Amid a shifting cultural landscape, talented multiracial athletes are among some of Japan's best chances to reach the podium at next summer's Tokyo Olympics and consequently draw attention to an often ignored yet growing segment of the country's population.

Heading that list is tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, who catapulted to the top of the WTA rankings following a breakout 2018 season and is now — to the host nation's delight — a prime candidate for gold at the 2020 Summer Games kicking off in less than a year.

Osaka, who shares the name of her city of birth, was born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father before moving at an early age to the United States, where she still resides. The 21-year-old, who rarely speaks Japanese to reporters, has recently been the most prominent face put to the question of what it means to be "Japanese."