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Naomi Osaka becomes part owner of U.S. women's pro soccer club

60 Comments
By MATTHEW STOCKMAN

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60 Comments

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Good for Naomi.

Good luck in the Australian Open, Naomi-chan! Best Japanese tennis player in history.

-15 ( +12 / -27 )

She should join USA permanently.

Seems to like that country more then Japan.

I was a big fan, until I realize she stands for USA issues more then Japan.

11 ( +25 / -14 )

Yes, Japan has a new women's soccer league, it will be interesting to see if she supports that also.

All the best in Aus, Naomi.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Good for Naomi. Sadly, I think this news will again trigger the bigots and Naomi-haters out there. Grow up.

I agree. Good on you Naomi!

-3 ( +16 / -19 )

I liked this girl before . But now she is a Japanese citizen and play politics in USA.

Now I am no more a fan of her..

9 ( +23 / -14 )

I supported Naomi myself until:

She uses Japan as a badge, easier path to compete.

She supports all black issues in USA. None Japanese. All BLM

Her heroes are all black. The people she looks up to are black. None Japanese.

She likes black music, movies, art, books, USA. No Japan.

She dates black men, current boyfriend black rapper from America. No Japan.

She is a better representation of America then she will ever be of Japan.

10 ( +27 / -17 )

reasoandwisdomnippon:

Seems to like that country more then Japan.

I was a big fan, until I realize she stands for USA issues more then Japan.

Why shouldn't she like the USA more? It's not as if she's not an American national.

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

She is not Japanese.

"Naomi Osaka, the 2018 U.S. Open champion and the world’s third-ranked tennis player, will give up her U.S. citizenship to represent Japan in the Summer Olympics next year in Tokyo.

Osaka, whose mother is Japanese and father is Haitian, was born in Japan but moved with her family to New York when she was 3. Under Japan’s Nationality Act, those who hold dual citizenship must choose one before their 22nd birthday. Osaka turns 22 on Wednesday."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/10/tennis-star-naomi-osaka-gives-up-her-us-citizenship-play-japan-tokyo-olympics/

Not sure if she is even American, given that neither parent appear to be US citizens. When did she naturalize?

If she did naturalize, she never gave up her American citizenship.

She would not be eligible for green card after renouncing citizenship, so she could neither live nor work in the US.

What's the truth with her?

12 ( +18 / -6 )

To all the Naomi bashers. I bet you’d be happy if she won a gold in the 202? Olympics for Japan though.

-6 ( +12 / -18 )

"If she did naturalize"

How could she naturalise to become Japanese?!

She was born in Japan, her mother is Japanese.

Where did you guys learn Law, if at all?!

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Nice, I get it, but what I don't get is why didn't she do this on her own country? I mean everyone made the big deal out of the "fact" (used very lightly as no one really knows) she renounced USA citizenship to be only Japanese.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

@zichi

I think it is more the double standard that bothers people including my children and several of their friends birth dual.

A few we know that travel alot between countries have been pulled aside on re-entering Japan and told they needed to sign that they will renounce their other citizenship and bring proof.

None would sign but the threat is always there that at one point the j gov will try a revoke their Japanese citizens.

It seems obvious that no proof she actually went through the renouncement process and the fact she can live and work without a problem in the USA makes it suspect that she actually did.

One rule for the rich and famous one for the rest of the lower people.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

@ReasonandWisdomNippon, you are free to think how you like just as she is free to live her life the way she sees fit. I remember watching her on WoWoW two or three years before she won her first Slam but never heard a peep from any Japanese and she got almost no press. They talked about all the other full Japanese before ever mentioning her and you know why. Now after winning the Slams, people like you all of a sudden want her to "represent" Japan and be 'Japanese.' Her father is a black Haitian and why is there a problem with her embracing that side more? Why should she change her ways for an audience that only says they love her just because she wins? We all know darn well that had she not won the big ones, nobody here would pay any attention to her and you wouldn't care how she lived her life. More power to her!

