TOKYO, Japan (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – First it was Ariana Morimoto, crowned as last year’s Miss Japan and who represented her country in the Miss Universe Pageant.  Now, it’s Priyanka Yoshikawa, the new Miss Japan who will compete in this year’s Miss World.

Both have one thing in common.  They’re “haafu,” the Japanese word for half.  Morimoto is half black and Yoshikawa is half Indian.

Critics have complained that a “pure” Japanese should represent the country in international beauty competitions. For them, having a mixed-race beauty queen two years in a row is just too much to handle.

Responding to the critics, Japan has announced that it will now ban all beauty pageants in the country and has abolished all local franchises for international pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International.