Olympics: Rui Hachimura carrying much more than a flag at Tokyo Games

When Rui Hachimura carried the flag for the Olympic host country during the opening ceremony on Friday he showed the world Japan's changing face, one that demonstrates the country is finally embracing a new identity and moving away from its long and well-guarded history of homogeneity.The 203-centimeter U.S.-based basketball player, born in Toyama to a Japanese mother and a Beninese father, literally bore his country's flag, but also figuratively carried the hopes of a slowly evolving nation.In addition to Hachimura, some of Japan's other most high-profile athletes come from culturally dive…READ FULL ARTICLE