Japan is home to 2.2 million foreign residents, and like it or not, a growing number of them are marrying Japanese citizens.
However, no matter how common international marriages are today, Japanese society still sets the children of these couples apart. They may have grown up as Japanese citizens or be fluent at the language, but many complain of feeling excluded or discriminated against because of their background.
Some of these children, however, grow up to be Olympians-flying the flag for Japan and challenging the conventional definition of what it means to be Japanese. At the Rio Olympics, more than any before, multicultural Japanese athletes have been a notable presence in the stadiums.
Mashu Baker, 24 Judo (men’s 90kg)
Also, known as Matthew Baker, this 24-year-old judoka captured the heart of the nation at 2016’s Olympics by bringing home the ultimate prize: a gold medal. Born to an American father and Japanese mother, Baker started judo at the age of 7, making a name for him by winning competition after competition.
Aska Cambridge, 25 Athletics (100 meters, 4X100-meter relay)
This 25-year-old half-Jamaican sprinter has been racing from a youg age, representing his high school in Tokyo and later Nihon University, where he was a literature and science student.
<The Japan Times>