As somebody who was born in Japan, grew up in America, and performs tennis for Japan, Naomi Osaka‘s nationality can appear sophisticated to some. Naomi—whose mom is from Hokkaido, Japan, and whose father is from Jacmel, Haiti—was born in Chūō-ku, Osaka Japan on October 16, 1997.
In a 2018 interview with The New York Occasions, Naomi’s mom, Tamaki, defined that Naomi and her sister, Mari, took their mom’s final title, Osaka, as a substitute of their father’s, Francois, in order that it could be simpler if the sisters stayed in Japan and enrolled at school or rented residences. Nonetheless, after she was born, Naomi didn’t keep in Japan lengthy.
All about Naomi Osaka’s nationality
When she was three years previous, Naomi and her household moved to the US. They first lived along with her father Leonard’s grandparents in Lengthy Island, New York, earlier than shifting to Florida when Naomi was round eight years previous.
Florida was the place Naomi and Mari, who can also be knowledgeable tennis participant, educated for many of their tennis profession. When she was 13, Naomi’s father determined for her and Mari to play tennis for Japan as a substitute of the US after the US Tennis Affiliation confirmed little curiosity within the sisters. “My dad thought that since I grew up round my mother and I’ve numerous Japanese kin,” Naomi advised The New York Occasions. “I don’t essentially really feel like I’m American. I wouldn’t know what that appears like.”
For many of her life, Naomi had twin citizenship in each the U.S. and Japan. Nonetheless, in October 2019, Naomi relinquished her American citizenship. Although the choice allowed her to play for Japan within the 2021 Tokyo Summer season Olympics, that wasn’t the principle motive. Beneath Japan’s Nationality Act, these with twin citizenship should select one earlier than their twenty second birthday. Naomi’s resolution to relinquish her US citizenship got here six days earlier than that deadline.
Had Japan allowed twin citizenship for these over the age of twenty-two, Naomi would nonetheless be capable of compete within the 2021 Summer season Olympics as a citizen of each the U.S. and Japan. In response to a bylaw to Rule 41 of the Olympic Constitution, athletes with twin citizenship can select to characterize both nation. Those that achieve new citizenship or want to change the nation they play for on the Olympics can achieve this so long as three years have handed since their most up-to-date Olympics for his or her earlier nation. “It’s a particular feeling to goal for the Olympics as a consultant of Japan,” Naomi advised Japanese broadcaster NHK in 2019. “I believe that taking part in with the pleasure of the nation will make me really feel extra emotional.”
Naomi’s mom advised The Wall Road Journal in 2018 that each Naomi and her sister have at all times felt extra Japanese, which is why she performs tennis for Japan as a substitute of the U.S. “She was born in Osaka and was introduced up in a family of Japanese and Haitian tradition,” Tamaki stated. “Fairly merely, Naomi and her sister Mari have at all times felt Japanese, in order that was our solely rationale. It was by no means a financially motivated resolution nor had been we ever swayed both approach by any nationwide federation.”
Although Naomi is a citizen of Japan, she additionally has a house within the US. In 2021, she purchased a $7 million dwelling in Beverly Hills, California. The home, which was beforehand owned by Nick Jonas, has three bedrooms and 4 bogs and is 4,100 sq. toes.
