Naomi Osaka – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Sun, 14 Apr 2024 02:59:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 Naomi Osaka – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Naomi Osaka’s dream of having her own Barbie doll comes true https://soranews24.com/2021/07/16/naomi-osakas-dream-of-having-her-own-barbie-doll-comes-true/ https://soranews24.com/2021/07/16/naomi-osakas-dream-of-having-her-own-barbie-doll-comes-true/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2021 05:00:53 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=549321 
The designer got the Olympic athlete right down to her freckles.
The past few months haven’t exactly been easy for Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, but here’s one piece of positive news coming right in time for the Tokyo Olympics. On July 12, Mattel added a specially designed Naomi Osaka doll to their collection. The Grand Slam champion replica was designed by Carlyle Nuera, who has also designed Barbie Dolls in the past like Billie Jean King, Ella Fitzgerald, and more.
▼ She’s decked out in Nike gear, and it’s adorable.
The doll sports Osaka’s 2020 Australian Open outfit – a Nike tennis dress with a brushstroke print – and the doll itself comes with fully movable limbs, a visor, a tennis racket, a tennis ball, a sweatband, shoes, and a doll stand.
▼ Fans will surely love the doll’s natural curly hair, and it even has three freckles painted on its face that mimic the athlete’s own.
The doll is available for US$29.99 on Barbie’s online shop, and there’s a limit of two dolls per customer. Since the doll is so popular, it may be difficult to catch it in stock for a while, but you can sign up for restock alerts!
▼ Osaka said in an Instagram post about the collaboration that she hoped it would remind any child that “they can do and be anything”.
(@naomiosaka)It might be a hot minute before you can get your hands on this doll, but in the meantime, you can entertain yourself with the almost scarily long hair of the new Licca doll.
Sources: Barbie via Net Lab Sports
Images: Barbie
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/07/16/naomi-osakas-dream-of-having-her-own-barbie-doll-comes-true/feed/ 0 549321 GXL17_05 Nike commercial about gender inequality in Japan receives backlash online【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2021/06/03/nike-commercial-about-gender-inequality-in-japan-receives-backlash-online%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2021/06/03/nike-commercial-about-gender-inequality-in-japan-receives-backlash-online%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2021 03:00:12 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=544273 
New clip points out facts about football, baseball, and sumo in Japan…but not all Japanese are behind it.
In recent years, Nike has shown that it likes to move people, both physically with their range of sporting goods and apparel, and emotionally, with their tug-at-the heartstrings advertising.
In Japan, the sporting giant is moving people once again, this time with a new commercial called “New Girl/Play New“, which shines a light on the plight of women across the country. The ad comes with the following thought-provoking statement:
“Growing up a girl in Japan used to mean one thing. Now it can mean everything.
So, what do you want to do?”
This is the main theme of the ad, which reminds viewers of some of the traditional expectations and restrictions placed on women in Japan from a young age, while also showcasing some of the nation’s sportswomen and activists who are smashing traditional stereotypes, paving the way for the new girls of the future.
The commercial has English subtitles available, so click the white gear button next to the CC in the bottom right corner to turn them on, and take a look at the ad below:
The clip shows a pregnant mother and her family learning that they’ll soon be welcoming a new girl into their lives. While their instant reaction is joy, they’re suddenly reminded of the downsides of being a girl in Japan, with cut scenes to their future grown-up daughter looking over her shoulder in fear while walking alone at night, and attending a business meeting, where she’s allowed in the room but not allowed to talk. That last scenario is one that recently played out in real-life, when Japan’s ruling party decided to allow five female lawmakers to attend their all-male board meetings…on the proviso that they didn’t talk.
Japan ranked 121 out of of 153 countries on the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Index, and the Nike ad reminds us that a report by the World Economic Forum in 2021 showed the average Japanese woman’s income was 43.7 percent lower than the average Japanese man’s income.
However, there is hope that girls really will be able to achieve anything in future, and there are some young sportswomen doing just that right now. Professional football player and female empowerment activist Ami Otaki appears in the ad, showing that women can carve a successful career for themselves by playing a traditionally male sport at a national level.
▼ High-school sumo wrestler Rizumu Kasai is a member of the men’s competitive high school sumo team.
▼ And 16-year-old baseball player Ayuri Shimano has played on all-male teams.
The ad also includes appearances by wrestler Miyu Nakamura and figure skater Marin Honda, along with a scene showing Momoko Nojo, an activist working to eliminate gender discrimination, playing the role of a future Prime Minister.
While the ad ends with a positive sense of hope for the future of women in Japan, it doesn’t shy away from presenting the problems that exist in the country. In fact, a quick look at the comments section under the video shows why ads like this are sorely needed in Japan, as many of the commenters appear to care less about the message of empowering women and more about the fact that Nike has aired Japan’s dirty laundry on a public stage.
“Currently Nike is hot on making hate speech against Japan.”
“This is a commercial that appeals for the elimination of discrimination against women, but it is a commercial that severely discriminates against Japanese people.”
“You should be aware that the real enemies are not men or women, but capitalists who incite discrimination.”
“Is this really made by Japanese people?”
“Sumo is a culture, and putting a woman in it is just a denial of culture, isn’t it?”
Like Nike’s last commercial, which looked at the problem of bullying and racism in Japan, this new commercial has also received more dislikes than likes, with 2,800 dislikes and 1,300 likes as of this writing.
Nike doesn’t seem bothered by the backlash, though, leaving the comments section open for the world to see, as if to further solidify their point that it’s tough to be a woman in Japan. And with female players continuing to be banned on the baseball field during the major high school baseball tournament at Koshien Stadium, and female sumo players banned from stepping into the sacred sumo ring at the majority of sumo stadiums, it’s fair to say Japan still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality. However, the more it’s brought to light, the more will be done about it, and ads like these are a step in the right direction towards improving the future for the new girls of tomorrow.
Source: YouTube/Nike Japan via Jin, BBC
Images: YouTube/Nike Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/06/03/nike-commercial-about-gender-inequality-in-japan-receives-backlash-online%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 544273 Naomi Osaka Nike Japan ad commercial sexism women sumo sports baseball video Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open, discusses experiences with depression https://soranews24.com/2021/06/01/noami-osaka-withdraws-from-french-open-discusses-experiences-with-depression/ https://soranews24.com/2021/06/01/noami-osaka-withdraws-from-french-open-discusses-experiences-with-depression/#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2021 05:40:42 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=544341 
Decision comes days after tennis star says she would not speak with reporters during event.
Last Thursday, three days prior to the start of the French Open, tennis star Naomi Osaka announced that she would be refusing to speak with the media during the tournament. The 23-year-old declared “I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me” while taking issue with athletes being “asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds” and describing the way competitors are treated after a loss as “kicking a person while they’re down.”
Osaka said she was prepared for fines, and the tournament organizers quickly handed down a US$15,000 one, with the warning that future refusals to participate in contractually obligated media sessions would lead to larger fines and possible disqualifications. The controversy didn’t prevent her from defeating opponent Patricia Maria Tig in straight sets on Sunday, but rather than go on to the second round, Osaka has opted to voluntarily withdraw from the tournament entirely.
“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” said Osaka in a statement posted through her Twitter account. “I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer.”
Part of that clarity comes later in the statement, where Osaka says that on top of being an introvert, she has struggled with depression since the 2018 US Open. As her first Grand Slam title, some might have assumed the tournament was a joyous occasion for Osaka, but her victories over 15-year-old Coco Gauff and runner-up Serena Williams were accompanied by intense emotion from her opponents, and in interviews in the days following her win Osaka’s statement included ” I really didn’t want to think about it because it wasn’t necessarily the happiest memory for me,” and “Of course I’m happy that I won a Grand Slam…but I feel like it was so strange, I didn’t just want to think about it…I wanted to just push it to the side.”
▼ Osaka’s full statement
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
“I wanna apologize especially to all the cool journalists who I may have hurt,” Osaka explains, and she goes on to say she’ll be taking an indefinite hiatus from the sport with “I’m gonna take some time away from the court now… love you guys I’ll see you when I see you.” As a player with an extremely loyal fanbase, it’s likely that her Osaka’s supporters are happy to give her all the time she needs.
