Naomi Osaka on her way up with first pro tennis title

Fabulous news! Comgratulations Miss Osaka? She will be the first Japanese to win a Major, maybe this year!!

Yes a big congratulations! Her playing was fantastic! I'm just curious about her being a dual national. There have been articles here at JT explaining that dual nationality is not legal if you have Japan citizinship, so how does she have it? Some articles were about people wanting to change Japan's ban on dual citizenship. Anyway, no matter what, keep it up!

She Is so cool. I love the brutal honesty about faking calmness!

Win more or not she is going to be a much loved personality for years to come.

Congrats to her!

@Gokai: it’s illegal to have dual citizenship after you turn 22 in Japan, so there is a chance she may have to choose in 2 years time (she is 20 now) due to her high profile. Although I don’t know of any half who has had to give up their citizenship from this rule

it’s illegal to have dual citizenship after you turn 22 in Japan

Not exactly. They have to declare an intent to give up their other citizenship. It's not actually illegal to have dual citizenship.

Congrats to her! This is a young lady who should be followed MUCH more closely. How's Nishikori doing?

I believe based on reading elsewhere about Ms. Osaka's career that 1.3 million is nearly equal her previous prize money, not double as it says here. The reporter Ms. Harris probably read somewhere about this doubling her career earnings, which is true. But the way double was used is wrong.

I can't help but wonder what will happen when she hits 22. Because let's be honest, it wouldn't make much sense for her to keep her Japanese nationality considering she's grown up in the US and trains there, if I'm not mistaken.

Japan needs to get over it's issue with dual and start allowing it. The whole thing with that cat comedian marathon runner and the olympics gave me hope but nothing has changed - he is now officially Cambodian but I can't help but wonder if he actually still has a Japanese passport.

Good going! Knock down those stereotypes here one by one.

Naomi-chan is the New Serena Williams!

@ gokai - She will choose Japanese citizenship. Most commentators say.Huge corporate support from Japanese companies,TV endirsements and variety show appearances and Tokyo 2020 just around the corner. Winning that Gold will make her a Superstar of Japanese sports! So yes - she will hand over the USA passport,but financially makes sense to choose Japan.

Thanks everyone for the nationality information. It does seem a bit confusing. I do hope that if she ultimately has to choose, she will choose Japanese citizenship.

She was born here, she has citizenship here.

She's Japanese and has a great future in tennis.

Two of her sponsors for the last couple years are Nissin (same as Kei Nishikori) and WOWOW. Even if she never wins a major, the lucrative sponsorship money is hers for the taking (same as Kei Nishikori at his peak). But for pride and bragging rights, clinching a few majors wouldn't hurt.

She left Japan at age 3 and since been living in NY and Florida. But she chooses to represent Japan, even though the US gave her the opportunity to excel in her field. Not exactly a model US immigrant, is she.

The media always over reacts to these wonder kids. This will seem quite negative but what’s so “Japanese” about her? Do you remember much when you were four years old? I get she happens to have a Japanese passport and her mom is Japanese. She grew up in the US, learned tennis and trains in the US. Her Japanese language skills are atrocious. Why didn’t her mom teach her?

Frankly, her communication skills are weak in her native English, as well. Let’s see how her career unfolds and if she can be consistently a champion.

She's certainly a wonderful player and person, bringing a breath of fresh air to the sports waves.

Great watching her tenacious style - and no "guts pose"

And re her nationality - she does hold dual citizenship, so if laws go unchanged she will have to give up 1 nationality in 2 years, because authorities see multiple citizenship as a security threat.

Many are really hoping this is her break-out year and will go BIG.

'Japanese' can refer to citizenship, ethnicity and/or language. She's got the citizenship and ethnicity - that makes her pretty Japanese. More than the majority of posters here I would guess.

How's Nishikori doing?

such endless nonsense.

Nishikori has hopefully recovered from his recent bout of illness and will actually play Miami, but is drawn against delpo in the third round.

@Patrick 3 hr ago,

In regards to " multiple citizenship". FYI: A Japanese national is assumed to have renounced their nationality upon naturalization in any foreign country.[6][10]

Under the revisions made to the Nationality Law in 1985, Articles 14 and 15 require any person who holds multiple citizenship to make a "declaration of choice" between the ages of 20 and 22, in which they choose to renounce either their Japanese nationality or their foreign citizenship(s). Failure to do so entitles the Minister of Justice to demand a declaration of choice at any time. If the required declaration is not made within one month, their Japanese nationality is automatically revoked. A renunciation of foreign citizenship made before Japanese officials may be considered by a foreign state as having no legal effect as is the case with, for example, United States citizenship.[11]

Japanese nationals who hold multiple citizenship by birth, and who do not wish to lose their Japanese citizenship, are required to declare their desire to retain Japanese citizenship by the age of 21.

In her situation, Naomi Osaka's father is American and mother being Japanese, she chose to use her mother's citizenship as her own for financial purpose such as endorsement. She realized being Japanese would give her more advantage to gain all those financial backers to have. She is only 20 years old now so she still has more time to enjoy being a multi citizenship to be Japanese or American until such time that she has to make her important decision. Enjoy the ride Naomi in the meantime!

My wife and I live here in US, and have been following her progress and we are very proud to see her a big win at the Indian Wells.

She is only 20 years old now so she still has more time to enjoy being a multi citizenship to be Japanese or American until such time that she has to make her important decision.

She already chose to be Japanese. Sorry to Americans. Naomi-Chan Already represented Japan in International Competitions, Hopman Cup. And will do so in Tokyo 2020,unless injury prevented.Japan Corporations back their players (for example Kei-San by UNIQLO) more than USA where Tennis is a minor sport, furthermore Japan has a big economic boom now compared to USA.

