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Former AKB48 member Shiho Watanabe, 23, has won second place in the Miss Earth Japan contest. The top prize in the pageant was won by 24-year-old Tomoko Maeda. After placing second, Watanabe told the press, "Of course, it's a little tough to come so close and not scoop the top prize, but then again, back in my AKB48 days, I never really stood out, so I guess it's nice to be noticed."
Watanabe says she is still in contact with the rest of the girls, adding, "I can't wait to tell them about this."
Watanabe was one of the original lineup, known to fans as the "first grade," of AKB48 along with Atsuko Maeda, 19, who joined back in 2005. Watanabe "graduated" from the pop project with a final performance in October 2007.
© Compiled from news reports
25 Comments
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steve@CPFC
Oh no!! Not another article about one of these muppets. Thankfully there is no photo for the sexists to drool over.
Smorkian
Where is the picture for this anyway? Seems a natural article for one.
steve@CPFC
Smorkian; Ok maybe some like to see attractive young ladies here. How about a photo of Ms Watanabe making some tasty cakes with the recipe for female visitors to make for their husbands or boyfriends?
paulinusa
According to Wiki the chosen winner is the most beautiful and "environmental-friendly" woman in Japan and goes on to compete in the Miss Earth pageant.
timeon
so what's this Miss Earth thing? girls that are not beautiful enough for a Miss contest pulling the Captain Planet eco thing to raise their price?
borscht
Could JapanToday have scoured the news reports to give us some information about what the Miss Earth Japan contest is all about and why Tomoko Maeda won rather than tell us who came in second?
marcels
A photo would be nice!!
Baibaikin
It's a shame there's no picture because I'm dying to see Missアース Japan. I assume the winner has a deserving derriere.
ReformedBasher
These Good-Bad buttons are hilarious.
I voted Good for anyone who asked for a photo.
@ steve Oh no, it's so wrong to look at pretty girls. I will go hide in shame.
rosujin
Why on earth is there no picture!!!
Noripinhead
"Miss Earth Japan Contest"? Is there a separate Earth in Japan? Before you answer that...
smithinjapan
Noripinhead: "Is there a separate Earth in Japan?"
There's also a separate universe, apparently.
soldave
I love the fact that the 2nd place takes much higher precedent over the woman who actually won the contest. The face of Japan today: pick a celebrity and push them over all else, regardless of talent so that they get all the media attention. If/When it turns out they are not that good then suddenly drop them one day and forget they never existed.
yokomoc
Given the lack of information let's just assume they must be under 25, from both Earth and Japan, vegetarian and averse to shaving.
Tamarama
Yes, how terrible that a male should be interested in looking at the image of an attractive female. The immorality!
ihavegreatlegs
Earth to Japan...come in!
LoveNot
these competitions are disgrace for women.
steve@CPFC
Tamarama; If the photo is in the right context it is fine. The photos are usually terribly posed and designed to titilate teen boy types.
How about a photo of the women dressed decently performing some household chores such as ironing or polishing the families shoes? I am sure many men and women would prefer that.
plasticmonkey
This might win a prize for the most contrived and pre-digested bit of "news" ever. Is this country deliberately driving itself toward mental implosion? The fact that we miserables sods are commenting on this ridiculous story illustrates how little the J-media allow the public to chew. Constant reminders to embrace idiocy and triviality. It's so clear how the Japanese are driving themselves into a black hole of resignation.
Asy Asyy
Miss Earth Japan?
WTF?! Which one is it, Miss Earth or Miss Japan?!
Smorkian
Yes, idols and beauty queens are strictly a Japanese phenomenon pushed onto the masses by a childish and insular media. Or: not. I forgot we're the only county with this sort of news.
Tamarama
Steve
Seems almost every post I read of yours at present has this super conservative, back to the 50's family theme to it. What's going on Steve?! You never seem to miss an opportunity to somehow link your post to your belief that the sanctity of the nuclear family has been chronically erroded and that this is the heartbeat of society's ills. Am I correct? It's a fair ol' axe you have to grind at present, which is fair enough, but it is getting tedious seeing it all over JT.
steve@CPFC
Tamarama; I am not a Conservative , nor am i interested in the 50's, just want to improve things and most things like this story have sunk so low that it makes my work easy.
Wolfpack
I really don't know what the Miss Earth competition is all about. It's probably someone's idea to promote recycling or something like that. Quite frankly I don't care what the competition is all about. However I do like to see young (but not underaged) and talented women participate in them. I'm happy - they are happy - it's a win-win as far as I am concerned.
miyazawa3
Can anybody tell me What is AKB 48 means...
I am sorry,
I know about AK 47...is not like that..?