Sources: Twitter/@naomiosaka, BBC
Top image: Wikipedia/File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske)
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/06/01/noami-osaka-withdraws-from-french-open-discusses-experiences-with-depression/feed/ 0 544341 NO 1 Naomi Osaka refuses to talk to reporters at next tennis tournament, doesn’t care about fines https://soranews24.com/2021/05/27/naomi-osaka-refuses-to-talk-to-reporters-at-next-tennis-tournament-doesnt-care-about-fines/ https://soranews24.com/2021/05/27/naomi-osaka-refuses-to-talk-to-reporters-at-next-tennis-tournament-doesnt-care-about-fines/#comments Thu, 27 May 2021 13:00:11 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=543786 
“I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.”
It’s not unusual for pro athletes to go through periodic slumps, and tennis star Naomi Osaka seems to be in a bit of one right now. After winning the Australian Open in February, she stumbled in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open in March, and earlier this month exited the Italian Open with a first-round loss.
She’ll be looking to bounce back at the French Open, which starts on Sunday. However, what she won’t be doing is talking with reporters. The 23-year-old Osaka made her stance known in a statement, posted to her social media accounts, that says:
“I’m not going to do any press during Roland Garros [the Paris facility that hosts the French Open]. I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes [sic] mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.”
Osaka goes on to stress that she doesn’t have a blanket negative view of the sports media, offering the concession that “a couple journalists have interviewed me since I was young so I have a friendly relationship with most of them.” However, she lists specific grievances such as how she feels athletes are “sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds,” and also describes the way athletes are treated at press conferences following a loss as tantamount to “kicking a person while they’re down.”
The concern about threats to confidence and potential post-loss questions might seem surprising coming from one of the world’s top-ranked players, but it’s worth noting that the French Open is played on clay, the surface Osaka has found the least success competing on, and that in four entries to the event, she’s yet to make it past the third round.
▼ Osaka’s statement
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 26, 2021
“I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me” Osaka declares. The tournament’s organizers have yet to disclose what, if any, repercussions she’ll face for refusing media appearances, but she herself seems unconcerned about potential economic penalties, and seems to actually welcome them. “I hope the considerable amount that I get fined for this will go towards a mental health charity,” Osaka says, making it clear that she’s not in the mood to talk with reporters about tennis or any other topics.
Source: Twitter/@naomiosaka via IT Media, Roland-Garros
Top image: Wikipedia/Paris 16
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/05/27/naomi-osaka-refuses-to-talk-to-reporters-at-next-tennis-tournament-doesnt-care-about-fines/feed/ 0 543786 NO 1 Naomi Osaka is first-ever Japanese athlete to be named AP Female Athlete of the Year https://soranews24.com/2020/12/31/naomi-osaka-is-first-ever-japanese-athlete-named-ap-female-athlete-of-the-year/ https://soranews24.com/2020/12/31/naomi-osaka-is-first-ever-japanese-athlete-named-ap-female-athlete-of-the-year/#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2020 01:00:02 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=527548 
Naomi Osaka’s meteoric rise to the top earns her a prestigious title, both for herself and the country she plays for.
When Naomi Osaka won her first US Open in 2018 against her childhood idol Serena Williams, the world sat up and took notice.
Osaka was a powerful and dynamic presence on the court, but she struck chords with viewers for all manner of reasons even after the game was over. Despite living in the United States, Osaka had the choice of playing on behalf of Haiti or Japan due to her father and mother’s respective nationalities, and she chose Japan; despite her incredible skill on the court, she was shy and quiet in interviews, especially in Japanese; she stayed calm and resolute in the wake of criticism about her attitude, her dress, her own identity.
You already know I had to bring out the headwrap for this one
pic.twitter.com/YAlLk01hwm
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) September 13, 2020
Two years on, Osaka is practically the face of modern tennis, all on her own. She’s also proven herself to be a powerful brand ambassador, a passionate human rights activist, and the star of her own upcoming intergalactic manga. In this turbulent, intense year Osaka has stood firm and triumphed over her second US Open and worked hard not only to promote herself but to inspire and uplift others.
how it started how it‘s going pic.twitter.com/IqhdYaVZ3V
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) October 7, 2020
Her hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Associated Press announced Osaka as their Female Athlete of the Year alongside LeBron James, their Male Athlete of the Year. Previous winners of the Athlete of the Year Award include Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, Simone Biles, and Michael Phelps, but Osaka is the first Japanese athlete to ever hold the title.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) December 28, 2020
As with all news about Osaka relating to her identity, there has been a degree of backlash from conservative netizens; especially considering the overwhelming presence of American athletes in the line-up of previous award-winners, some have dismissed or diminished the importance of her title for Japan as a whole. For those with Japanese citizenship who are routinely labeled as “not Japanese enough”, though, this could be a vital step towards validating and legitimizing their own place in Japanese society.
No matter what, we’re watching with bated breath to see what Naomi Osaka has in store for us in 2021 as she continues to play tennis on behalf of Japan, and are glad to see her kindness and sportsmanship both on and off the court. Congratulations!
Top image: Wikimedia Commons/Rob Keating
Source: Sponichi Annex via Otakomu
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/12/31/naomi-osaka-is-first-ever-japanese-athlete-named-ap-female-athlete-of-the-year/feed/ 0 527548 1200px-Australian_Open_2020_(49837299676) Nike commercial addresses bullying and racism in Japan, riles up debate online【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2020/12/01/nike-commercial-addresses-bullying-and-racism-in-japan-riles-up-debate-online%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2020/12/01/nike-commercial-addresses-bullying-and-racism-in-japan-riles-up-debate-online%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2020 04:50:51 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=524353 
Video gets more dislikes than likes, proving just how much Japanese society needs to watch this right now.
Ever since their 1988 “Just Do It” ad, sports brand Nike has become known for producing commercials that spark a conversation and leave a lasting impression on viewers.
Last year, they got the conversation going around all the annoying questions tennis star Naomi Osaka has to deal with surrounding her ethnicity, and now they’re back to tackle another tough subject: the experience of young foreign residents in Japan.
The new commercial is called “Ugokashitsuzukeru. Jibun wo. Shorai wo. The future Isn’t Waiting“, with the Japanese part translating to “Keep Moving. Yourself. The future.” Featuring stories based on “the real-life experience of athletes”, this clip shows three soccer girls from different backgrounds in Japan — one is Japanese, one is Korean, and one is, like Osaka, mixed race, with a Black father and Japanese mother — and reveals how they “overcome their daily struggles and conflicts to move their future through sports.”
The commercial has English subtitles available, so click the white gear button next to the CC in the bottom right corner to turn them on, and take a look at the clip below:
The two-minute video is a moving look at what it can be like to be a young girl into soccer in Japan. The Japanese girl is bullied at school and struggles to meet her parents’ expectations to excel at schoolwork, with her questioning, “Am I good enough?”
On the other hand, the Black Japanese girl struggles to blend in, wondering “Am I normal enough?” as her Japanese classmates stare at her for looking different and touch her hair in the girls’ bathroom.
She can be seen watching a video of Osaka on her phone, and one of the comments that’s often directed at the tennis player, “So are you American or Japanese?” appears to hit home for her as well.
The Korean girl, who’s a transfer student in Japan, can be seen scrolling through information on her phone that discusses the “zainichi problem”, with “zainichi” meaning “foreign resident in Japan” and often used to refer to Koreans. Japanese-Korean relations can be tense and often hostile, and this girl gets stared at menacingly on the street and wonders if she should stand out a little less and get people to like her.
In the end, though, all three girls, who experienced all of these insecurities and feared that “Maybe I just have to deal with it“, eventually come to the realisation that no, they don’t have to just deal with it. They don’t have to wait until one day for things to change and get better — they will make it happen, by proudly doing what they love to do, and proudly loving their ethnicity and who they are as well.
▼ Nike reminds us that sport brings people from all sorts of backgrounds together.
The commercial brings to light the problem of bullying in Japan, and Nike’s handling of the issue drew many Japanese supporters on social media.
“This is amazing. I feel like I’ve never seen a commercial that cuts into the issue of living in Japan and minorities in Japanese advertising.”
“Thank you so much. Please continue to send important messages like this.”
“I’m so impressed by Nike. Thank you!”
“This made me cry. It would be wonderful if we could stop young people having thoughts like this.”
“So good – I’m always buying Nike because of ads like this!”
However, on the other side of the fence, a large number of Japanese took offence to the ad, saying:
“Is Japan really such a country full of discrimination? It feels like you’re creating a false impression of Japan.”
“You’re crossing the line and making Japanese people look foolish.”
“I feel this depicts Japanese as being extremely inhumane.”
“It’s not just Japan – discrimination exists in other countries too.”
“There’s no bullying in Japan!”
