perform, we have to do also modelling stuff so I think this is more interesting." 15 March 2007 13. Various of shop of Samantha Thavassa, the Japanese handbag brand which is main sponsor of Miss Universe Japan 14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kazumasu Terada, President, Samantha Thavassa Japan : 15. "We are a Japanese brand hoping to move to the global market with our jewellery and bags. Just the same, they (Miss Universe Japan) are hoping to introduce the beauty of Japanese women to the world. Our aspiration to become the global brand and their concept is in the complete synch." 16. Pan from ornaments in office to Terada 17. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kazumasu Terada, President, Samantha Thavassa Japan : "In Japan, the image of "Miss Universe" used to be the one of outdated and uncool. But, Ines (Ligron) made a significant effort to break such image and she polished the image. So, now Miss Universe is regarded as the idea which makes Japanese women glow and shows that they feel happy and sad just the same as the people of the rest of the world." 18. Contestants carrying Samantha Thavassa handbags 19. Pan of winner and runners up in Miss Universe Japan 2007 LEAD IN: Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...