Volleyball star Jaja Santiago has officially become a Japanese citizen, as she announced on social media on Saturday.
In her post, Santiago acknowledged that the decision to change her nationality was challenging, describing it as a step toward fulfilling her dreams. “Changing one’s nationality is not an easy decision. It requires many sacrifices to achieve your dream. There are people who will support you, but there are also those who may not understand your decision,” she shared.
Santiago emphasized that her choice was motivated by her desire to make the most of her athletic career, adding, “This is for my dream, because we are not getting any younger, and we don’t know how long we’ll be in this field.”
She expressed gratitude to those who supported her, including her family, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, and her team, Chery Tiggo Crossovers. Despite her new citizenship, Santiago affirmed her Filipino roots, stating, “Now that I have already obtained my Japanese citizenship, in my heart, blood, mind, and soul, I am always a Filipina who was born in the Philippines. And I will not forget that.”
Santiago, who will now go by the name Sachi Minowa, had previously been invited to join Japan’s national team training camp, marking another significant milestone in her volleyball career.