“I won’t buy Nike ever again!”
The video ruffled so many feathers with right-wingers in Japan that the video actually received more dislikes than likes, with 18,000 dislikes and 17,000 likes as of this writing. The comments on the YouTube video itself were also filled with hateful, racist remarks and comments from people who appear to be blind to bullying as a problem here, despite the fact that you can buy bully insurance for your children in Japan.
All the dislikes and negative comments on the video actually suggest that Nike has hit a nerve, with some commenters saying this just proves how necessary an ad like this is in today’s society. The more we expose the Japanese public to stories of bullying and racism, the more they’ll be able to recognise it and stop it, so when Japanese comedians joke about Naomi Osaka’s complexion being “too sunburned” or a Japanese company whitewashes the tennis star for their commercials, people will be able to realise what’s happening and call them out for it.
Addressing problems like bullying and racism in Japan isn’t a slur on the country — it’s a gentle prod towards improving society for everyone, so that one day, when another Japanese girl like Naomi Osaka makes it big on the world stage, people can accept her for who she is, instead of continually asking her about her love of katsudon.
Sources: YouTube/Nike Japan via Jin, Hachima Kikou
Images: YouTube/Nike Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/12/01/nike-commercial-addresses-bullying-and-racism-in-japan-riles-up-debate-online%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 524353 Nike commercial ad Japan bullying Japanese soccer womens girls school students racism Korean Black African American sport Naomi Osaka video 11 Naomi Osaka becomes shojo manga star for new series set in outer space https://soranews24.com/2020/12/01/naomi-osaka-becomes-shojo-manga-star-for-new-series-set-in-outer-space/ https://soranews24.com/2020/12/01/naomi-osaka-becomes-shojo-manga-star-for-new-series-set-in-outer-space/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2020 03:48:34 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=524380 
Professional tennis player set to be the newest heroine in Japan’s biggest girls’ comic magazine.
Publisher Kodansha’s Nakayoshi is Japan’s most popular girls’ comics anthology, and has served as the home for some of shojo manga’s most beloved heroines, including Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura. Later this month, Nakayoshi will welcome its newest star, none other than professional tennis player Naomi Osaka!
This isn’t a quick one-off chapter just to lure Osaka’s preexisting fanbase into picking up a copy of Nakayoshi either. Osaka will be the main character of a brand-new series titled Unrivaled-Naomi Tenkaichi. Though tankaichi usually means “the best in the world,” the literal translation is “the best under heaven,” and a more celestial interpretation makes sense here, since rather than a straightforward autobiography of Osaka’s real-life sporting accomplishments, Unrivaled-Naomi Tenkaichi is a science fiction sports action series.
Kodansha describes the manga with:
“’I will fight to protect everyone’s dreams and hopes from darkness!!’ The energetic and cute Naomi, while being supported by her father mother, and older sister Mari, aims to become the strongest space tennis player in this action story of hot battles unfolding in space!!!”
Kodansha isn’t skimping on the artwork either, as the manga will be drawn by Futago Kamikita, the twin-sister artist team who’s handled more than a dozen adaptations of the phenomenally successful PreCure magical girl franchise. Unrivaled-Naomi Tenkaichi’s key art depicts Osaka in a stylized aesthetic with vivid pink and purple hair that’s likely to draw far less controversy than the last time she was depicted in anime/manga form.
Series composition is credited to Tama Mizuno, and Naomi’s older sister, Mari Osaka, is listed in a supervisory role for the series. Following its announcement, the tennis star herself took to Twitter to voice her excitement and mention her love of manga in general.
Growing up reading manga/watching anime was something that bonded me and my sister immensely so this is really exciting for both of us
https://t.co/mmzJ5k17x8
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) November 28, 2020
Unrivaled-Naomi Tenkaichi is set to debut in the February issue of Nakayoshi, which actually goes on sale on December 28. Kodansha has also asked readers to “Look forward to this worldwide super-big project,” which sounds like it’s hoping for an overseas release for the series as well.
Source: Nakayoshi, Twitter/@nakayosi_manga via Anime News Network/Choo Sum Lee
Top image: Nakayoshi
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/12/01/naomi-osaka-becomes-shojo-manga-star-for-new-series-set-in-outer-space/feed/ 0 524380 NO 1 Cup Noodle in hot water once again for unflattering Grand Slam support ad https://soranews24.com/2020/09/17/cup-noodle-in-hot-water-once-again-for-unflattering-grand-slam-support-ad/ https://soranews24.com/2020/09/17/cup-noodle-in-hot-water-once-again-for-unflattering-grand-slam-support-ad/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2020 02:00:11 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=516110 
It took longer then three minutes, but Cup Noodle got everyone steaming again.
On 13 September, 22-year-old Naomi Osaka again won the US Open, marking her third Grand Slam title in as many years. It’s a great accomplishment, further establishing her position as one of the best to ever grace the courts.
But even before all this took place, on 1 September, major instant noodle maker Nissin and their flagship brand Cup Noodle, with whom Osaka has an endorsement deal, released the following ad cheering on their favorite player.
▼ “The Grand Slam has finally begun! After brainstorming ways that we could cheer Naomi Osaka on to victory, we came to the conclusion that if we make everyone like her, it’s a win. So, we’ll put this cute bit of information here. Good Luck Ms. Osaka!”
https://twitter.com/cupnoodle_jp/status/1300553999888691201
In the ad itself, the large print beside Osaka’s head reads “I want to go to Harajuku” referring to the area of Tokyo frequented by teenage girls and lined with fashion shops of all types.
▼ Our reporter Seiji Nakazawa after an evening of shopping in Harajuku
The finer print contains the following message:
“Ms. Osaka, who likes Harajuku, is always showing off her fashionable bags, and has an attractive style that incorporates current trends. It’s important to have your own style in both tennis and fashion. Cup Noodle too, keeps trends in mind by developing new flavors all the time.”
This tweet was made before Osaka took to the court wearing the first of seven masks with the names of black people killed by police in the U.S., which added a whole other layer of gravitas to the event. So, it wasn’t until the tournament concluded two weeks later that people online began to take notice of Cup Noodle’s tone regarding the champion and flooded it with complaints.
“Naomi Osaka isn’t just cute you know.”
“This is just in bad taste.”
“Naomi Osaka has a great personality and great achievements. This ad is trying to reduce her to something cute just so old men don’t get upset.”
“This is typical Japanese media, saying that women have no value unless they are stupid and cute.”
“What is this ‘if we make everyone like her, it’s a win’ crap?! Athletes are not idols.”
“This doesn’t convey the charm of Osaka, this twists it into the opposite. It comes across like Nissin doesn’t really like her, and if so they should just terminate the contract.”
“Japanese sponsors haven’t been keeping up with Osaka’s wisdom and courage.”
“A terribly insulting ad that panders to misogynists online.”
The list of complaints goes on, but among it there were a few who raised the question: “Isn’t it okay to portray Naomi Osaka as a naturally cute person as well?” It certainly seems fair to say that one can eat up opponents on the tennis court, be an outspoken supporter of human rights, and enjoy shopping for cute accessories in Harajuku. None of those character traits precludes the others.
Added to that is the well-documented fact that Naomi Osaka is pretty heavily involved in the fashion industry, having collaborated with labels and designers for quite some time now. In fact, at almost the exact same time as this writing, Osaka excitedly announced the launch of her latest collection with Japanese label Adeam.
As someone inside the fashion industry, it’s no surprise that Osaka would like to go to Harajuku and see what’s happening. However, had the Nissin ad makers even briefly mentioned that simple yet exponentially more empowering fact in their blurb, they might have represented her more accurately and saved themselves a lot of trouble.
In the end, maybe Nissin ads ought to stick to their strong point of being utterly absurd since this is the second time they got into trouble with Naomi Osaka. It seems more and more likely that they start to have trouble the closer they come to depicting real life.
▼ Maybe they can do something with her that’s completely detached from reality like they did with Kane Kosugi
Last year they inexplicably rendered her with an extraordinarily white complexion in an anime ad. Interestingly, after that debacle Nissin apologized to Osaka, who later told media, “I definitely think that the next time they try to portray me or something, I feel like they should talk to me about it.”
And I have a feeling another apology call is on its way.
