But Mirai does not skate for Japan, so I'm not comfortable w/ people calling her Japanese skater.
Do you feel the same when people call Tanith Belbin a Canadian or Allison Reed, an American?
But Mirai does not skate for Japan, so I'm not comfortable w/ people calling her Japanese skater.
Do you feel the same when people call Tanith Belbin a Canadian or Allison Reed, an American?
Yes. Because they're not skating for Canada or America. They had to switch their nationality to do it.
No, Tanith still has her Canadian citizenship, so does Allison Reed, who is still American citizen. It's a factual statement, they are who they are. Besides, these two are actually born in Canada and U.S. respectively. Mirai's parents actually went through the trouble of getting their daughter Japanese citizenship even though she wasn't born in Japan, let's just say not all Japanese-Americans do that. Mirai even went on Japanese TV after she won her first US Nationals to publicize the fact she also holds Japanese citizenship for a Japanese audience to see. Did you know that? I guess not. She is as Japanese as it gets, both ethnically, culturally and yes, citizenship wise as well. She may be representing the U.S. and a U.S. citizen but she is not any different to Yuko Kavaguti who is representing Russia but everyone still calls her a Japanese, even though she is now Russian citizen and have since renounced her Japanese citizenship and can't get it back for 10 years.
chloepoco, what is your ethnicity?
A mix of many--Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Spanish, and some Japanese. American citizen.
And what is yours, if I may ask?
I am Korean, born in Canada. I'm never offended when people refer to me as "Korean", or "Canadian"; I think either is valid.A mix of many--Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Spanish, and some Japanese. American citizen.
And what is yours, if I may ask?
I am Korean, born in Canada. I'm never offended when people refer to me as "Korean", or "Canadian"; I think either is valid.So I don't think it's "wrong" to say that Mirai is either Japanese, or American. I consider both true for her.
Although, since you're such a mix, it would be weird to refer to you by ethnicity rather than just American, so I see where you're coming from.