0 ( +8 / -8 )

"Naomi Osaka was born Japanese."

Zichi, please give up.

When we get posters wondering if "she naturalised" to be become Japanese that should be a clear indication to simply give up.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

@zichi

I will give a better example of double standard.

My dentist born and raised in Japan.

Her mother is Japanese father not.

She was born before 1981 so under the old laws children born to a Japanese man were Japanese but born to a Japanese woman the children weren't Japanese ( married to a non Japanese in both cases).

The law was changed for equality but did those children like my dentist get their Japanese citizenship automatically? No she had to go through a long process show proof she renounced her other citizenship, basically they treated her like someone not born to a Japanese and like someone that naturalized. This for her was so complicated that she only recently finalized it all and she is well in her mid 40s.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

I think Naomi Osaka has a Japanese passport and still retained her American one.

But unlike the rest the chance anyone at airport immigration is going to ask is zero.

As with the rest each time you leave or enter, you risk being taken aside bags searched and finding 2 passports be told to give one up then and there ,(don't they actually cannot take either).

Under USA law if she still has citizenship she must enter and leave using USA passport.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Not a great time to invest in mass sports events.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Bungle,

Why don't you give us the reasons for her Japanese grand parents issues too?

You assume so much and all is hate and contempt. From you, now I know someone cannot come from Haiti and be successful

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Good on you Naomi, good luck with your new endeavor. Could you also push the agenda in Japan where women's rights are not as actively being pursued as in the U.S.?

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

How many people do you know who have lost their Japanese nationality for not renouncing their other one?

I personally don't. My daughter's friend felt so intimidated alone with several male immigration officers at Narita she eventually signed the papers put in front of her saying she renounces her other one and would produce proof.

She never did do that under lawyers advice but is now in a more precarious situation for having signed that document.

Rule one never sign anything without a lawyer.

Her lawyer told my daughter the thing to say is ok I will do it later, I am not signing anything before I get an expert to read it, basically act not smart enough to understand.they cannot take either passport and if they do anyway just get a new one.

It is sily that in 2021 Japan still insist on acting like dual citizenship is something bad and rare, the number of mixed couples is growing as are the number of mixed children while pure Japanese are having fewer children.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

BungleToday  09:05 am JST

What's the truth with her?

What’s the truth with the entire family? Like how did the father, a man from dirt-poor Haiti, end up with a Japanese wife, U.S. citizenship, and the $$ to put his daughter through the megabucks training his daughter would need long before she started making coin?

Maybe there is a reason the grandparents don’t like him other than the fact that he is black... like having a relative or family friend with “Doc” in his name, for instance.

So, everyone in Japan is rich because it's a rich country and everyone in Haiti is poor because it's a poor country? Pretty simplistic. Maybe the father got a job or two. Imagine that! Maybe the grandparents are just jealous and like a good amount of people here, ''nice'' people who are really haters and racists.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

She is from Japan.

I am from Mars.

go moderate fujisankei

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Keep going up Naomi Chan!

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

I was a big fan, until I realize she stands for USA issues more then Japan.

Racism is a worldwide issue.

She supports all black issues in USA. None Japanese. All BLM

Her heroes are all black. The people she looks up to are black. None Japanese.

She likes black music, movies, art, books, USA. No Japan.

She dates black men, current boyfriend black rapper from America. No Japan.

She is a better representation of America then she will ever be of Japan.

There are black and mixed race Japanese. There are Japanese rappers, Japanese people consume and love music of black origin.

But some clearly are insular and can't handle a strong, successful black Japanese woman.

They see black culture and black people as something "other".

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

If she did naturalize, she never gave up her American citizenship.

Naturalize? She's a citizen by birth, there was never any reason for her to naturalize.

She would not be eligible for green card after renouncing citizenship, so she could neither live nor work in the US.

The truth is publicly available. Japanese law requires her to make a declaration of intent to get rid of her other (American) citizenship. She satisfied this requirement.

