Naomi Osaka reflects on challenges of being black and Japanese

  • ‘It’s a bit ignorant. ... It’s not really a hate thing’
  • Grand slam winner also pays tribute to mentor Kobe Bryant

Naomi Osaka has spoken about her experiences of being black and Japanese, as well as her memories of her mentor Kobe Bryant, in an interview with WSJ Magazine published online on Tuesday.

The two-time grand slam champion was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father. The family moved to the US when she was a child, but she says she noticed she stood out when she was in Japan, the country she competes for.

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