Sports / Stars category

Naomi Osaka (born 1997),
Japanese tennis player (Japanese mother and Haitian father)

Naomi Osaka’s primary representation in sports is for Japan, however, her connection to Haiti remains an important part of her identity, and she has used her platform to raise awareness of her Haitian heritage and advocate for social and racial justice causes.

Naomi Osaka has a strong connection to Haiti through her family background. She was born on October 16, 1997, in Chūō-ku, Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan, to a Japanese mother, Tamaki Osaka, and a Haitian father, Leonard François. Her father’s family is from Haiti, which is a country in the Caribbean.

While Naomi Osaka represents Japan in her professional tennis career and has spent much of her life in the United States, she has always been proud of her mixed heritage and has identified with both her Japanese and Haitian roots. In fact, she has often spoken about her Haitian heritage in interviews and on social media.

Osaka’s connection to Haiti became particularly notable during her victory at the 2018 US Open. After winning the tournament, she draped a Haitian flag over her shoulders as a symbol of pride and recognition of her father’s heritage. This moment drew attention to her family’s background and to the broader issues of diversity and representation in sports.