Miss Japan sparks outrage with racy kimono outfit

Miss Japan, Emiri Miyasaka, has been accused of dressing like a prostitute after unveiling her Miss Universe costume - a racy outfit featuring a short black leather kimono and hot pink stockings and suspenders.

Although the designers sprang to the defence of their creation and accused critics of being "dinosaurs", they have agreed to tone down the look before the Miss Universe event in the Bahamas on August 23.

When the 25-year-old paraded her official costume, created by French designer Ines Ligron and Japan's Yoshiyuki Ogata, at an event in Tokyo, organisers and designers were inundated by complaints. Some 2,000 people took umbrage, describing the outfit as inappropriate, crass, sleazy and "something a prostitute might wear".

The ensemble is loosely based on traditional dress - featuring a kimono and obi band - but the hemline leaves little to the imagination and the choice of fabric is also unorthodox. Meanwhile the lacy pink underwear on display is rather more risque than historical costumes.

Ligron responsed to the outrage with French disdain. "The conservative and fashion dinosaurs are criticising her [Miyasaka’s] costume, meanwhile the fashionistas love it," she said. "I care only about the movers and shakers in the fashion industry."