Everyone needs to accept now Naomi-Chan is a player representing Japan. Case closed.

Oh yeah, she's really Japanese -- give me a break.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-open-osaka/tennis-osaka-falls-short-of-acing-japanese-test-idUSKCN0YI1Q8

Oh yeah, she's really Japanese -- give me a break.

She's ethnically Japanese, with Japanese citizenship.

As much as you may hate it, she's very Japanese.

Interestingly, she doesn't appear to speak Japanese well.

I love her powerful plays. I love her charming character. She is strong, cute, awkward and funny. I just love her games and her responses in after-game press conferences. She is delightful.

She's ethnically Japanese, with Japanese citizenship. As much as you may hate it, she's very Japanese.

Actually shes very ethnically Haitian as much as shes Japanese , no number of citizenship, Japanese, American, Haitian will change that , shes been exposed to the American culture and language far more than the Japanese one. Ones nationality can be changed as easy as signature on an application form, ones race/ethnicity is fixed for life. Naomi may choose Japanese citizenship as her future nationality but it will most likely be for financial reason than the cultural/language for which shes had little exposure. So for those Japanese that claim that halfu children arent really all Japanese, then its fair to say that Naomi isnt really all Japanese also!?

So yes - she will hand over the USA passport,but financially makes sense to choose Japan. so shell choose Japan for the money!? seems a little sad doesnt it!? If she actually breaks into the top 10 and wins one or more majors in the next couple years Id warrent a guess shed make far more money playing for the US and the huge endorsements that US companies would offer her.

Depending on what US state she resides, taxes could be cheaper in the US. However, let’s not even discuss inheritance taxes (still a long way for her and it’ll depress all of us living in Japan!)

Actually shes very ethnically Haitian as much as shes Japanese , no number of citizenship, Japanese, American, Haitian will change that

And neither does that change the fact that she is ethically Japanese, with Japanese citizenship. That's how dual citizenship and biculturalism work - the person is both. One doesn't cancel out the other.

for those Japanese that claim that halfu children arent really all Japanese, then its fair to say that Naomi isnt really all Japanese also!?

'Those Japanese' that claim that hafu kids aren't Japanese are wrong, and so the answer to your question is no, it's not 'fair' to say that, as it is wrong.

That's how dual citizenship and biculturalism work - the person is both. One doesn't cancel out the other.

actually wrong again, citizenship is like a nationality can be changed at will, being Japanese isnt a race its a nationality , Osaka is both Asian and Black. According to Japanese law one does cancel out the other as Osaka will have to forfeit one nationality for the other by age 22, if she refuses the Minister of Justice can demand a declaration of choice at any time. If the required declaration is not made within one month, their Japanese nationality is automatically revoked. This in itself just shows how much Japan cares or is accepting of halfu Japanese. Osaka should choose a country , (which there are many) that is accepting of dual/multi nationality citizens.

Japan Corporations back their players (for example Kei-San by UNIQLO) more than USA where Tennis is a minor sport, yet in the top 10 wealthiest Tennis players about half of them are American, and some of those are retired and still make the list. Fact is American tennis players will always earn more from American endorsements during their career and during retirement. J companies will never be as forthcoming to its sports stars as American companies are.

actually wrong again

You say that but then didn’t show anything I said to have been wrong.

citizenship is like a nationality can be changed at will

Ignoring that no, it can’t be changed at will, whether or not it can be changed doesn’t change the fact that a person holding a Japanese passport is Japanese

being Japanese isnt a race its a nationality

You just tried stating that nationality can be changed at will, then go on to try to create some limited definition of what Japanese is. Japanese is an ethnicity as well as a nationality.

Osaka is both Asian and Black. According to Japanese law one does cancel out the other

What? There is nothing in Japanese law that says being black cancels out being Asian, or vice versa. That’s just flat out wrong.

Osaka will have to forfeit one nationality for the other by age 22

Again, wrong. She will have to declare an intent to choose one or the other. Some nationalities cannot be forfeited even if one wants to.

if she refuses the Minister of Justice can demand a declaration of choice at any time.

A declaration of intent. Not choice.

Osaka should choose a country , (which there are many) that is accepting of dual/multi nationality citizens.

Osaka should choose whatever she feels is right for her regardless of what any hacks on the internet may feel about it. If that means she chooses her Japanese citizenship then good for her - she’s Japanese so it would be entirely understandable.

Again, wrong. She will have to declare an intent to choose one or the other. Some nationalities cannot be forfeited even if one wants to. yet shes American which CAN be forfeited so if the Ministry of Justice demands it shell have to revoke one for the other. If she refuses then the Ministry has the power to revoke her Japanese citizenship. so you are wrong in assuming one nationality cant cancel out another under Japanese law.

If that means she chooses her Japanese citizenship then good for her - she’s Japanese so it would be entirely understandable. and if she chooses American citizenship then good for her also as shes American also, depending on her success in the future she can earn far more as an American player and endorsements, she wont have to forfeit half her wealth in inheritance taxes should she choose to stay a Japanese citizen. from a financial standpoint being American would be the better option, but its entirely her decision. I personally hope she becomes famous and refuses to renounce either citizenship, give those xenophobic morons in the J gov a wakeup call. can you imagine the Ministry of Justice revoking her J citizenship even after representing Japan. The uproar would be deafening

What? There is nothing in Japanese law that says being black cancels out being Asian, or vice versa. That’s just flat out wrong. I never stated that, your confusing nationality "the status of belonging to a particular nation, whether by birth or naturalization" with race "a group of persons related by common descent or heredity" a nationality can be forfeit for another , Naomis race black & Asian cannot