Kurara Chibana promotes Narita airport

Tuesday 01st April, 03:09 PM JST

TOKYO —

Kurara Chibana, 26, who was the Miss Universe runner-up in 2006, is the new “image girl” for Narita airport during its 30th anniversary celebrations. “The airport is a special place for me because I always have different feelings when both leaving and returning there. Since I often go abroad on business, I would like to report what is happening in the world via Narita airport,” said Chibana who also works as a special reporter for NTV.

Narita airport will celebrate its 30th anniversary on May 20. The new Airbus A380 is scheduled to start regular flights between Narita and Singapore the same day.

Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

greenteaonsens at 07:17 PM JST - 1st April

She was "runner up" for a reason folks. Looking at this picture I think 2nd place flatters her. I see better looking girls everyday in my office.
apecNetworks at 07:46 PM JST - 1st April

Kurara Chibana:

I remember her, even if see didn't become Miss Universe. Boy, did she cause a stir internationally by not winning - alot of people were ticked off. Her last statement cost her the Crown, but THAT performance was a tour de force on style/finesse. Alot of people will remember her.
Sarge at 08:37 PM JST - 1st April

Kurara Chibana is a total babe. And she can speak English and French.
Sarge at 08:52 PM JST - 1st April

greenteaonsens - "Looking at this picture I think 2nd place flatters her."

That photo, is, admittedly, not the best photo of her.

"I see better looking girls everyday in my office"

Do an image/video search of Kurara and you will probably have to retract that. :O
BigDudeGSO at 10:12 PM JST - 1st April

she's in a falsetta..ooh ooh ooh
SushiSake3 at 12:24 AM JST - 2nd April

Sarge - "Kurara Chibana is a total babe. And she can speak English and French."

Agreed 200% - she is HOT!
Bogi at 01:36 AM JST - 2nd April

Why does an airport need to promote itself? It's like an image campaign for toilets! You either need to use one, or you don't.
toguro at 02:33 AM JST - 2nd April

I agree with Bogi. It just doesn't make much sense.
toguro at 02:35 AM JST - 2nd April

I also find myself in agreement with Sarge, and SushiSake3.
Shumatsu_Samurai at 06:44 AM JST - 2nd April

Narita is better than a lot of airports I've been to. And it's nice and simple to get out of.
kinniku at 09:45 AM JST - 2nd April

eastokyo,

I would be more interested in signing a petition to make it illegal to put age requirments on employment ads. In a country with a population growing as old as Japan's is, it is unrealistic to consider someone over the hill at 40, 35 or 26. Then Ms. Chibana could continue her career more or less carefree in the knowledge that at least legally she could continue to pursue her career goals.
rjd_jr at 09:52 AM JST - 2nd April

In regards to the age discussion going on, I'm sorry but putting an age after any person, celebrity or not, is nothing unique to the Japanese media. Just glance at your local People magazine and they always list the age of the star. Newspapers and other articles routinely list ages of the people involved. This has nothing to do with age discrimination or the like. And Japan Today the website has less to do with the Japanese media than it does with non Japanese people running it and contributing to it. So I think it's a moot point anyhow. On a greater level ageism exists all over the world. Don't think that because so and so country has some weak "laws" to protect age discrimination that it doesn't happen and happen frequently.

Oh, and Miss Chibana is quite lovely, and anyone that says they have seen better looking women on an average shibuya intersection or their place of employment is smoking some high grade stuff. Sorry I been to japan and there ain't stunners all over the place, Kurara would stand out in any country, period. She is truly special, beautiful and smart.
Nessie at 11:23 AM JST - 2nd April

The perfect spokeswoman for an airport that may not be beautiful but is easy to get in and out of.
greenteaonsens at 11:37 AM JST - 2nd April

Nessie - very funny! And probably closer to the truth than many of this woman's admirers would care to admit...
kinniku at 10:05 AM JST - 3rd April

rjd jr,

Absolutely true on your weak laws comments. However, even window dressing is better than an empty window if the glare of ageism is too bright. I don't a problem at all with Ms. Chibana's age being listed on JT or any other media. She is a celebrity (not a serebu, though!) and so people are interested. However, I do think it is sad that in a country like Japan where the population gets older and older that you still have blatant limitations on things like employment solely because of age and that this is a legally recognized practice.