The Night I Met Miss Universe (Riyo Mori, Japan, 2007) and…
November 21st, 2008 | Comment
…I also met Kurara Chibana (1st Runner-Up in 2006) and Hiroko Mima (Miss Universe Japan in 2008).
I walked into the Ginza Gucci Store, went upstairs to the cafe, and there they were standing in the middle of the room looking regal. Someone said, Why don’t you take their picture. So I did.
Riyo Mori, Kurara Chibana, and Hiroko Mima (Oct 25, 2008)
Then I walked around taking photos of everyone, sometimes pausing to grab some roast beef on a cracker or whatever else was coming around.

I was the photographer, and the event was a fundraiser for Room to Read. Room to Read raises money and uses it to build schools and libraries for children in impoverished communities worldwide. Previously, I wrote about my site visit to see Room to Read’s work in Cambodia here.
Later in the evening Erin Ganju, co-founder of Room to Read and future CEO, gave a presentation.

Room to Read got started because John Wood and Erin Ganju (and others) went traveling to see the world. Like countless others they were touched by what they saw. UNLIKE innumerable others, they did something in response. Now Room to Read is having a significant impact to help needy children get an education and access to books — things that really make a difference in their lives.
I hope you check them out, even if you just came here to see Miss Universe photos.
Okay, back to Miss Universe. They had an auction to raise money for Room to Read (Gucci is a big supporter apparently). First, they auctioned several Gucci bags. When I need a “bag” I usually grab either a plastic one with my local supermarket’s brand on the front, or I go “high class” and find a nice paper bag with one of them fancy department store logos on it. Anyway, I was just the photographer and not expected to fit in.

This is a men’s bag. I think they had a Seinfeld episode about mens’ bags. I love Seinfeld.

Later they auctioned off a “Miss Universe makeover.” All three of the Miss Universe women were offering an intensive, full day personal lesson in how to become like Miss Universe. The bidding went up into thousands of dollars (hundreds of thousands of yen). (I think the man is the manager of the Gucci Store, but he could be the CEO for all I know. But I am CERTAIN that he’s a Harvard man.)

Afterwards they all gathered around the lucky winner, a young man and his wife (or girlfriend?). Riyo Mori turned and gave me a personal glance. Well, it looks like she did. You can almost see the lucky girl (in the purple dress and not really in need of a makeover) standing behind her.
Okay, that’s my story about the night I met Miss Universe.
Oh, I talked to her — to all of them — by the way, but that part was a disaster. I thought I should say something, but I didn’t know what. I’m really not good at meeting famous people. Once I’ve got the “famous” part in my head, I have a hard remembering we’re all just folks. So I said some typical, stupid thing, when I might have said something else, or just wisely kept my mouth shut.
Later I wished I’d had the opportunity to invite each of them on one of our volunteer trips to Cambodia with Global Adventure. In case any of you read this, Riyo, Kurara, or Hiroko, you are invited! Peace.
















A documentary is playing on TV. A Japanese man goes to a lonely cliff in Fukui that’s famous for people who come to jump off into the sea. He waits. People come and, then a man arrives alone carrying a bottle of rice wine. The man standing vigil moves in. The man with the bottle of wine is 50 years old, unemployed, and living in the back of his car. He breaks down tears as the other man’s arm settles on his shoulder in compassion. “I’ve stopped 150 men like you, and they’re all doing well,” he says. “You’re going to be allright.” The two of them leave together. The next day they go to an apartment building, and the man pays the first month’s rent for the other. In the comng days, the man who was suicidal gets a part time job. After some time goes by, another volunteer takes a car ride with the man. They go to his family home, and the man confronts his father. He cries and thanks the volunteer. Weeks later he is doing well. 151 and counting.