You have implied she is lying about something:

What's the truth with her?

You have done this in other threads about her as well, but when asked to provide a quote of hers and evidence that it is a lie, you continue to revert to innuendo.

So once again, please provide a quote of hers, and some evidence that shows her to have been lying. Otherwise enough with the fake-news implications.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Good on Osaka for giving back to the community. She's a model to other young athletes.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

@Goodlucktoyou

Not a great time to invest in mass sports events.

Actually I do not agree with you on this. Please allow me to explain.

I believe the pent up demand for these activities (attending) as well as travel, etc. will be very high. I think people are so tired of being either locked down or self isolation as part of their own decision to protect themselves that once restrictions are lifted there is going to be a tremendous "transient" surge in travel, eating out, leisure activities.

On the contrary if Ms. Osaka is thinking long term it may be a very wise move.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Every single article about Naomi-chan guarantees people coming out and slandering her, questioning if she is Japanese, alleging that she "cant speak a word of Japanese", and implying that she is just using her Japanese nationality for commercial reasons. Absolute nonsense.

Naomi-chan has legally acknowledged that she is no longer American and is ONLY Japanese. Deal with it.

Some people are just afraid and jealous of a loud and proud, Black Japanese woman, who stands up for BLM and the oppressed. You go girl, Japan and much of the world is right behind you! New North Carolina Courage fanatic here!

-8 ( +6 / -14 )

"The women who have invested in me growing up made me who I am today and I cannot think of where my life would be without them," Osaka said.

"My investment in the North Carolina Courage is far beyond just being a team owner. It's an investment in amazing women who are role models and leaders in their fields and inspirations to all young female athletes.

"I also admire everything the Courage does for diversity and equality in the community, which I greatly look forward to supporting and driving forward."

If you are investing huge sums to purchase a stake in US pro soccer, men’s or women’s, or any business venture, it is wise to set aside ones concerns that pursuing a social/racial justice media agenda will have any effect on the financial strategy that ultimately equates to success.

It won’t.

Good luck all the same.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Strangerland

requires her to make a declaration of intent to get rid of her other (American) citizenship. She satisfied this requirement.

You have implied she is lying about something:

Only sort of.

When applying for her Japanese passport she must say if she holds any other country's passport and if she follows the law and says yes they will ask her to relinquish that passport before issuing a Japanese one.

Now I know plenty of duals that either check no or do a bend the truth by "losing" their other passport then saying no and then get a new passport issued by their other country so technically when they applied for their Japanese passport they didn't have any other one.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Toasted Heretic

Nice try, but it seems most are actually upset like I am and my mixed children are that she gets special treatment.

We all know as does the Japanese government that she still has her USA passport, etc... And they turn a blind eye to that.

In comparison my daughter's friend has had nothing but trouble when returning to Japan with her 2 passports I will bet not once has Osaka been taken aside and her belongings searched to find her USA passport.

My daughter had it twice but was under 22 at the time so nothing immigration could do.

Next time it will not be that easy for her.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

In comparison my daughter's friend has had nothing but trouble when returning to Japan with her 2 passports I will bet not once has Osaka been taken aside and her belongings searched to find her USA passport.

So you're angry because you imagine something that you don't actually have any evidence of.

Seems like a frustrating way to live your life.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

So you're angry because you imagine something that you don't actually have any evidence of.

If she gave up her USA citizenship then she would not be able to live and work in the USA.

It is also policy to not issue "green cards" to those that have done so.

Reasoning is to rich people would give us citizenship remain in the USA but not pay taxes on world wide income.

So how does she manage to do it.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

If she gave up her USA citizenship then she would not be able to live and work in the USA.

Actually not true. Kei Nishikori, another Japanese citizen, has lived and worked in the US for over a decade. It is where the worlds best work and train.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

Nishikori has lived in the US for most of his life, like Naomi-chan.

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

@Fighto!

Let's try to be honest.

