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© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.After big win, Naomi Osaka gets another test: Japanese media
By JUSTIN BERGMAN MELBOURNE, Australia©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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katsu78
Every year Japan sends Japanese baseball players who can't speak English to the US, and every year aside from a few English teachers using the topic for debate material and a few sports announcers using it to plug gaps in a slow news day, no one really cares. So why is Naomi Osaka any different? Oh... right, because she has Japanese ancestry, and there is this persistent delusion that Japanese ancestry and Japanese culture are inextricably linked.
Kurobune
So far, so good sounds like. Keep it up, Naomi-san ! Ganbarre !
smithinjapan
You go, young lady! Don't let the media get to you!!
Wc626
I hope the japanese media and japanese tennis fans won't scrutinize her too much. (remember the whole Ariana Miyamoto drama?)
Even Serena Williams has said Naomi, "is a talented player. Very dangerous." Looks like Nishikori will have to share the limelight as this young tennis player has the potential to become a star.
SenseNotSoCommon
Sport as metaphor for the bigger world. Go, Naomi!
nakanoguy01
i don't get the second paragraph. why would she be alarmed the the pc was in english since that's what she speaks. shouldn't it read, "she stated, 'English only.'
besides that, it seems like the only time japan trumpets "halfers" or naturalized japanese is in the world of sports (e.g. rugby and tennis).
shonanbb
If she is in America, has she become an American, or does she have a Japanese PassPOrt or Haitian one. I do not understand how she can live in Florida if she is not naturalized.
Black Sabbath
Me neither.
WeiWei
Shonanbb, you can live in the US with a green card, no need to naturalize. Also it is possible she holds dual passports until she turns 20.
wtfjapan
besides that, it seems like the only time japan trumpets "halfers" or naturalized japanese is in the world of sports (e.g. rugby and tennis). add to that baseball and Sumo,
Wc626
She will face discrimination if she decides to take up her mother's nationality and reside in Japan. Even if she ends up to be a Tennis Super Star, she idolizes Serena Williams. NOT Nishikori.
RowanM
I had to read this twice, too, to figure it out. She was alarmed because English questions were "first" implying that "Japanese questions will come next" and she can't answer those, so she was asking for questions "Only in English"
misunderstood
The only time a mixed race person gets attention in Japan is when they are in the lime light and only then do Japan try to TAKE ALL OF THE CREDIT of the person being Japanese. It's funny she said English only questions which says she is more American Japanese even though her mother is Japanese and the father is Haitian point made is she lives in the US trains in Japan! Most people in the US already new who she was now Japan is trying to stake the claim! It's ok Japan. Why not claim all mix races in Japan as you do the entertainert
James Hart
katsu78, there is a big difference between this girl and the baseball players you noted. She is representing Japan and isn't so good at speaking Japanese. Those baseball players don't go to America and represent America.
JA_Cruise
Who cares about her nationality or her language capabilities, she is a great up and coming tennis player. American tennis training programs and facilities are top programs in the world, so she has to train in America, and therefore her English will excel. My prediction, she will be in the top 50 by the end of this year!!
Alphaape
As others have said, she can keep the US citizenship until she turns 21 in the USA.
sf2k
while there is a Japan connection, after all the song and dance she's basically American, living and growing up there.