Announcement of Tokyo University Miss Contest 2025 Results
Tradition and Controversy Coexist at Tokyo University Miss Contest
First-Year Law Graduate Student Arisa Suga
"I Want to Contribute to Society"
Heightened Attention After AI Deepfake C
The results of the 'Miss & Mister Tokyo University Contest 2025' (Tokyo University Miss Contest) have been announced at the University of Tokyo, Japan’s most prestigious university. This annual event, organized by the University of Tokyo Advertising Society, is a university contest that selects students who possess outstanding appearance, talent, character, and a strong social message. Traditionally, it has been regarded as a gateway to careers in broadcasting and the entertainment industry, such as TV announcers and celebrities, and has attracted significant public attention.
Arisa Suga, who won the Miss Tokyo University Grand Prix at the 'Miss & Mister Tokyo University Contest 2025.' Photo by Modelpress
On December 14, Japanese entertainment media outlet Modelpress reported the results of the '2025 Miss & Mister Tokyo University Contest' finals, announcing that Arisa Suga, a first-year graduate student at the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law, was selected as the Miss Tokyo University Grand Prix (top prize) winner. Suga, who belongs to the Graduate School for Law and Politics at the University of Tokyo, expressed her aspirations in her acceptance speech, stating, "As Miss Tokyo University Grand Prix, I want to become someone who can truly contribute to society." She also shared that she enjoys playing the violin and traveling as hobbies, and expressed her goal to leverage her strengths to have a positive social impact. Following Suga, the runner-up (Excellence Award) was awarded to Honoka Maruyama, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Education.
Previously, the Tokyo University Miss Contest conducted online voting from July 14 to December 13, 2025, and the finals were held on stage at Shinagawa Intercity Hall in Tokyo. The Miss Tokyo University Contest is recognized as a leading university beauty pageant featuring students from Japan’s top university, and is also seen as the first step for those aspiring to enter the entertainment industry as broadcasters, models, and talents. Although the contest was previously criticized for focusing solely on appearance, in recent years the selection process has shifted to emphasize intellectual abilities and social messaging.
Meanwhile, in 2024, there was controversy in Japan over an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video impersonating "Miss Tokyo University." In a video posted by a YouTube account, a woman introduced herself as "aiming to become Miss Tokyo University," but suspicions arose that the individual in the video was created by generative AI. A University of Tokyo official stated that they did not know the person in question, and the YouTube account was suspended for violating platform policies. Experts pointed to awkward movements and details in the video as evidence of possible deepfake technology. This incident became a social issue in Japan, as AI-generated faces and videos spread easily, and it sparked discussions about the need for ethical and legal regulations for AI content.
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