Francois Barbe on the right. On the left, Takahashi san, General Manager of Sekai Bunkacha publishing company. Such a gentleman, always nice seeing you.

I will write later about the get together but I would like to post some pictures….

after the meeting, MIYAKO STARTED HER WALKING CLASS, AND SOME MOTHERS STAYED AND WATCH THE CLASS. (HIDDING BEHING MY SOFA…BUT SO PROUD!!)

on sale now

photographs by hirohisa nakano

styling by masayuki sakurai for kurara

styling by ryoh kuroda for actor hiroki narimiya

hair & make by hiroaki yanagisawa for kurara

Within our 12 finalists, who do you think will be leaving in New York in June ?

What is more CHALLENGING in life?

I would say definitely to get to know yourself better than others do.

Today at 10:00 am all the finalists were tested on their interview skills at my home. I woke up very early to prepare breakfast for every one: coffee, fruits, yogurt and rice crackers. Also lunch for everybody, big mama ines today!

Then the MUJ team arrived, Takako Nakanishi, Yoshiko Kawazu and the finalists manager Asami Saito. Also Akiko Shimizu, who runs the John Robert Powers School in Tokyo. She teaches “interview-speech” to the finalists since a month already.

Most of the girls were quite nervous, everybody looked stunning.

The best at interview was Yu Sato, she is really “all together”, smart and sharp. She can express her thoughts very eloquently, and has a sense of big-picture in her life which is very attractive.

Also very strong were Maiko Kitagawa, Reiko Iida and Riyo Mori. They understand well the concept of Miss Universe and have already a strong goal in life. They are beautiful while talking and interesting to listen.

It is impossible at this stage to know who will be winning. Everyone is so strong, beautiful, smart, sharp, focused… the best year ever.

I asked all the finalists to vote who they think was best at interview and who they think will win. Everyone wrote on a piece of paper, folded it and gave it to me.

Most voted are:

Best at interview: Yu Sato

Potentiel Winner: Akiko Chubachi

The interviews were filmed by Chris Campbell and will be posted on the site very soon under BACKSTAGE. iN Japanese and some in English.

We finished the interview test at 4:00 pm, then Miyako started her walking class.

 Best walkers are Anna Sado and Akiko Chubachi. (Rei had left also cannot judge). But sincerely the girls rock this year. They will all look incredible on stage that’s for sure.

Sakura sweetheart, this is my message to you….. you did not show up today and did not dare calling me or Asami.      You forced me to take a sad decision, which is to remove you from the competition.       You are a lovely and beautiful girl but you are not taking this competition seriously, many warnings have been given to you, also it is a waste of time for everyone involved.      Unfortunately I don’t think you had the support from your family and friends like the other finalists, and it is difficult to fight alone, this competition is a team work.     I wish you good luck in your school studies.

We watched the 2004 Miss Universe Japan competition and the girls could not believe how much they will have to learn and rehearse when Milly arrives first week of March! ………Will be FUN!!!!

To all my Bond Girls: I love you all, and I am very proud of all of you. You went a long way. Each of you is unique and our little treasure.

And for last, congratulation to Anna and Yu Kizaki who moved in together in Tokyo last week!     Now you are ready for the action gorgeous!   Let me know if you need anything for your little new apartment……

DEDICATED TO MY GORGEOUS FRIEND CHIE KONISHIKI… spouse of Ozeki Sumo and dear friend Konishiki.

A WARM SMILE FOR YOU AND SALE IN HAWAII.

WE MISS YOU GUYS,

WITH LOVE, INES AND KENNY

Waking up on Valentine day, a message from my sweet husband on the mirror of our bathroom, how romantic??? 

He wrote with one of my lips pencil, how erotic!!

HAPPY VALENTINE!

To all the women in the world I wish you a partner-in-life like mine. Lucky one!

Spent the weekend with my family in Hong Kong.      We stayed at the Four Seasons hotel in Central.    Gorgeous hotel, incredible service and the best pillows ever.

Saturday eve, we went partying with my Indian-partner-in-crimes Bobby (Bhatia), vodka and house music, lots of laughing and dancing. Saw so many of my friends again. Marina at Kee Club, Brian Chow, publisher of Prestige magazine and Anthony Cheung who will bring the event LIVE on internet, in China on March 15th..

We used to live in Hong Kong before I was asked to revamp the Japanese competition for Miss Universe. I miss Hong Kong it was a very happy of my life, so many great people I met over there and still so close to them.      

Hong Kong night life is so fabulous and fun. People are so trendy, stylish and beautiful. Love “Lang Kwaii Fong”, love the energy of the place. People from all over the world simply having fun.

Wishing the world would be like that from today. cohabiting peacefully is such a dream why can’t we archive it? Why people have to argue over anything, politics, religion, religion, religion …and about skin-color? Why can people just relax and love each other. Why can’t everyone try to be happy and to live in peace?

In fact, we went to Hong Kong because my little boy when still a baby, received an immunization (vaccine) that took his health and brain away because of the mercury that it contained.    We were told that nothing could be done and that we just have to accept it and love him. We did love him, I loved him so much more and deep from that instant that I swore to him I would never give up and would fight to get him back to us whatever it would take.

He is so beautiful, like an angel put on this earth to teach others how to smile even when in pain… his little body have fought the villains that were injected in his system, with no rest for 2 years now.     I have been his ultimate advocate and we have been flying all over the world to try to cure him. We met with Doctors in America, in France, in Asia, we have put a puzzle together to save him and slowly recovered him.

It is not yet 100% the end of our long journey but Luca now talks and communicate with us quite well. For us it is like a miracle because we thought that we will never be able to hear his little voice. ………….We are blessed, so blessed.

To be honest, I started writing this thinking that I would erase it after I had finished. Those words are not those that people want to read on someone’s else blog. But I think that if it can change the destiny of one child only by telling my son’s story, than it was worth writing about it. Giving hope to any mother in the world is worth millions to me.

If this happen or happend to your child, never give up, there is a cure, there is hope and Luca is a living proof of it.