Multicultural Olympic team shows Japan's diversity growing pains


FILE PHOTO: Naomi Osaka of Japan holds the Olympic torch after lighting the cauldron at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony, July 23, 2021. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Tokyo Olympics were supposed to showcase Japan's growing ethnic diversity, but the Games have also dragged into the international spotlight a domestic debate about whether the country can be both multicultural and Japanese.

Japan's team is its biggest on record and most diverse, including nearly three dozen athletes of mixed parentage and reflecting a gradual but profound change in a still largely homogeneous country.

The Star Festive Promo: Get 35% OFF Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Others

Olympics-Figure Skating-Sakamoto's final Olympic skate ends in tears and silver
Olympics-Figure skating-Liu's golden skate caps joyful comeback story
Olympics-Curling-World champions Britain to play Canada for men's curling gold
Olympics-Figure skating-Dazzling Liu strikes gold to end U.S. women's Olympic medal drought
Olympics-Figure skating-Liu wins Olympic gold in Milan, ends U.S. women's medal drought
Olympics-Figure skating-On-ice cameraman brings new Olympic angle
Olympics-Curling-Canada beat South Korea to qualify for semi-finals, USA also through
Olympics-SkiMo-New sport provides first neutral athlete medal of Milano Cortina as Filippov wins sprint silver
Level up as Aruwin finishes as best Asian in women’s slalom
New timer system gets thumbs-up from champ Farah

Others Also Read