[Anchorman]

In 1959, Akiko Kojima was proclaimed Miss Universe -- Japan's, and Asia's first. After a hiatus of almost half a century, Japanese could once again rejoice in recognition as a realm with world-class female pulchritude, as Riyo Mori, a 20-year-old native of Shizuoka Prefecture, took the crown in Mexico City on June 4, before a TV audience estimated at 600 million.

Shukan Jitsuwa (6/21), which prides itself on digging up the dirt on people's private lives, wasn't able to find much on Mori, and the result is an unusually favorable profile of a self-disciplined women who shows a degree of maturity well beyond her 20 years.

Ms. Mori's residence, in the Aoi-ku district of Shizuoka City, is located close to a nocturnal entertainment area, but there's nothing sleazy about it. It's a white, three-story house that looks like a European palace, and believed to be worth 300 million yen if it's worth a penny.

As Riyo's father, who works as a civil servant for the municipality, presumably gets by on his salary, the source of this opulence is clearly Riyo's mother, Ikuko, who operates a successful dance school. Where, Shukan Jitsuwa adds, Riyo works as an instructor.

"After my daughter came back from summer in Canada, she received ballet instruction directly from Riyo-san," says a women who takes her daughter to the school. "In addition to dancing, Riyo even helped her with English. I'm so happy for her."

The operator of an eatery in the neighborhood tells the magazine that graduates of the dance school have gone on to professional careers. One, for example, found work as a hula dancer in a Hawaiian-style resort in Fukushima prefecture, and even performed in the movie "Hula Girl," released in summer '06.

"Mother Ikuko used to appear on local TV shows, It's also boosted the school's reputation and lots of students have enrolled, even from faraway places." says a local housewife who once studied there. "Ikuko is a strict teacher, but her instruction is at a high level."

"Ikuko's maternal grandfather was in the Self Defense Forces and brought her up strictly, and Ikuko became a strict mother in turn," the female proprietor of a restaurant points out. "Riyo's good looks run in the family as well. Her grandfather was quite handsome, somewhat resembling the late actor Ken Uehara, and her grandmother was quite a beauty as well. Naturally Ikuko is also attractive the whole family was admired for their good looks."

At age 16, Riyo withdrew from the prestigious Tokoha Gakuen High School and went to study in Canada, where she underwent an even more severe training regimen.

Nevertheless, like mere mortals the tightly disciplined, handsome members of the Mori family may not be entirely free from problems.

"There have been rumors that from about 10 years ago, Riyo's parents began living apart," a resident of the neighborhood tells Shukan Jitsuwa. "Her grandfather's senility appears to be progressing, and the family has had a rough time caring for him."
Shukan Jitsuwa (6/21)

Shukan Jitsuwa's reporter appeared to have no luck digging up any stories on Riyo's involvement with members of the opposite sex.

"I never heard anything about her having a boyfriend in Japan," an unnamed friend is quoted as saying. "From some time ago, she began telling everyone 'Dancing is my first love,'"

Still, the writer concludes, it's difficult to envisage a beauty such as this without a man in her life. Somewhere in the world, surely there must be a hunk who will possess her physically ... or maybe not. (By Masuo Kamiyama, people's pick contributor)