Source: Twitter/cupnoodle_jp, Hachima Kiko
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/09/17/cup-noodle-in-hot-water-once-again-for-unflattering-grand-slam-support-ad/feed/ 0 516110 Naomi Osaka’s first wave of charity face masks sell out, but she promises more for everyone https://soranews24.com/2020/07/11/naomi-osakas-first-wave-of-charity-face-masks-sell-out-but-she-promises-more-for-everyone/ https://soranews24.com/2020/07/11/naomi-osakas-first-wave-of-charity-face-masks-sell-out-but-she-promises-more-for-everyone/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2020 05:00:38 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=508651 
Naomi and Mari Osaka’s ultra-cute cloth masks will have a second sales period, and this time international fans can buy some too!
Naomi Osaka is a firmly established name in the world of tennis, with her 2018 victory at the U.S. Open against Serena Williams catapulting her into the spotlight and immediately sparking all manner of debate about nationality and the Japanese definition of race.
Despite her dramatic arrival on the scene, Osaka has demonstrated herself again and again to be not just a great tennis player, but a conscientious one: she’s used her platform on multiple occasions to support charitable causes and lend awareness to injustices.
So Osaka’s fans were excited to learn that she and her older sister, Mari, had teamed up to design a cloth mask. Proceeds from mask sales would go towards Unicef to aid Covid-19 relief, while the mask itself has an adorable, dewy-eyed panda-face design that will keep you cheery and limit your risk of spreading any viruses to other people!
▼ The idea was popular. So popular, in fact, that the masks sold out in an instant.
Hey everyone so the masks sold out
I’m currently working on another launch geared towards international customers, (meaning everyone outside Japan), because I saw there was some confusion on how to order. Thanks guys, love you
I’ll keep you updated. https://t.co/bXe9dyRg2l
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) July 8, 2020
The masks were sold through the online vendor Print Rock, a Japanese website. While the store did provide information and history about the mask in English, it came after the Japanese text, meaning many fans clicked the link and were too overwhelmed with kanji to attempt ordering their own mask. Osaka’s follow-up tweet above reassures her English-speaking fanbase that the next release of the masks will cater to international fans (or, in Osaka’s own words, “everyone outside Japan”).
The Osaka sisters said they wanted to bring bright and stylish designs to the table so that people will see wearing them as more of a fashion statement than a political one… though Osaka herself is no stranger to political statements, of course.
And if you’re in the market for even more face masks, make sure you check out the glowing LED-light face masks about to take Japan — and the world — by storm!
Source: Twitter/@naomiosaka, Print Rock Merch
Top image: Print Rock Merch
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/07/11/naomi-osakas-first-wave-of-charity-face-masks-sell-out-but-she-promises-more-for-everyone/feed/ 0 508651 screenshot.1162 Naomi Osaka appears inside fukubukuro lucky bag from famous Japanese candy retail chain https://soranews24.com/2020/01/06/naomi-osaka-appears-inside-fukubukuro-lucky-bag-from-famous-japanese-candy-retail-chain/ https://soranews24.com/2020/01/06/naomi-osaka-appears-inside-fukubukuro-lucky-bag-from-famous-japanese-candy-retail-chain/#comments Mon, 06 Jan 2020 04:00:51 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=482240 
Tennis star makes a surprise appearance in a bag filled with snacks and sweets.
After winning the U.S. Open against her idol Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka had a whirlwind of a year in 2019, appearing in commercials for Nissin and Nike, and shutting down reporters who kept asking her to speak in Japanese.
So it’s no surprise that a New Year’s lucky bag would want to pay homage to the 22-year-old tennis champion. However, rather than popping up in a fukubukuro for a sports company or one of her many brand affiliates, we ended up discovering Osaka in an unlikely place: inside a lucky bag for sweet store retail chain Okashi no Machioka.
With bags starting at 1,000 yen (US$9.25), Okashi no Machioka is one of the most popular places to buy fukubukuro at the start of the new year. When we arrived at our closest branch to pick one up, there was a huge line outside before the store’s 11:00 a.m. opening.
By 11:03 a.m., 50 of the 100 lucky bags available had already sold out, so we were glad we arrived early. After paying for our purchase, we brought our bag back to the office and found it was packed with a heap of popular sweets and snacks.
▼ There was a big bag of 36 Lotte mini chocolates, containing dark, milk, and Crunky varieties…
▼ A pack of Tsubuyori Komochi rice crackers
▼ Some Mike Popcorn
▼ Ritz Crackers
▼ Yuki no Yado rice crackers…
▼ Glico Caplico Minis
▼ Glico Tomato Pretz
▼ Meiji Pucca Chocolates
▼ Meiji Strawberry Chocolate
▼ Fettuccine gummy candies…
And, finally… Naomi Osaka in action on a stationery file to promote the “10-second charge” Weider in Jelly energy drink, which is the best-selling nutritional jelly drink in Japan.
All these treats, plus a surprise appearance from Naomi Osaka, meant each item was priced at less than 100 yen, which makes for a great value-for-money fukubukuro.
We highly recommend stopping by Okashi no Machioka to pick up their fukubukuro at the start of the year, but you’ll have to get in quick because, like the Mister Donut lucky bag, this is one of the quickest to sell out year after year!
Photos: ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/01/06/naomi-osaka-appears-inside-fukubukuro-lucky-bag-from-famous-japanese-candy-retail-chain/feed/ 0 482240 Naomi Osaka Japan tennis sweets fukubukuro lucky bag New Year 2020 Japan candy snacks okashi no machioka photos review 1 Naomi Osaka chooses Japanese citizenship over U.S., hopes to represent Japan at Tokyo Olympics https://soranews24.com/2019/10/11/naomi-osaka-chooses-japanese-citizenship-over-u-s-hopes-to-represent-japan-at-tokyo-olympics/ https://soranews24.com/2019/10/11/naomi-osaka-chooses-japanese-citizenship-over-u-s-hopes-to-represent-japan-at-tokyo-olympics/#comments Fri, 11 Oct 2019 03:00:22 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=470048 Tennis star says “playing for the pride of the nation will be a very emotional experience.”
October 16 is Naomi Osaka’s birthday, and this year she had a bigger decision to make than what kind of cake she wants. Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a Haitian-American father, moved to the U.S. with her family when she was three years old and grew up in the States, and since birth had dual Japanese/U.S. citizenship.
However, Japanese law stipulates that individuals born with dual citizenship must choose one by the age of 22. With Osaka being born in 1997, that meant she had until next Wednesday, and she’s opted to retain her Japanese citizenship.
As a world-class sports professional who competes at venues around the globe, Osaka’s citizenship doesn’t really affect her ability to work and live where she wants. What her decision to choose Japanese citizenry does mean, however, is that she’ll be able to represent Japan in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “It’s a special feeling to be aiming to be a representative of Japan at the Tokyo Olympics. I think playing for the pride of the nation will be a very emotional experience,” Japanese public news organization NHK reports Osaka as saying. “I feel the pressure of the high expectations people have of me, but I hope to stay true to my style of play and compete for the gold medal.”
While Osaka is yet to be officially announced as a member of the Japanese 2020 Olympic team, given her impressive resume (women’s singles champion of the 2018 U.S. Open, 2019 Australian Open, and last month’s Toray Pan Pacific Open) her eventual selection seems to be a foregone conclusion, and while Japan would love to see a gold medal around Osaka’s neck, her sportsmanship and character make her an athlete to be proud of no matter how the Games turn out.
Source: NHK News Web
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/10/11/naomi-osaka-chooses-japanese-citizenship-over-u-s-hopes-to-represent-japan-at-tokyo-olympics/feed/ 0 470048 Naomi Osaka hits back at Japanese comedians’ “too sunburned” comment https://soranews24.com/2019/10/01/naomi-osaka-hits-back-at-japanese-comedians-too-sunburned-comment/ https://soranews24.com/2019/10/01/naomi-osaka-hits-back-at-japanese-comedians-too-sunburned-comment/#comments Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:00:23 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=468168 Witty response proves Osaka isn’t just a tennis pro, she’s a marketing queen.
Last week, Ai Murakami and Aiko Kanou, who make up the Japanese comedy duo A Masso, issued a public apology after they came under fire for their comedy routine, where they said tennis pro Naomi Osaka needed “bleach” for being “too sunburned”.
▼ A Masso
While attendees at the comedy event were appalled by the insensitive comments, Osaka and her management team remained quiet on the issue. That all changed yesterday, though, when Osaka fired back on her official Twitter account with this witty response:
“Too sunburned” lol that’s wild. Little did they know, with Shiseido anessa perfect uv sunscreen I never get sunburned
https://t.co/VZHJlsLp62
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) September 29, 2019
That’s right – Osaka and her team chose to use the comedians’ comments to their advantage by serving up a plug for Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen. After all, Osaka became a brand ambassador for Shiseido and sang the praises of their Anessa sunscreen in November last year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqZovH-ABGa/
Like her moves on the tennis court, Osaka’s response was well-timed and perfectly delivered, earning her praise from people around the world, who left adoring comments like:
“Shade, and a product plug in one tweet? Incredible.”
