How does Morikawa balance his American identity with his Asian heritage?

Question

Accepted Answer

Collin Morikawa Embraces Dual Identity While Primarily Identifying as American

Collin Morikawa identifies himself as American and fully embraces this identity, while also acknowledging and appreciating the recognition and pride he receives from his Asian heritage, particularly during events like the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan. His father is Japanese American from Hawaii, and his mother is Chinese American from California. Morikawa has shared that during his participation in the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, fans in Japan recognized him and felt a sense of pride, seeing someone with roots similar to theirs achieve success on the PGA TOUR.
Recognition and Pride from Asian Heritage

During the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Morikawa experienced a unique connection with the fans. He observed that the spectators in Japan could see the similarities between themselves and his parents, fostering a sense of pride. This recognition highlighted the success of an individual with Asian heritage on the PGA TOUR, a sentiment Morikawa found very positive.
American Identity as Primary

Despite the appreciation for his Asian roots and the positive reception in Japan, Morikawa explicitly states, "I may be American, and obviously I represent the United States." He asserts, "So yes, I’m American and I fully embrace that." This indicates that his primary self-identification and representation remain with the United States.
Inspiration and Role Model Status

Morikawa acknowledges the potential for him to be seen as a role model by fans, particularly those of Asian descent. He expressed that it is "cool to see other people look at me — and maybe even look at me as a role model... and use that to their inspiration." He hopes to inspire people to pursue their passions, whether in golf or other fields, by demonstrating how he enjoys his own pursuits.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How does Morikawa balance his American identity with his Asian heritage?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends