Osaka downplays dispute over skin color in anime

It's just subconscious reflex - Japanese subconsciously portray any Japanese with naturally lighter skin tone

Since typically having hardly ever meeting any fellow ethnic Japanese with natural darker color, they just don't imagine it in their mind's eye - like Westerners typically imagining any East Asian to be slit-eyed

It's nice to see someone who gets it!

And congrats to Naomi on her win!

It's just subconscious reflex - Japanese subconsciously portray any Japanese with naturally lighter skin tone

Since typically having hardly ever meeting any fellow ethnic Japanese with natural darker color, they just don't imagine it in their mind's eye - like Westerners typically imagining any East Asian to be slit-eyed

There is always someone willing to seek controversy

@Boy Next Door "bringing glory and honor to your country"--the thing is she has business interests on both sides of the Pacific which is maybe too big a gulf to straddle comfortably. See the last line of the story: "the U.S. parent of the agency asked Nissin to delete the films"--seems this is more about businesses jostling to define her image/ marketability than hoi polloi notions of "glory and honor."

Some  people are still stuck in the old time mentality. SKIN COLOR would still be a big issue to them. Can't you just thank this girl for bringing glory and honor to your country?

She was probably thrilled with the ad. I doubt she is thrilled with the weird attention people are giving to it. I'm sure she is not interested in the politics at all.

If anything for business purposes, she may have wanted it to be identical as a sort of trademark.

Kudos for Naomi. She carries herself with style and posse! Gotta love her!!

Interesting that Nissin, quote: "confirmed with Ms. Osaka and her team utilizing the original drawings for the campaign" through her management agency, IMG Japan.

Does 'drawings' not imply outlines only, though?

BTW When we choose an emoji, they give us a choice of color to make it. Wishing things could be just as simple.

So I checked, and Kei was definitely depicted too white.

Where are you getting this interpretation of her remarks? You seem to be replying to what you wish she had said than what you actually said

She's only making these responses because other people are making a big deal about it. By saying that she wants them to talk to her first next time, it is an easy way to avoid all these problems-which is all she wants.

She seems to be a latter day "Yamato Nadeshiko". So well mannered with a pleasant demeanour!

Im correct, see overly sensitive people talking nonsense for nothing, she herself is cool cause she knows Japanese anime is like that... Use your imagination

Not only is she a great tennis player, but also a lady with class. Her parents brought her up well.

Is is just me? or is she like, the sweetest person ever?

It's not just you. She is truly inspiring.

 As Naomi-chan said, there was no whitewashing and it wasnt on purpose.

she also said  "I feel like they should talk to me about it" she most probably would have said look my skin is dark tan and hair is black curly may want to change that before you print.

Class all the way! Looking forward to seeing her hoist that trophy.

Well, she's got to be careful since the money is rolling in. She's the Japanese number one, now that Kei-chan has sunk.

Obviously she doesn't care about it. People should let her decide if it is offensive or not.

To be honest I thought Kei looked too white as well. Maybe we should check on this.

It's awesome.

Naomi Osaka is, not Japanese, not Black, not white either obviously -- she is -- just --- Naomi Osaka

The world would be a fine place, if everyone were simply they themselves, without some stupid passport or race or colour attached to them.

It's 2019 - people born on different strips of dirt around the planet move around and have children together - a plain simple reality, so what!

Keep the focus on the tennis, that's why she is in the news in the first place!

”Osaka is smart not to piss off her sponsor.” It wasn’t about pissing off her sponsor.

Furthermore, the issue that even arose in Japan was not about her being black. It was that it was a rare chance for many in Japan that are half Japanese to be viewed as a whole on a large platform by a large sponsor. While there are many famous half Japanese people in Japan, it is rare for them to have a large platform to influence change or affect how things are done and seen. When most of the issues came up, there were not really comments about her being black. It was more so why was she not properly represented in images that are supposed to be her. Also, her sponsors want to use her because they have the ability to make a lot of many by using her image. The relationship between sponsors and the sponsored is mutually beneficial but more so for the sponsor than the sponsored. So her sponsor is also right now to anger her.

.A class act.

.

Very nice of her, but if it was meant to be a portrayal of her then it is pretty shameless.

But she has no reason to pick fights with the cash cow. Japan will still be kinda xenophobic and she will still be a mixed kid.

To use Ms Osaka’s name in the Nissin ad would IMG Japan have received a monetary benefit?

According to bizjournals Nissin and several other companies have signed a contract with her management company to use her name and image to sell their products.Ms Osaka will earn tens of millions of US dollars from these deals.

Maybe she should be more proactive and careful how her image is being used in the future?

Pure class from Naomi-chan. There was nothing racist about the anime which is why she laughed it off. As Naomi-chan said, there was no whitewashing and it wasnt on purpose.

GO GO Naomi-chan on Saturday!

People were so quick to speak for her. It's nice to know where she stands. Good luck in the Australian Open, Naomi Osaka.

Is is just me? or is she like, the sweetest person ever?

Good to see her refusing to play along with racial politics unlike another prominent female tennis player.