“Best reply!!! Best humor!!! LOVE!!!”
“This response is a masterclass in public relations.”
“Expert level brand ambassador!”
“Classic reply. I’ll never understand why people can’t just focus on talent and nothing else.”
It really is a shame that Osaka’s mixed heritage has become such a talking point in Japan, where she’s often pressed by journalists to speak in Japanese, and was even whitewashed in a commercial for noodle brand Nissin.
However, it is nice to see that regardless of what comes her way, Osaka knows how to return serve with style and class. No wonder big brands like Nissan, Yonex, Citizen and Nike love her. And after her queen-worthy, hair-flick response to those narrow-minded comments on the weekend, we love her even more too!
Source: Hachima Kikou
Featured image: Instagram/naomiosaka
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/10/01/naomi-osaka-hits-back-at-japanese-comedians-too-sunburned-comment/feed/ 0 468168 Naomi Osaka sunburned joke racism racist comment marketing Shiseido tennis sports news Naomi Osaka called “too tanned” in Japanese comedy routine https://soranews24.com/2019/09/26/naomi-osaka-called-too-tanned-in-japanese-comedy-routine/ https://soranews24.com/2019/09/26/naomi-osaka-called-too-tanned-in-japanese-comedy-routine/#comments Thu, 26 Sep 2019 13:00:52 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=467724
Comedians and management apologise for saying the tennis pro “needs bleach”.
Ever since winning the Australian Open and the U.S. Open against her idol Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka has become a household name in Japan. And while people are in awe of her sensational tennis skills, off the court there’s been a lot of chatter about the Japanese national’s mixed heritage.
Born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, and brought up in the United States from the age of three, Osaka doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter mould of a typical Japanese national. And though her mixed background shouldn’t really be an issue for anyone, it’s led to some embarrassing missteps in Japan, where she’s been continuously asked to speak in Japanese, and even whitewashed in a commercial for noodle brand Nissin.
Now Osaka’s physical appearance has become the centre of a news story yet again, after a comedy act said she needed “bleach” for being “too tanned”.
The joke was performed live as part of a skit by Ai Murakami and Aiko Kanou — who make up the comedy duo “A Masso” — at a free event at Futakotamagawa in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward on 22 September.
▼ The event, called “Omoide Yaro A Team presents Ura Tora Soul Picnic”, was held at Futakotamagawa’s Rise Shopping complex.
During the comedy skit, A Masso began discussing products that can be purchased at pharmacies, when Murakami asked, “What does Naomi Osaka need?“, to which Kanou replied, “Bleach. Because she’s too tanned.”
▼ Comedy duo A Masso at the event.
Attendees were appalled by the joke, with many taking to social media to express their anger. More and more voices chimed in online, admonishing the pair for their racist comments, prompting the duo and their management, Watanabe Entertainment, to issue a public apology the next day.
The apology from Watanabe Entertainment reads:
1. Apology
During a live performance by our comedy act A Masso (Murakami and Kanou) at “Omoide Yaro A Team presents Ura Tora Soul Picnic” on 22 September, a comment was made about a certain person that was insensitive to diversity issues, and for that we sincerely apologise to the person, everyone at Omoide Yaro A Team, the attendees who were there during the live event on the day, everyone who felt uncomfortable about this incident, and all those connected to the event.
We live in an era where diversity is important, so as the management company responsible for supervising A Masso, we are taking the insensitive remarks made during A Masso’s live performance very seriously.
2. Dedication to improving diversity awareness
Our company philosophy is to contribute to society through entertainment, and we have implemented measures to ensure compliance by our talent and all employees to improve diversity awareness that respects the unique characteristics of every individual.
However, since A Masso made insensitive comments, both its members have been reprimanded, and today we held a lecture under the guidance of our company and our company’s legal advisor — with support from diversity management professionals and advice from a lawyer that specialises in antiracism — to further improve knowledge of diversity issues.
In the future, we will continue to improve diversity awareness amongst our employees and our talent, including A Masso.
3. Looking ahead
Once again, as the production company for A Masso, we would like to deeply apologise for causing such trouble to everybody.
In order to prevent this from happening in future, we will further improve diversity awareness amongst our talent and all employees, so that our talent production may contribute widely to society through entertainment.
▼ The apology from Watanabe Entertainment.
Murakami and Kanou also issued public apologies, penned by hand and published underneath the apology from Watanabe Entertainment on the production company’s website.
The apology from Murakami reads:
“I am terribly sorry.
I really feel terrible for causing trouble to all those involved.
I misunderstood. Though I should have understood when I thought about it, I made a remark that offended many people.
It wasn’t like I thought I could say whatever I wanted or that it was okay to hurt people, but that’s what I did with my remarks this time.
I was truly ignorant. And I am truly sorry.
I will never do anything like this again.
To those whom I made feel uncomfortable — the person themselves, everybody, the staff involved in the event, the other performers — I am truly sorry for causing you trouble.”
▼ The apology from Murakami.
The apology from Kanou reads:
“I made inappropriate and insensitive remarks the other day at the Omoide Yaro A Team event.
Firstly to the person themselves, all the members who invited us, the organisers, the staff, and everyone who came to the event, I am very sorry.
I mistook it for comedy, and although it’s too late now, I regret that such a disgusting comment was made.
As someone who works in front of the public, my conduct was absolutely improper.
I am taking this incident very seriously to ensure that this will not happen again.
I am very sorry.”
▼ Kanou’s apology.
Both comedians and their management refrained from naming Osaka as “the person” mentioned in their statements. However, now that news of the incident is making its way across the world, there’s no mistaking the identity of the person to whom these apologies are addressed.
Osaka, who won the Pan Pacific Open title in her hometown of Osaka on the same day as the comedy duo’s controversial performance, is yet to make any comment on the incident. If she does decide to speak to the Japanese media about it, though, hopefully they won’t ask her to speak in Japanese.
Source: My Game News Flash
Featured image: Wikipedia/Baynosuke
Insert images: Watanabe Entertainment
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/09/26/naomi-osaka-called-too-tanned-in-japanese-comedy-routine/feed/ 0 467724 Naomi Osaka Japanese comedians Japan comedy duo A Masso apology news apologise statements racist remarks racism discrimination news Naomi Osaka brings kindness and tears to stunning sportsmanship display at US Open https://soranews24.com/2019/09/03/naomi-osaka-brings-kindness-and-tears-to-stunning-sportsmanship-display-at-us-open/ https://soranews24.com/2019/09/03/naomi-osaka-brings-kindness-and-tears-to-stunning-sportsmanship-display-at-us-open/#comments Tue, 03 Sep 2019 13:00:36 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=464466 Tells rising star it’s OK to cry, and does plenty of it herself.
Last Sunday, 15-year-old American tennis player Coco Gauff was standing on the court, about to begin her third-round match at the US Open. That’s an incredible accomplishment for such a young athlete, but unfortunately she would be facing Osaka-born Naomi Osaka, the top-ranked women’s player in the world, who herself became a household name among tennis fans with her stunning victory one year ago in the 2018 US Open.
In the end, Osaka’s skill and experience were too much for Gauff to overcome, and she fell to the defending champion in straight sets, with Osaka winning all six games in the second. Following Osaka’s victory, obviously the press wanted to speak with her on-court, but Osaka didn’t want to give the interview alone, as shown in this touching video.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019
As Gauff was gathering her things, Osaka approached to invite her to join the interview. “I’m gonna cry,” Gauff explains in the above video. “I’m gonna like cry the whole entire time,” but Osaka gently responds with “No, you’re good,” and “I think it’s better than going into the shower and crying.”
Eventually, Osaka was able to persuade Gauff to take part, with the spectators in attendance, as well as Osaka, applauding her effort. Gauff relayed what Osaka had told her immediately following the end of the match, saying “She told me that I did amazing and good luck and then she asked if I could do the on-court interview with her… It was amazing…I’m going to learn a lot from this match, and she’s been so sweet to me so thank you for this.”
