Naomi Osaka is one of the biggest stars in tennis, who peaked when she won four Grand Slam tournaments between 2018 and 2021.
In tennis, nationality is a big deal since players represent their home countries during every tournament. For Osaka, however, the decision of which country she would represent was not a clear-cut choice, since she could've represented any of a few different nationalities.
In the end, Osaka decided to play for Japan, which meant that she played for the country as it hosted the 2020 Summer Olympics in 2021. So, how did Osaka come to that decision? Here is what you need to know.
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Why does Naomi Osaka play for Japan?
Osaka was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, but the family moved to the United States when Osaka was young. When it was time to decide which nationality Osaka would represent, her parents chose that it would be Japan.
"We made the decision that Naomi would represent Japan at an early age," Osaka’s parents told The Wall Street Journal. "She was born in Osaka and was brought up in a household of Japanese and Haitian culture. Quite simply, Naomi and her sister Mari have always felt Japanese so that was our only rationale. It was never a financially motivated decision nor were we ever swayed either way by any national federation."
Osaka acknowledged that the decision was mainly her father's choice, but she agreed that it made the most sense for her to represent Japan.
"My dad thought that since I grew up around my mom and I have a lot of Japanese relatives ... I don’t know," Osaka told the New York Times. "I don’t necessarily feel like I’m American. I wouldn’t know what that feels like."
When Osaka began competing competitively, she represented Japan while the United States Tennis Association didn't show much interest. By the time Osaka was 16, and the UTSA was much more interested, it was too late as Osaka and her family had already made their decision.
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Where is Naomi Osaka from?
Osaka was born in Osaka, Japan, but she didn't grow up there. When Osaka was three years old, her family moved to the United States, first settling in New York before moving south to Florida a few years later. Osaka really started to get into tennis while she lived in Florida, as it was easy to train for the sport year-round.
While Osaka was born to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, her parents decided to give her and her sister their mother's last name.
Currently, Osaka lives and trains in California. Most recently, she lived in Tarzana, Los Angeles, but sold her multi-million home to Nick and Vanessa Lachey in August of 2025.
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Why did Naomi Osaka relinquish USA dual citizenship
Osaka used to be a dual citizen of the United States and Japan, but she renounced her U.S. citizenship in 2019, ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Osaka made that decision because she wanted to play for Japan in the Olympics and, in order for her to do so, she couldn't have a dual-citizenship.
Additionally, Japanese law also requires its dual citizens to choose between their two citizenships by their 22nd birthday. Osaka turned 22 in October of 2019, which was less than a year before the 2020 Olympics were set to take place, before it was postponed.
Here is what the Japanese Ministry of Justice says about dual citizens:
"A person who possesses Japanese and a foreign nationality (a person of dual nationality) shall choose one nationality before he or she reaches twenty-two years of age (or within two years after the day when he or she acquired the second nationality if he or she acquired such nationality after the day when he or she reached twenty years of age). If he or she fails to choose his or her nationalities, he or she may lose Japanese nationality. So, please don't forget choosing your nationality."
Osaka was especially excited to play in her first Olympics in her home country, and she even got to take part in the opening ceremony for the event.
Undoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life. I have no words to describe the feelings I have right now but I do know I am currently filled with gratefulness and thankfulness ❤️ love you guys thank you. pic.twitter.com/CacWQ5ToUD
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) July 23, 2021
"It's definitely going to be very special," Osaka said ahead of the event, via Olympics.com. "I think there's no other place that I'd rather play my first Olympics. I think that will be one of the most memorable things that ever happens to me."
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