Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2010

Photo by Sarah Cortina

Kicking off the clothing- and accessory-related prize season was the 7th annual Cotton USA Awards, held earlier this month at the Cerulean Tower Ballroom in Shibuya. The annual honor is presented by the Cotton Council International to the celebrities who best personify the “style, beauty and natural comfort” of cotton products. This year’s winners—in the Miss, Mrs. and Mr. divisions, respectively—were actress/singer Kii Kitano (Bushido Sixteen; above left), former Morning Musume member Nozomi Tsuji (above right) and actor Ryuta Sato (Rookies). Tsuji, 22, who made headlines in 2007 with her shotgun wedding to actor Taiyou Sugiura, created a cotton version of her trademark hair bow especially for the event. “I’m always careful to choose fabrics that are gentle on my baby’s skin,” said the young mom. “Our towels have to be cotton.”