Olympic Diversity Push Highlights Japan’s Struggles With Change

Event serves as checkpoint on Japan’s evolving identity
Sports stars help country embrace its biracial citizens

WATCH: Athletes are helping Japan embrace its biracial citizens in one of the the world’s most racially homogeneous countries. Bloomberg's Kurumi Mori speaks with Taro Daniel, one of several multicultural athletes representing Japan in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Source: Quicktake)

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By Yuko Takeo and Kurumi Mori

July 31, 2021 at 10:55 PM UTC

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One biracial athlete carried Japan’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, another lit the cauldron and both global sports stars put a spotlight on what has been dubbed the “Unity in Diversity” games.

Flag-bearer and NBA player Rui Hachimura and four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka were front and center at the start of the games as the faces of a new Japan. But they also served as a reminder of how far one of the world’s most racially homogeneous countries has to go in embracing change.