Uplift one another
@CocoGauff | @Naomi_Osaka_ | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/XtZIefrs1v
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019
Throughout the talk, the two competitors repeatedly turn the focus to each other, with Gauff humbly saying “Once again, thank you Naomi. I don’t want people to think I’m trying to take this moment away from her, because she really deserves it,” which causes Osaka to immediately shake her head, indicating that she would never think anything of the sort. And once it’s Naomi’s turn to speak, she promptly shifts the focus and praise onto others, this time Gauff’s parents, who are standing courtside.
We aren't even going to lie. We're all crying.
@Naomi_Osaka_ | @CocoGauff | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ME26VSNyoL
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2019
“You guys raised an amazing player,” Osaka congratulates the couple, whom she’s met before, as she and Gauff have trained in the same facilities at certain points in their careers. Osaka also shows that she’s true to her words of telling Gauff it’s OK to cry, as she herself is choked with emotion and tears stream down her face as she continues to address Gauff’s parents, adding “The fact that both of us made it, and we’re both still working as hard as we can, I think it’s incredible, and I think you guys are amazing. I think, Coco, you’re amazing.”
Osaka would fall in the next round against Swiss player Belinda Bencic, ending her campaign for a second straight US Open title. However, her actions show that Osaka’s love of the game and her fellow athletes is as strong as her desire for victory, and for all those who think that sportsmanship is always the most important aspect of sports, her conduct following her match with Gauff is truly inspirational.
Source: US Open, Twitter/@usopen
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/09/03/naomi-osaka-brings-kindness-and-tears-to-stunning-sportsmanship-display-at-us-open/feed/ 0 464466 Naomi Osaka slams reporters who ask her to speak in Japanese with new Nike commercial https://soranews24.com/2019/05/27/naomi-osaka-slams-reporters-who-ask-her-to-speak-in-japanese-with-new-nike-commercial/ https://soranews24.com/2019/05/27/naomi-osaka-slams-reporters-who-ask-her-to-speak-in-japanese-with-new-nike-commercial/#comments Mon, 27 May 2019 13:00:08 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=453549 Osaka has just one word to say in response to all those annoying questions about her ethnicity and her love of katsudon.
Since winning the Australian Open and the U.S. Open against her idol Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka has taken the top-spot in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, becoming the first Asian to hold the top spot in either men’s or women’s tennis.
Her success has brought her a lot of attention from the media, particularly in Japan, where her love of katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowls) and her half-Haitian, half-Japanese background remains a solid talking point. And one thing Japanese reporters can’t stop themselves from doing is asking her to answer their questions in Japanese.
After shutting down these reporters in the past, Osaka is now returning to address them and all others like them, with a new commercial for Nike. In the ad, she slams back at all the insensitive and impertinent questions that get served to her during interviews, and has just one word to silence them all.
Take a look at the ad below:
In the clip, Osaka can be seen on the court, showing off her strong playing style as a volley of questions roll by. There’s “Who’s your biggest rival?”, “Are you a hard court specialist?” and “Do you consider yourself Japanese or American?”
Then there are a few questions in Japanese, including “What are you going to buy with your prize money?”, “Can you answer in Japanese?” and “Will you eat katsudon again today?”
▼ How you feel when your love of katsudon comes up every time you’re interviewed.
Then, at the end of the ad, Osaka turns to the camera and has just one thing to say in response to all those questions.
▼ “Shhhh.“
In true Nike style, the clip delivers a strong message at the end: “Don’t change yourself. Change the world.”
It’s a message that fits in nicely with Osaka’s public image, as a woman who continues to do her own thing while drowning out all the stereotypical questions from the media who want to place her in neat, narrow-minded boxes.
And judging from the reaction online in Japan, it’s a message a lot of Japanese people agree with too.
“What a fantastic ad! I hope everyone sees this.”
“Some of the questions in English are annoying but the Japanese questions are even more annoying.”
“Such a great insight into what she has to deal with every day.”
“Japanese reporters need to watch this ad.”
“The Japanese media need to have more respect for her as an elite sportswoman.”
The Nike ad has definitely got everyone talking, and while it takes a different approach to one of her previous ads for Japanese brand Nissin, it’s definitely a step up from the controversial ad that whitewashed her appearance.
It’ll be interesting to see if this new commercial will have any effect on the types of questions reporters plan to throw at Osaka next time she does a round of interviews. Hopefully they’ll reign in the talk about katsudon and her ethnicity, and focus on her contribution to the world of sport, because as the star tennis player has said in the past, regardless of her dining preferences, background, and language ability, “I’m just me.”
Source, images: YouTube/Nike Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/05/27/naomi-osaka-slams-reporters-who-ask-her-to-speak-in-japanese-with-new-nike-commercial/feed/ 0 453549 Naomi Osaka Nike commercial tennis ad sports sportswoman Japan Japanese reporters katsudon food sport Haitian media 14 Naomi Osaka shuts down reporter who asked her to speak in Japanese following Australian Open win https://soranews24.com/2019/01/28/naomi-osaka-shuts-down-reporter-who-asked-her-to-speak-in-japanese-following-australian-open-win/ https://soranews24.com/2019/01/28/naomi-osaka-shuts-down-reporter-who-asked-her-to-speak-in-japanese-following-australian-open-win/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2019 13:00:30 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=439891 People in Japan slam the reporter’s request and rush to the tennis pro’s defence.
Naomi Osaka won the Australian Open on the weekend, in a nail-biting three-set match against two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, making her the first Asian tennis player ever to become world number one.
.@Naomi_Osaka_ is the Australian Open 2019 champion
She def. Petra Kvitova 7-6(2) 5-7 6-4.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/XU0Of8Unzi
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2019
The American-raised half-Japanese half-Haitian Japanese national has won support from fans around the world and also here in her birth country, where people seem fascinated by her mixed background and curious about her ability to speak Japanese.
▼ Osaka’s family isn’t conventional by Japanese standards.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeyO7edlsoK/?utm_source=ig_embed
So when the 21-year-old tennis pro gave an interview on Japanese TV live from Melbourne following her Australian Open win, Osaka was once again pressed to speak in Japanese, but this time she stood her ground and shut the reporter down immediately. In the clip below, one of the Japanese TV presenters can be heard saying “Congratulation” in English, before going on to ask in Japanese:
“Yesterday’s match, against Petra Kvitova, a left-handed player, must’ve been difficult to counter. Could you tell us, in Japanese, how difficult it was to deal with? Just one word about how you felt.”
Take a look at Osaka’s polite but firm response below:
大坂なおみさんの会見時､日本の記者勢がよく口にする
｢日本語でお願いします｣
に､私は心底うんざりしてるのだけど､なおみさんの｢英語で言います｣というキッパリとした姿勢に救われています。 pic.twitter.com/vlaN2XCFvC— サチエ (@bettybeat) January 27, 2019
Osaka refused to be swayed by the reporter’s request, prefacing her answer with “I’m going to say it in English.” After all, the reporter’s question was one that required more than just a one-word answer, in English or Japanese, and people in Japan are applauding Osaka’s firm but polite reply.
Twitter user @bettybeat, who posted the clip, wrote:
“I’m genuinely sick of reporters always saying “Please speak in Japanese” when they interview Naomi Osaka, but her firm ‘I’m going to say it in English’ stance saved me.”
@bettybeat wasn’t the only one to feel this way, with other Japanese Twitter users chiming in with comments like:
“Osaka has said before that she’s not great at getting her point across in Japanese, so she wants to speak in English to avoid possible misunderstandings. Why can’t we just let her speak in whatever language she wants to speak in?”
“I’m also disgusted by the media, but Osaka’s firm response was spoken like a true champion.”
“Osaka emigrated to the United States with her family when she was three years old so it’s normal for her to speak English. If she doesn’t speak in English, then you won’t get to understand the true meaning of Osaka!”
“I’m so sick of the Japanese media always playing up the ‘wonderful Japanese’ side of her. She’s great, regardless of her background.”
“I don’t like the media doing this. It’s like they want to force her to speak in broken Japanese, just so people can call it cute or interesting and feel great about being Japanese. She’s a respected athlete and should be treated as such.”
Radio Donuts, a Saturday-morning Japanese radio program airing on Tokyo commercial radio station J-Wave, also weighed in on the issue, running a poll asking their Twitter followers to answer the question: “What do you think about Naomi Osaka being asked to comment in Japanese?” 97 people responded with the answer that they thought it was good, while 1,648 people were opposed to it.
— J-WAVE RADIO DONUTS (@rajido_813) January 27, 2019
It should be noted that Osaka has spoken in Japanese on TV before, and even gave a short message in Japanese to another news outlet during the same round of interviews on Sunday.
