Jump to content
OneHallyu Will Be Closing End Of 2023 ×
OneHallyu

Naomi Osaka Will Have to Choose Whether She’s American or Japanese in 9 Months

My Everything

By My Everything
in Sport & Self-Care

Recommended Posts

My Everything Nation's First Love

My Everything

23,388
Posted
Posted

 

tenni-770x412.jpg

 

A lot of attention has been given to Osaka before when it comes to her race. Her mother is Japanese and her father is Haitian, and while she was born in Japan, she has lived the majority of her life in America. During her rise to stardom, many took issue with media outlets touting her as a Japanese star while seemingly ignoring her Haitian roots as a multiracial-Black American. However, referring to her as a Japanese star also refers to the fact that she is an athlete representing the nation of Japan, which serves as half of her nationality. That is not to say, however, that Osaka still faces micro-aggressions in Japan over how culturally Japanese she really is.

 

She currently holds both Japanese and American citizenship, but that will soon end. Japanese citizens who hold dual citizenship must choose either their Japanese or their other nationality when they turn 22 years old as the country does not allow dual citizenship, according to Quartz. Osaka, who is 21, turns 22 on October 16, 2019.

 

According to the Wall Street Journal, Osaka’s father decided when she was young that she would represent Japan athletically because the family has “always felt Japanese.†The fact that Japan’s tennis association has always been supportive of Osaka’s athletic career has also played a part in why she represents Japan and not America. Osaka was largely overlooked by American tennis associations until she played in the Australian Open in 2016. When the Americans came to poach his daughter to become the next American tennis star, Leonard Francois decided she would continue to represent Japan because they had always been supportive of Naomi, not just when she began to get famous, according to Nikkan Sports.

 

As Osaka has since enjoyed titles such as being the first world #1 player from Asia after defeating Petra Kvitova at the Australian Open, some speculate that when she turns 22, Osaka will ultimately choose her American nationality. One such person is Michio Ushioda, a journalist for Mainichi newspaper in Japan. He tweeted that he believes Osaka will decide to give up her Japanese nationality, that the loss for Japan will be great, and speculates, perhaps in jest, that the Japanese government will collapse as a result.

 

Only time will tell which Osaka will choose: The nationality that nurtured her athletic career or the one that could take her to heights only experienced by the legendary Williams sisters.

 

https://nextshark.com/naomi-osaka-american-or-japanese/

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
singnotes Star

singnotes

1,628
Posted
Posted

"Osaka was largely overlooked by American tennis associations until she played in the Australian Open in 2016. When the Americans came to poach his daughter to become the next American tennis star, Leonard Francois decided she would continue to represent Japan because they had always been supportive of Naomi, not just when she began to get famous, according to Nikkan Sports."

 

Lol at this tbh.

 

Either way, I wish her success moving forward. Always great to see young and rising tennis athletes. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DolphinGremlin Senior Idol

DolphinGremlin

938
Posted
Posted

I think she'll keep her Japanese citizenship. Japan was always there for her.

 

Hmmmm I don't think that's actually really true. They embrace her winning for Japan not really for her tbh. 

 

If she wants to keep playing for Japan that's totally fine. If she wants to play for America that is also fine too. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
timpa Global Superstar

timpa

6,547
Posted
Posted

After American crowd booing her at US open and USTA blatant favorism over Serena Williams, I hope she choose Japan. Those people will never fully accept her as American.

 

You could say the same about a lot of Japanese never accepting her as fully Japanese because she's mixed.

 

https://globalnews.ca/news/4897903/sponsor-drops-ad-whitewashing-tennis-champ-naomi-osaka/

 

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka says she hopes her sponsors will consult with her about how they portray her, but her focus is on her game.

Osaka was asked about criticism over one of her main sponsors, Nissin Foods Holdings, after they took down an online ad campaign that depicted her with pale skin after it was criticized as insensitive. Critics said the depiction does not reflect Osaka’s biracial background

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ghost-Snow Superstar

Ghost-Snow

2,299
Posted
Posted

Hmmmm I don't think that's actually really true. They embrace her winning for Japan not really for her tbh. 

 

If she wants to keep playing for Japan that's totally fine. If she wants to play for America that is also fine too. 

 

ESPN, Eurosports  and others were talking about this after she won Indian Wells Her mom asked Japanese Tennis Association to help since she didn't get any from USTA. You wonder why does she have her mom's last name and not her dad's? It's interesting you're saying Japan is embracing her only for the winning like that's not what USA is doing right now. Wins two slams at age 21 and suddenly they want her to become an official American.

 

And of course it's her choice.

 

I hope so. America does not deserve her

Nope

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

 Accept Cookies  Reject Cookies
Back to Top