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Kurara Chibana

ちばな くらら

Chibana Kurara

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1982-03-27 （Naha, Okinawa, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, English, Spanish, French
Residence History
Naha, Okinawa, Japan → Tokyo, Japan

Career

Occupations
Model, Actor, Television personality, Author
Active Years
2006-2025
Affiliations
Ten Carat
Memberships
Tou (Tanka) Association
Influenced By
Kazuhiro Nagata, Yūko Kōno, French cinema

Education

Sophia University
Faculty of Humanities / Department of Education
Degree: 学士
Period: 2001-2006
Year of Graduation: 2006
Country: Japan
Women's Junior College (Tokyo) — Nutrition
Junior College Division / Department of Nutrition
Period: 2009 - 中途退学
Country: Japan
Enrolled to study nutrition; later withdrew
Kyoto University of the Arts (Distance Learning Division)
Distance Learning Division / Architectural Design Course (transfer)
Degree: 学士
Period: 2019-2021
Year of Graduation: 2021
Country: Japan
Transferred into the third year and completed the Architectural Design course

Awards

Miss Universe Japan 2006
2006
Organization: Miss Universe Japan
Result: Winner
Miss Universe 2006 — 2nd Runner-up
2006
Organization: Miss Universe Organization
Result: 2nd Runner-up
Best National Costume (Miss Universe 2006)
2006
Organization: Miss Universe Organization
Result: Recipient
Appointed WFP Official Supporter
2007
Organization: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
Result: Appointed
WFP Goodwill Ambassador (Japan)
2013
Organization: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
Result: Appointed
L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Japan Encouragement Award (Special Prize)
2015
Organization: L'Oréal-UNESCO
Result: Recipient (Special Prize)
63rd Kadokawa Tanka Prize — Honorable Mention
2017
Work: Scales of the Nile Perch (50 tanka)
Organization: Kadokawa Tanka Prize
Result: Honorable Mention
Second-class Architect License (passed)
2022
Organization: Architect Qualification Examination
Result: Passed

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Let's Take It Easy!

2011 Essay 125 pages

An essay collection reflecting on life as a model, lifestyle, and living naturally.

everyday lifelifestylepersonal growth

Forever Basic

2013 Fashion/Essay 121 pages

A book introducing styling and ideas centered on basic fashion.

fashionaestheticspracticality

Kurara and Words

2015 Essay 253 pages

An essay collection themed around words, with observations and reflections on daily life.

languagedaily lifesensibility

Tanka with You (co-authored)

2018 Tanka (poetry) 253 pages

Co-written with Kazuhiro Nagata; explores tanka composition and appreciation.

tankapoetryexpression

It Began With Love

2019 Tanka collection 197 pages

Her first tanka collection, expressing love and everyday scenes through short poems.

loveeveryday lifenostalgia

Bibliography

  • Let's Take It Easy!
  • Forever Basic
  • Kurara and Words
  • Tanka with You
  • It Began With Love

Style & Themes

Literary Style
approachable toneessayistic proselyrical tanka poetry
Recurring Motifs
loveeveryday lifearchitecturetravel

Legacy

Known not only as a fashion model and TV personality but also for branching into tanka poetry and architecture studies; recognized for social contribution activities including work with WFP.

Academic Societies

  • Tou (Tanka) Association
  • Kyoto University of the Arts alumni groups

In Popular Culture

  • Became widely known after finishing as 2nd Runner-up at Miss Universe 2006

Quotes

  • I think learning is the greatest gift you can give yourself.
    Source: Interview (various media) (2024)

Trivia

  • Winner of Miss Universe Japan 2006 and 2nd Runner-up at Miss Universe 2006
  • Height listed as 173 cm
  • Married actor Ryuji Ueyama in 2017; has two children
  • Started composing tanka from around 2013; published a tanka collection in 2019
  • Passed the second-class architect qualification exam in 2022