This video catches the last part of her message to fans, where she says, “Minna konnichiwa. Kono taikai wa honto ni chotto nanka chotto bikkurishita. Demo, nanka kachimashita.” (“Hello everyone. This match was really, a bit, like, I was surprised. But somehow I won.“)
Naomi Osaka answers questions about whether she’s been able to rest a bit, how she will reward herself following her #AustralianOpen win, and if there’s something she really wants to eat.#NaomiOsaka #tennis #大坂なおみ選手 #大阪なおみ #大坂なおみ #日本語 #japanese pic.twitter.com/j8eJjlKfTB
— Oona McGee
(@OonaMcGee) January 28, 2019
While Osaka is happy to speak in Japanese when asked if she has a message for her Japanese fans, she takes an entirely different approach when it comes to answering technical questions about the sport to interviewers searching for a soundbite.
And as her Japanese fans applaud her for her champion attitude against reporters who should know better, we can only hope that she’ll stop being pressed for more Japanese-language soundbites in future. She is who she is, and now that she’s Asia’s first World number one tennis player, she’s showing us all a different side to what it means to be Japanese.
Source: My Game News Flash
Featured image: Twitter/@bettybeat
]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/01/28/naomi-osaka-shuts-down-reporter-who-asked-her-to-speak-in-japanese-following-australian-open-win/feed/ 0 439891 naomi osaka australian open number one tennis player womens japan interview speaking japanese news Cup Noodle maker apologizes for pale-skinned depiction of Naomi Osaka in anime ad【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2019/01/23/cup-noodle-maker-apologizes-for-pale-skinned-depiction-of-naomi-osaka-in-anime-ad%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/01/23/cup-noodle-maker-apologizes-for-pale-skinned-depiction-of-naomi-osaka-in-anime-ad%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2019 13:00:22 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=439445 
Half-Haitian, half-Japanese tennis star’s real-world complexion is far darker than how she appears as Prince of Tennis character.
Following her victory at the U.S. Open in September, tennis player Naomi Osaka has entered into endorsement deals with a number of Japanese companies. One of those is Nissin, makers of the Cup Noodle instant ramen line, and at the very end of December the company’s always creative marketing team released an animated ad showing Osaka facing off against fellow tennis pro and Nissin pitchman Kei Nishikori.
Then on January 14, Nissin released a second animated ad featuring the two athletes, this time in a cross-promotion with The Prince of Tennis, Japan’s most popular tennis-themed anime/manga franchise, which has been ongoing since 1999. In the ad, various characters from the franchise can be seen training with Osaka and Nishikori, displaying the reality-bending displays of athletic prowess for which the series is famous. However, there’s another break with real-world visuals that’s attracting controversy.
▼ Osaka and Nishikori, as they appear in the video
While the ad wasn’t met with widespread anger from Japanese viewers, it’s been a different story as the video has found the attention of overseas commenters, with several accusing Nissin of “whitewashing” the half-Haitian, half-Japanese Osaka.
▼ Osaka, as she appears in real life
So happy to be partnered with @FlyANA_official
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) January 12, 2019
▼ Nishikori
Breakfast at Crystal Club this morning. Getting ready for tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VNgSeHMAxx
— Kei Nishikori (@keinishikori) January 22, 2019
There’s no denying that Osaka’s skin tone has been considerably lightened in the ad, but it’s debatable as to whether or not “whitewashing,” in the sense of “making someone look like Caucasian,” is the most accurate description of what’s going on. In the image below, Osaka and Nishikori stand on the court with Ryoma Echizen and Kunimitsu Tezuka, two Prince of Tennis characters with entirely Japanese ethnicity, who are depicted with even lighter skin tones than the two real-world tennis stars.
▼ Ryoma and Kunimitsu’s Japanese teammates at Seishin Gakuen, the in-series school they attend
However, the key difference between Prince of Tennis’ fair-skinned-but-designed-from-scratch original characters and Osaka’s anime version is that the latter is based on a real person, so one would expect a more faithful depiction of her skin color, especially when Prince of Tennis does have a half-black, half-Japanese character, Richard Sakata, who’s shown in the anime with legitimately dark skin.
While the controversial ad remains up on Nissin’s Japanese YouTube channel, The New York Times’ Daniel Victor reports that a spokesperson for the company, Daisuke Okabayashi, has issued an apology via email, quoting him as saying:
“There is no intention of whitewashing. We accept that we are not sensitive enough and will pay more attention to diversity issue in the future.”
▼ Photos of Osaka are prominently featured on Nissin’s website as well.
Neither Osaka nor Nishikori have made any comments related to the controversy.
Source: The New York Times/Daniel Victor via Anime News Network/Lynzee Loveridge
Top image: YouTube/日清食品グループ公式チャンネル
Insert images: YouTube/日清食品グループ公式チャンネル, Prince of Tennis official website (1, 2), Nissin
]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/01/23/cup-noodle-maker-apologizes-for-pale-skinned-depiction-of-naomi-osaka-in-anime-ad%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 439445 no 0 Naomi Osaka v Kei Nishikori: Tennis pros play with Japanese bats in Nissin cup noodles commercial https://soranews24.com/2019/01/03/naomi-osaka-v-kei-nishikori-tennis-pros-play-with-japanese-bats-in-nissin-cup-noodles-commercial/ https://soranews24.com/2019/01/03/naomi-osaka-v-kei-nishikori-tennis-pros-play-with-japanese-bats-in-nissin-cup-noodles-commercial/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2019 05:00:57 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=437071 
Osaka turns into a kimono-clad anime character halfway through the clip.
Ever since winning the U.S. Open against her idol Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka has won fans around the world and made a name for herself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of professional tennis.
Now she represents brands like Nissan, Seiko and Nissin cup noodles, and for New Year, she’s made her first appearance for the instant noodle brand in a special New Year’s-themed commercial.
The new ad sees her playing a match against fellow Japanese pro player Kei Nishikori, only instead of tennis, they’re playing hanetsuki, a traditional Japanese game often played at New Year’s, using rectangular wooden bats called hagoita and a brightly coloured shuttlecock.
Take a look at the fierce match below:
According to Nissin, the ad, which is entitled “Happy New Year – The Year We Want Gold Compilation”, was designed to act like a nengajo (New Year’s Card) to everyone from the instant noodle brand.
This visual greeting card features a “dream confrontation” between Nishikori and Osaka. However, the battle goes in an unexpected direction, as the two end up pulling out hagoita paddles for the fiercest game of hanetsuki we’ve ever seen.
▼ Traditional hanetsuki.
Image: Wikipedia/Kusakabe Kimbei
▼ And next-level hanetsuki, with Osaka’s paddle appearing to feature an image of herself, drawn in a traditional style often seen on these paddles.
The game then takes an animated turn, with Osaka and Nishikori hitting the shuttlecock back and forth on a court at the foot of Mt Fuji.
▼ In the umpire’s chair is a shishi (lion), a New Year’s good luck symbol.
The clip ends with a gathering of auspicious symbols. In Japan, it’s considered lucky to see “Ichi-Fuji, Ni-Taka, San-Nasubi” (1. Fuji, 2. Hawk, 3. Eggplant) in your first dream of the year, and this ad comes with all three at the very end, offering maximum luck for the brand, the players, and the viewer. Plus, there’s the added bonus of more lucky symbols, with the first sunrise of the year, and two gold coins also making an appearance.
▼ The message “The Year We Want Gold” is written on the virtual card in gold.
In another strange twist, a man pokes his head out from behind the eggplant in the end, but it’s not tennis pro Nishikori. This is an image of “Nasubi” (”Eggplant”), a man with an “eggplant-shaped face” who appeared in a Japanese reality TV show more than a decade ago. For the show, he was locked in a room for 15 months with no food and no electrical goods, and a goal to win as much as possible in public prize competitions.
Nasubi’s surprising appearance in the ad is a bit of an odd choice for the noodle brand, especially given that they’re also an official Olympics 2020 partner, but we can’t deny that prize-hunting Nasubi embodies a desire for gold while also bringing a bit of luck with his eggplant likeness. Could this be a hint that Nasubi, now a 43-year-old performer, might be appearing in the next Nissin compilation? Only time will tell.
