Yes, but it does pay for health care and education, which is what I think prettykeys was referring to (correct me if I'm wrong). He continues to use these services but he doesn't represent Canada.
I wonder how he will get his Japanese citizenship if he trains and lives here. Because his parents are from two different countries he would have citizenship for those countries as well, wouldn't he? How many countries can you be a "citizen" of?
It is a lot of things. Not just healthcare and education (which I did allude to), but, well, representing a country that has done a lot for you...
As many as the various laws of the relevant countries allow. People who are dual nationality and more always get the same ole crap from the "nationalistic" folks
Ant
Then we might as well do away with the whole concept of the Olympics and the narrow-minded concept of representing "countries". Ohhh look at me, I'm such an uber-national, sitting here wanting my fellow countrymen and countrywomen do their best (and another who has a strong ethnic tie.) Am I the only one? Doubt it. I wonder what the relationship is??
Instead of having a world-wide competition based on nations, why not do ethnicities? Or clans by last name?
What is the deal with nations that makes them special?
I believe (and you can disagree), that it has something to do with certain relationships in cultivating success and excellence; the acknowledgment that not only can an
individual have something to show for their hard-work and determination and talent, but also that it is facilitated and made possible through opportunities and resources made available by their
country. When you have an athlete medal, you're applauding both that person's abilities and that nation's support. This is why I offered the preposterous example of a U.S. lady figure skater representing another country that they have little association to (e.g. Singapore, Singapore has a lot of money to burn and not a strong figure skater to rep them) and training in Canada. It is, at the very least, "unusual". Yes, I will sympathize with athletes wanting to maximize their chances and opportunities and careers, but I can't say I approve or am completely happy with it.
Canada is very generous. Sometimes I think it is a little too generous, not just in these sorts of issues (Japan made a HUGE deal over Kawaguchi), but when it comes to straining its resources when it has no real obligation to. I feel this very same way about Canada-trained doctors who have the individual right to practice wherever they want, but many go down to the United $tates while we have our very own physician shortage. You can say they paid for their education (especially their post-secondary education) and that they succeeded on their own merits, but a lot of it was made possible by the support and resources of the Canadian population who will not see a return benefit.
I am not pointing fingers without a total lack of experience: given the choice I always repped Canada over Korea (my parents are Korean immigrants, so my ties are still quite close) and when I graduate I sure as heck will have lucrative opportunities down south. I think Canada has certain foolish policies sometimes and is a little too diplomatic, but I can't deny I love the life it's made possible for myself and my family. My friends and mentors are Canadian.
Listing more examples of other athletes making the same sort of country-swap choices doesn't make it more right, in my eyes (although it seems some at least had an ethnic basis for sitting on the fence and going the other way, which I am a little more sympathetic to.) But the Takahashi-Tran team is more Canadian than Japanese.
But HEY if you don't think it's a big deal, I agree, let's get rid of these stupid country-representing notions in all these world competitions.
What an archaic notion nationalism is, feeling proud of your country, pfft!
You can't force people to skate for your country!
And come up to train in Canada! 
