I am a sprinter who is moving to Japan to work for the experience but was wondering that if I decide to live there permanently can I run for Japan in the Olympics? I heard the country is racist to some extent and may not allow this as I am black... any thoughts? BTW i love Japan!
2007-01-11 03:58:52 · 8 answers · asked by Monkey Head! 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
well many countries already did it, so why not?...i didnt know they were racist at all actually
i hope you'll be able to make it
2007-01-11 04:08:24 · answer #1 · answered by Matteo R 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I am not sure if this athlete was naturalized or if she had a Japanese citizenship from the beginning but Yvonne Kanazawa was in the 2000 Olympics for Japan.
Japan has also seen a growing number of foreigners take citizenship. The Finnish-born missionary Tsurunen Marutei is now a member of parliament and Alex Santos is the third Brazilian-born football player to represent Japan.
2007-01-11 11:31:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can become naturalized Japanese. You can read about Ruy Ramos (one of the first foreign soccer player in the Japanese Soccer League (J-League)) below. Since he played for the Japanese national team in the World Cup, I don't see any reason why you could not represent Japan in the Olympics once you become a Japanese citizen.
Concerning racism, there is a bit of racism because the country's homogeneous society. They do have tendency to be "curious" about a person of a different race. But, if that is your dream and goal, don't let that stop you. I think people are racist when they don't understand the different culture and are not willing to be "open minded". I'm Japanese but grew up in America and seem racism here as well as in Japan. Anyway, I wish you the best and look forward to seeing you in the next Olympics.
2007-01-11 05:04:31 · answer #3 · answered by akz 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Actually, there's probably no real reason you couldn't do what you want. The Japanese are racist, yes (and probably the most racist people in the world), but we're not talking like apartheid racism here. You're going to be relegated to that little world of outsiders the rest of us gaijin are stuck in, be it white, black, Asian, or albino.
And BTW, the national sport of Japan, Sumo wrestling, has had foreigners compete and win national titles for a long time now. In fact, the last gaijin I heard winning a championship was caucasian, so you'd probably have more than a decent shot at sprinting for a Japanese team if you're any good.
And unlike what Shelly says, it is possible to gain citizenship to the country. It's just harder than hell. You've got to be fluent in the language and have sponsors in both Japan (usually a person is marrying someone in the country) and in your own to vouch for you.
Actually, there has been a sort of cultural fascination with black person in recent years in Japan. I don't mean as objects, but as sex symbols in some ways. So go for it, my man.
2007-01-12 10:24:57 · answer #4 · answered by Hotwad 980 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, Naturalized Japanese have represented Japan in both the Olympics and other international sports events. Soccer players Ruy Ramos and Wagner Lopes are the most obvious, but there are others in sports from table tennis to hockey.
2007-01-11 16:07:04 · answer #5 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, you will always be a gaijin there. Even Japanese born here in the US are not considered Japanese by many of those in Japan. To be Japanese you must be born in Japan of Japanese parents. Citizenship is very hard for anyone to get.
2007-01-11 06:11:04 · answer #6 · answered by Smelly Cat 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The answer is yes! But the difficult thing is fulfilling the requirements of naturalization. There are examples of it being done for Japanese national teams in Soccer. Also in Sumo wrestling. Yes, you will be considered a foreigner even if you are a naturalized citizen, but if you are good enough to win nationals, they can't deny you.
Best of luck.
2007-01-11 14:01:02 · answer #7 · answered by Looking for the truth... 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, Japan does not allow foreigners to become citizens. To get a Japanese passport, you must have Japanese blood running through your veins.
There are thousands of Koreans who were born in Japan after their parents were taken to Japan. These people speak only Japanese and have never lived anywhere else, and yet even they do not qualify for a Japanese passport! How sad is that?
I wish you luck, but the Japan route will not help you in your career.
2007-01-11 04:33:58 · answer #8 · answered by Shelly 1 · 2⤊ 5⤋
I would say your chances are less than zero. I know of a lady there that married a Korean man. He was born there of Korean parents, but he did'nt become a citizen until after he married her. And then it took 6 years after that ! Live in Japan permanently ? They may not allow that to happen. Depends on why you're there in the first place. It's not like moving from LA to NYC.
2007-01-11 04:58:22 · answer #9 · answered by Vinegar Taster 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