Japanese models at Milan Fashion Week
As of 22 October 2026, 75 Japanese models have walked at least one show in Milan since 2002. 15 of them have walked ten or more there. Mika Schneider leads with 52 Milan shows across 11 seasons.
Share figures use the 5,964 of 7,628 models on record in Milan since 2002 whose nationality is on record.
Updated 22 October 2026 · Public runway records since 2002 · Methodology
Most cast Japanese models at Milan Fashion Week
Ranked by shows walked in Milan since 2002, one credit per show. Ties keep alphabetical order. How shows are counted
75 models on record in Milan. Showing the first 10 of 25 listed here.
| Rank | Model | Shows in Milan | Seasons | Milan span | Houses in Milan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mika Schneider | 52 | 11 | SS20 to FW25 | Fendi , Versace , Etro |
| 2 | Kohei Takabatake | 47 | 7 | SS18 to FW22 | Versace , Fendi , Emporio Armani |
| 3 | Chiharu Okunugi | 46 | 10 | SS13 to FW20 | Etro , Anteprima , Prada |
| 4 | Yuto Ebihara | 39 | 9 | SS23 to SS27 | Jil Sander , Giorgio Armani , Bottega Veneta |
| 5 | Kayako Higuchi | 36 | 9 | SS21 to SS27 | Ermanno Scervino , Max Mara , Elisabetta Franchi |
| 6 | Daisuke Ueda | 22 | 12 | SS12 to FW25 | Bottega Veneta , Missoni , Fendi |
| 7 | Mona Matsuoka | 22 | 6 | SS15 to SS20 | Jil Sander , Dolce & Gabbana , Antonio Marras |
| 8 | Yura Nakano | 21 | 9 | FW20 to FW24 | Zegna , K-Way , Valentino |
| 9 | Maryel Uchida | 19 | 8 | FW20 to FW26 | Jil Sander , Sportmax , Ferragamo |
| 10 | Akito Mizutani | 16 | 5 | FW19 to SS23 | Gucci , Missoni , Zegna |
Show 15 more models
Japanese models at Milan Fashion Week, season by season
- 9 FW21
- 9 SS22
- 17 FW22
- 22 SS23
- 15 FW23
- 11 SS24
- 12 FW24
- 10 SS25
- 9 FW25
- 6 SS26
- 6 FW26
- 7 SS27
Distinct Japanese models with at least one show in Milan that season, every category. Oxblood marks the highest season; a hairline marks a season with none on record. Resort and Pre-Fall rows are not counted. A linked season opens its season page.
Share of Milan runway appearances
Japanese models took 0.73% of Milan runway appearances in Spring/Summer 2027, the latest season on record, from 0.35% in 2006.
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Japanese | Share | With nationality | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 | 0.35% | 570 | 598 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0.33% | 601 | 633 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0.18% | 1,137 | 1,259 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0.15% | 685 | 724 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0.67% | 597 | 631 |
| 2011 | Not on record | Not on record | 407 | 431 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0.18% | 1,684 | 1,799 |
| 2013 | 17 | 0.66% | 2,590 | 2,898 |
| 2014 | 17 | 0.55% | 3,073 | 3,589 |
| 2015 | 39 | 1.0% | 3,754 | 4,555 |
| 2016 | 20 | 0.50% | 4,037 | 5,074 |
| 2017 | 22 | 0.58% | 3,823 | 4,653 |
| 2018 | 52 | 1.4% | 3,762 | 4,481 |
| 2019 | 42 | 1.00% | 4,210 | 4,933 |
| 2020 | 53 | 1.1% | 4,630 | 5,211 |
| 2021 | 44 | 3.0% | 1,457 | 1,564 |
| 2022 | 63 | 2.0% | 3,185 | 3,435 |
| 2023 | 79 | 1.8% | 4,381 | 4,796 |
| 2024 | 59 | 1.3% | 4,718 | 5,080 |
| 2025 | 42 | 0.93% | 4,498 | 4,809 |
| 2026 | 26 | 0.69% | 3,746 | 3,925 |
| 2027 (SS27 only) | 11 | 0.73% | 1,506 | 1,581 |
Source: Tectova runway database · N = 1,506 Milan appearances with a nationality on record in SS27, of 1,581 · read 22 October 2026
One appearance per model per show in Milan, every category, by season year. Share = Japanese appearances divided by appearances whose model has a nationality on record. From 2006, the first year with 500 or more Milan appearances on record.
Japanese models new to Milan Fashion Week
Japanese models whose first Milan season is Spring/Summer 2026 to Spring/Summer 2027, ranked by Milan shows since that debut. Definition
| Rank | Model | Shows since debut | First Milan season | First Big Four season | Houses in Milan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akitsugu Tominaga | 3 | Fall/Winter 2026 | Spring/Summer 2026 | Pronounce , Prada |
| 2 | Kai Wijers | 2 | Spring/Summer 2027 | Spring/Summer 2026 | Giorgio Armani , Ralph Lauren |
| 3 | Kazuya Tanabe | 1 | Spring/Summer 2026 | Spring/Summer 2024 | Versace |
| 4 | Shoichi Tamaki | 1 | Spring/Summer 2027 | Fall/Winter 2026 | Ralph Lauren |
| 5 | Taisei Nakacho | 1 | Fall/Winter 2026 | Fall/Winter 2026 | Prada |
Houses in Milan that have cast Japanese models
Casting directors in Milan who cast the most Japanese models since 2025
Questions this page answers
Who is the most cast Japanese model at Milan Fashion Week?
Mika Schneider, with 52 shows in Milan on public record since 2002, across 11 seasons, as of 22 October 2026.
How many Japanese models walked Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027?
7 Japanese models have a show on record in Milan for Spring/Summer 2027, as of 22 October 2026. The week closed on 28 September 2026 and casts are still being added. 6 walked in Fall/Winter 2026.
Cite as: Tectova, “Japanese models at Milan Fashion Week”, 22 October 2026, tectova.com/talent/from/japan/milan.