Perhaps genetically she is Japanese, she may even have citizenship, but she knows little or nothing about Japan, seems far more interested in what is going on in the USA, is more socially involved in what is going on in the USA.

Now that she is famous people are ready to swoon all over her and claim she is a Japanese athlete.

Now compare that to the reality of mixed children born and raised in Japan that are told all their lives they are not really or fully Japanese.

Compare that to my 2 children and their mixed friends that upon graduating from Japanese universities were give verbal lists of companies not to apply to because they will not hire non Japanese or mixed (yes verbal no one will risk putting the list in writing).

So no I don't feel any need to go along with this charade.

Before embracing this situation why not first fix the problems of those Japanese of mixed parentage who actually live, work and speak fluent native level Japanese.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

@Fighto!

Guess you missed the part about relinquishing citizenship, that is very different from never having it and living like most of us non Japanese in Japan on PR or Visa.

The USA makes it difficult to give up citizenship and once one does makes it difficult to live or work there.

The reason is that all USA citizens must file taxes every year regardless if they live in the USA and must declare worldwide income.

If the rich could just drop citizenship get one in a country with very low income tax they could avoid paying USA taxes on earnings made outside the USA.

So the USA makes it very difficult for those dropping citizenship to remain in the USA.

. Kei Nishikori is not a USA citizen and has never been one so the restriction on those that have up citizenship does not apply.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

If Naomi came out and supported what most Japanese call Hafu they would be upset. One poster ask “I wonder what her father does” Answer he enjoys watching his daughter compete he put her into training his hard work paid off. Go sell newspapers if you are a columnist

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Fighto!Today  12:09 pm JST

If she gave up her USA citizenship then she would not be able to live and work in the USA.

Actually not true. Kei Nishikori, another Japanese citizen, has lived and worked in the US for over a decade. It is where the worlds best work and train.

That's because he has a visa.

If Naomi renounced her supposed US citizenship, then she cannot get a resident visa and cannot live or work in the US.

Why is that so hard to understand?

13 ( +13 / -0 )

If Naomi came out and supported what most Japanese call Hafu they would be upset

Yes it would make most non mixed very upset and would end this charade.

She and others would see the true side of being mixed and reality that she is only accepted as long as she wins in the name of Japan.

It would take one comment on how poorly mixed are treated for most to turn on her, lose her sponsors and for most to point out everything those here have, she doesn't live here, speak the language, know anything about the country, etc...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Readers, you are going around in circles. Please discuss the story.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

When you have made enough money business-wise investing in companies or being sponsored them, whether you use their product or not, you can start buying things you like whether it is profitable or not. Women's pro soccer is purely a hobby grab, not a cash grab. There is nothing wrong with that.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

US women's pro soccer. Sounds like a horrible investment.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Seems a nice girl, does no harm, she can do what she wants. Good luck to her.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Nationality has no influence or association in business.

Or the belief that one’s political compass will sway investment; it is the financial bottom-line that counts.

Profit does not recognize nationally or the relevance of the passport, that is the definition of a fools paradise.

If Naomi Osaka is investing in US pro soccer, then the success of the venture is dependent on results and sponsorship, share the risk.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

More to point out.

She is making money on being Japanese getting sponsorship from Japan and Japanese companies but instead of using that money to help Japanese female athletes she is using it to help Americans.

So yes there is good reasons for criticism.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

She can't win either way. She wins, she's Japanese, if she doesn't she foreign. So she invests in the group that will support her if statistics are followed, and people on this site have nothing ill words for her. Looks like she made a few smart business decision given her circumstances. This is just one more.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

There goes money down the toilet. A fool and their money is easily parted.

What if her goal is to support her community, rather than make a profit? You do realize she's filthy rich, right?

I guess if all that motivates you is money, then you assume all anyone else is motivated by is also money.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

What if her goal is to support her community, rather than make a profit? You do realize she's filthy rich, right?

Yes nice idea. How about doing it in her own country like Japan, the place that gave her all that sponsorship money?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

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