Akiko Kojima

児島明子　/　こじまあきこ

1959 Miss Japan and Miss Universe representative

October 29, 1936 (age 89)　・　Tokyo (Gotokuji), Japan

From Tokyo
Model
Beauty Pageant Contestant

My Take

Akiko Kojima is genuinely one of those names that deserves more airtime than she gets. Born in Tokyo in 1936 and raised partly in Kochi, she walked into the Miss Japan pageant in 1959, won it, and then went on to take the Miss Universe crown that same year — becoming the first Japanese woman to ever do so. That was 1959, barely a decade after the war, and here was this 22-year-old standing on an international stage at Long Beach and winning it outright. At 167cm she had the presence to match, and the whole thing landed back home like a genuine cultural moment. The details of her life after the spotlight are pretty private, which honestly only adds to the mystique. You don't need the full biography when the headline achievement is that singular.

Overview

Akiko Kojima is a Japanese model and beauty pageant titleholder born on October 29, 1936, in Gotokuji, Tokyo. She attended Kochi Municipal Kochi Commercial High School before going on to win the Miss Japan title in 1959. That same year she represented Japan at Miss Universe 1959. She stands 167 cm tall.

1. Profile

Name (English): Akiko Kojima
Name (Japanese): 児島明子
Reading: こじまあきこ
Born: October 29, 1936 (age 89)
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac: Scorpio / Rat (Ne)
Origin: Tokyo (Gotokuji), Japan
Blood type: Private
Height: 167cm
Agency: Private
Active years: Unknown
Occupation: Model / Beauty Pageant Contestant

2. Background

Elementary school: Private
Junior high: Private
High school: Kochi Municipal Kochi Commercial High School
University: Private
Debut: Unknown

Awards & achievements

1959 — Miss Japan
Miss Universe 1959

3. Relationships

Spouse: Private
Children: Private
Parents: Private
Siblings: Private

4. Personality

Motto

Private

6. Links

Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%90%E5%B3%B6%E6%98%8E%E5%AD%90