A half-Indian woman, who also speaks Bangla, has been crowned Miss World Japan, the second year in a row a biracial person has won a beauty pageant in the country.
Priyanka Yoshikawa and who also has an elephant training licence, said she would use her win to "change perceptions".
Born to a Bengali father and Japanese mother, the 22-year-old was subject to racial slur, and called haafu (having one non-Japanese parent). Talk about pressure and she shuns it by saying ‘not a problem’ and is only thankful for the support she has received worldwide.
“I was born and raised in Tokyo. I have lived in India for a year when I was nine years old. My mother tongue is Japanese. I speak English and Bengali, too. Even my mom speaks Bengali. So, we all speak the same languages,” says Priyanka who has a house in Kolkata.
Last year, Ariana Miyamoto was the first mixed-race person to win the Miss Universe pageant.
Last year's Miss World Japan Ariana Miyamoto Photo: Getty Images
Critics complained then, “pure" Japanese should have won.
Only about 3% of babies born every year in Japan are biracial, or "haafu", the Japanese word for half.
"We are Japanese," Ms Yoshikawa told AFP news agency. "Yes, my dad is Indian and I'm proud of it, I'm proud that I have Indian in me. But that doesn't mean I'm not Japanese."
She credited her win to Ms Miyamoto, saying she had helped show "mixed girls the way".
"Before Ariana, haafu girls couldn't represent Japan," said Ms Yoshikawa. "That's what I thought too. Ariana encouraged me a lot by showing me and all mixed girls the way.
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"I know a lot of people who are haafu and suffer," she said. "When I came back to Japan, everyone thought I was a germ."
"Like if they touched me they would be touching something bad. But I'm thankful because that made me really strong."
A few years ago, a woman of Indian descent, Nina Davuluri, faced Twitter abuse after being crowned Miss America. Some called her an "Arab", some a "terrorist", and some an "Arab terrorist". Indians, in large numbers, came to her defence.
Now, Ms Yoshikawa is being criticised for having an Indian father and some Indians have taken to social media to advise the Japanese to "get over it". One Twitter user said she won because she "must have deserved it" while another said "after Gautam Buddha, Ms Yoshikawa is the only Indian to make it big in Japan".
In Ms Yoshikawa's case - as in Ms Davuluri's before her - the biggest complaint seems to be the "lack of purity". But some are wondering whether this debate over purity has any relevance in today's globalised world.
As one Twitter user said: "Talent cannot be controlled or ruled by caste, colour, gender or country of origin."
The pageant winner, also an avid kick-boxer and qualified elephant trainer, said that she hoped to change perceptions.
"When I'm abroad, people never ask me what mix I am. As Miss Japan, hopefully I can help change perceptions so that it can be the same here too."
'I feel Japanese'
Ms Yoshikawa's win did not trigger the backlash that Ms Miyamoto received on social media.
There were however, several on Twitter that expressed unhappiness."It's like we're saying a pure Japanese face can't be a winner," said one user.
"What's the point of holding a pageant like this now? Zero national characteristics," another complained.
Ms Yoshikawa however, was not letting the doubters get to her.
"There was a time as a kid when I was confused about my identity," she said. "But I've lived in Japan so long now I feel Japanese."