Ikumi Yoshimatsu

Ikumi Yoshimatsu
吉松 育美
Born (1987-06-21) 21 June 1987 (age 37)
Saga, Japan
OccupationActor
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss International Japan 2012
Miss International 2012
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown
Major
competition(s)
  • Miss International Japan 2012
  • (Winner)
  • Miss International 2012
  • (Winner)

Ikumi Yoshimatsu (吉松 育美, Yoshimatsu Ikumi, born 21 June 1987) is a Japanese actress, stunt woman, book author, opinion leader, social activist and beauty queen who was crowned Miss International 2012 in Okinawa.[1] It was Japan's first Miss International win in the 52-year history of the pageant.[2][3][4][5]

In 2014, she was intimidated and criticized by Japanese nationalist and right-wing groups for publicly advocating on behalf of the historical comfort women issues and has been an outspoken leader for women's rights issues.[6]

Yoshimatsu started the "STALKER-ZERO" campaign to introduce strict new laws to protect victims of stalking and intimidation in Japan, after becoming the first [citation needed] high-profile woman to go public with her own personal experience in an international press conference.

She was a featured presenter at Ted Talks where she advocated for stronger laws to protect women in Japan.[7]

Ikumi started the Global Student Diplomacy Network in 2015 to connect elementary and middle school classrooms from various countries with each other by Skype for cultural exchange. The first exchange featured special guest Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary and the governor of Saga Prefecture, Yasushi Furukawa.[8]"

She obtained a degree in education and international education at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, Japan.

Ikumi is both an actress and stunt double for Tao Okamoto in three episodes of the HBO series Westworld[9]" She is also acting in Michael Bay's Netflix movie 6 Underground[10]" Ikumi has been cast to star in, and is currently filming the 10 episode, international action thriller series, LightStinger[11]" Ikumi starred as the lead actress in Nico Santucci's movie Sarogeto[12] starring alongside Winsor Harmon and Eric Roberts.

  1. ^ Desai, Purva (22 October 2012). "JAPAN WALKS AWAY WITH MISS INTERNATIONAL 2012 TITLE!". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  2. ^ ADELSTEIN, JAKE (11 December 2013). "Celebrity stands up to talent agency 'stalker'". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Beauty queen Ikumi Yoshimatsu alleges her life was threatened over refusal to sign with talent agency". news.com.au. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  4. ^ ADELSTEIN, JAKE (25 December 2013). "First lady scrutinizes blackballing of beauty queen". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  5. ^ Adelstein, Jake (18 December 2013). "Japan's Miss International Takes on Mob-Backed Entertainment Complex". thedailybeast.com. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Japan's Former Miss International Called 'Traitor'". thediplomat.com. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  7. ^ TED Talks, retrieved 30 October 2019
  8. ^ GSDN, retrieved 30 October 2019
  9. ^ Westworld, retrieved 30 October 2019
  10. ^ 6 Underground
  11. ^ LightStinger
  12. ^ Sarogeto, retrieved 28 October 2019