Source, featured image: YouTube/日清食品グループ公式チャンネル
]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/01/03/naomi-osaka-v-kei-nishikori-tennis-pros-play-with-japanese-bats-in-nissin-cup-noodles-commercial/feed/ 0 437071 Naomi Osaka Nissin commercial marketing instant noodles ramen Japanese commercials ad anime 15 Japanese reporters’ lame questions to tennis star Naomi Osaka embarrass netizens https://soranews24.com/2018/09/26/japanese-reporters-lame-questions-to-tennis-star-naomi-osaka-embarrass-netizens/ https://soranews24.com/2018/09/26/japanese-reporters-lame-questions-to-tennis-star-naomi-osaka-embarrass-netizens/#comments Wed, 26 Sep 2018 13:00:55 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=426821 The Japanese media is under criticism for its lack of interest in the actual sport of tennis.
Up-and-coming tennis player Naomi Osaka made headlines earlier this month after winning her first ever Grand Slam title against the venerable Serena Williams. Since then she has became a huge celebrity in Japan because she is half Japanese, and has even stirred up controversy about what it means to be Japanese.
This “Naomi boom”, as some journalists are calling it, has pushed Japanese reporters to nearly trip over each other for the chance to interview and photograph her on her recent trip to Japan, where she competed in the Pan Pacific Open. But the poor quality of their questions has some Japanese netizens embarrassed, since the reporters are clearly not very interested in Osaka’s tennis career.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BntEtxklQSu/?taken-by=naomiosakatennis
Shortly after arriving in Japan, just after her win in the U.S. open, Osaka participated in the above press conference and photo shoot, and while some of the questions asked at that time were serious inquiries about her tennis career, many were irrelevant personal questions, particularly about her time in Japan.
“What are you going to eat while you’re here?” was one question, and “I know you’ll be busy, but is there anything you’d like to do in Japan?” Another even asked, “What kind of Instagram photos are you planning to take while you’re here?”
They may seem like harmless questions, but there is one major issue: they seemed to completely ignore the monumental accomplishments Osaka achieved in her U.S. Open win and focused entirely on her time in Japan.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn6XXSplgWl/
While throughout the above interview Osaka doesn’t seem necessarily frustrated by this fact, Japanese netizens definitely were. Clearly they wanted to learn more about Osaka’s experience in the U.S. Open, but the reporters wasted valuable interview time asking mundane things like “What is your favorite Japanese word?”
That wasn’t the only time the Japanese media embarrassed themselves, either. After Osaka ended up losing to Karolina Pliskova in the Pan Pacific Open final on September 23, she found herself surrounded by Japanese press yet again. Unlike the previous interview, though, this particular interview, which was a lot shorter, actually contained quite a few questions about the match. But the very last question seemed to surprise even the normally laid-back Osaka: “During your tight schedule, what are you doing to relax?”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoD7a7mlixJ/?taken-by=naomiosakatennis
“Is that really what you want to ask as the last question?” she responded. “Really? I’ll answer it, but are you sure?” She did answer it, but it wasn’t a very enthusiastic answer, and it was clear how little she thought of the question. To waste the final question at a critical, emotional moment for her on a trivial topic must have seemed ridiculous. At least, that’s how Japanese netizens felt, as they openly criticized both interviews:
“Osaka just said what everyone else wants to say. I hope the media learns from it.”
“It can’t be helped since the reporters don’t know anything about tennis. Sorry about Japan’s idiot reporters.”
“It’s just proof that Japanese reporters are low-quality.”
“That’s about the level of quality of the majority of Japanese reporters, Naomi-chan.”
“The quality of the questions is awful. They’re just looking for content for gossip shows.”
“I always become painfully aware of how pathetic the Japanese media is when I watch press conferences.”
“The questions asked during Naomi Osaka’s interview are so bad that I can’t keep watching it.”
“I feel so bad for Naomi Osaka. I’m so embarrassed by the Japanese media.”
Granted, the kind of personal-life tidbits requested by Japanese reporters, and especially those asked of foreign celebrities about their favorite parts of Japanese culture, are the kinds of things a lot of Japanese people like to ask foreigners themselves. But many netizens made it clear that they’d have liked reporters to take the opportunity to talk with Osaka, a rising star of the tennis world, about tennis.
Source: Yahoo! News, YouTube/Asahi Shinbunsha via Hachima Kiko
Featured image: Instagram/naomiosakatannis
]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/09/26/japanese-reporters-lame-questions-to-tennis-star-naomi-osaka-embarrass-netizens/feed/ 0 426821 DF 2 How much has changed in Japan one week after Naomi Osaka’s victory in the 2018 U.S. Open? https://soranews24.com/2018/09/17/how-much-has-changed-in-japan-one-week-after-naomi-osakas-victory-in-the-2018-us-open/ https://soranews24.com/2018/09/17/how-much-has-changed-in-japan-one-week-after-naomi-osakas-victory-in-the-2018-us-open/#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2018 17:30:45 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=426079 
Japan is now experiencing “Naomi Fever” throughout the country.
Not many people in Japan knew about Naomi Osaka before she rose to prominence in the finals of the 2018 US Open Tennis Championships, presumably due to the fact that she had left Japan at the tender age of three and spent much of her life in the United States.
People usually defaulted to Kei Nishikori as the most recognizable Japanese tennis player, but now that Osaka has secured a Grand Slam title, her popularity has seen a sudden surge over here in the form of “Naomi Fever”.
▼ She really shook up the tennis world and gained a ton of fans.
"I just want to tell you guys: She played well and this is her first Grand Slam."
Serena Williams defended Naomi Osaka, the first Japanese woman to win a Grand Slam singles event, after a controversial game penalty at the U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/kDAWt6i1wW
— AJ+ (@ajplus) September 8, 2018
Various media outlets sang praises of the first Japanese woman to win a Grand Slam tournament, about how Osaka kept her cool even when playing against Serena Williams, her idol and one of the best players in the world.
Aside from her powerful plays, people were really curious about what she used or wore in the game, which resulted in a wave of queries pouring in regarding her tennis racket model and even her wristwatch.
▼ For the record, her racket was a Yonex Ezone 98…
After an eventful US Open final, Naomi Osaka became the 1st Japanese player to win a Grand Slam. Osaka currently plays with a Yonex Ezone 98 racket, PolyTour Pro & Rexis strings - this set up available in store on online:https://t.co/rqGbUAxRiX#GannonSports pic.twitter.com/WwyuDdiGxT
— Gannon Sports (@GannonSports) September 11, 2018
▼ …while her watch was a Citizen BZ4600-01E with bluetooth functionality.
Serena Williams' behaviour - justified or otherwise - prevented us from noticing another "first". @Naomi_Osaka_ was wearing a @citizen_watch eco-drive. Unpretentious, Great tech, huge value and being solar is eco friendly. says much about the wearer. Well done. pic.twitter.com/uOWQHzXq83
— Muhz (@therealmuhz) September 12, 2018
Japanese companies are also scrambling to have her endorse their products, and Osaka has reportedly signed deals with food company Nissin and watch outlet Citizen. She’s also now the brand ambassador of car manufacturer Nissan.
Her Grand Slam victory and contracts are said to have an impressive effect of 300 to 400 billion yen (US$2.68 to 3.6 billion) on the Japanese economy, as all companies including Nissin and Yonex sponsoring her are now enjoying huge boosts in stock prices.
Even her words have profound effects. After Osaka’s fateful tournament win, an interview revealed that the tennis star really wanted to eat tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) and tonkatsu curry, a sentence that would later cause two different food stores in the city of Osaka to launch a promotion. Celebrating her victory, store customers who are called Naomi will be offered free sets of tonkatsu meals and beef curry.
▼ Another shop tried the same deal, but only gave free tonkatsu
to people who bear the exact same name “Naomi Osaka” as the tennis ace.
https://twitter.com/minato_marukan/status/1040103790983098369
News quickly spread of Osaka frequenting Utsubo Tennis Center with her family when she was still in Japan, and calls regarding tennis lessons and equipment rentals quickly flooded in.
Considering that few Japanese players have made it to the top in the tennis world, several media sources also speculate that this heightened interest will result in more Japanese children aiming to become professional tennis players.
It’s amazing how Osaka’s Grand Slam victory single-handedly affected Japan economically and inspired countless individuals to take up racket in hand and aim for the sky. Although some people are still unsure whether she is really “Japanese” or not, the fact remains that she has brought tennis to a whole new level never seen before in Japan.
Source: Naver Matome
Top image: GAHAG
]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/09/17/how-much-has-changed-in-japan-one-week-after-naomi-osakas-victory-in-the-2018-us-open/feed/ 0 426079 gahag-0015238537-1