Olympian Ren Hayakawa: Profile of a naturalized citizen
She got her Japanese first name by using the 挢å (Korean sinograms) from her Korean first name, then simplifying the ç¹äœå (traditional sinogram form) to the æ°åäœ (Japanese new sinogram form), and finally choosing a Japanese reading for it. Her Japanese family name was chosen to be the same as her mother, who was a resident of Japan years before when she was married to a Japanese. Ren moved to Japan in 2007. She naturalized in 2009, at the age of 22. Her older sister, æ©å·æµª née åŽæµæµª (ìíë), was an Olympian for Japan in the 2008 Beijing Games, and she as well naturalized to Japanese citizenship.
Her parents divorced when she was young. Her mother returned to Japan but Ren stayed in South Korea to be raised by her father. Like her older sister (by three years), both displayed a talent for archery from an early age, beginning in the third grade of elementary school. She would practice until late at night, sometimes nodding off while in the middle of shooting arrows! Her older sister moved to Japan in 2004, took Japanese citizenship in 2006, and participated in the summer Olympics in 2008, taking 8th in group competitions, and 6th in individual competitions, at the Beijing Games. Nami currently works at the Akihabara branch of Shibuya Archery in Tokyo. Like her younger sister, she derived her given name from the 挢å (Korean sinograms) of her birth name.
I can't include any videos of her performing for fear of running afoul of strictly enforced copyrights, so instead, here's a performance group from her alma mater, Nittai, showing off their abilties for the public:
