Naomi Osaka Announces New Media Company

On Tuesday, June 21, tennis sensation Naomi Osaka announced that she would be starting her very own media company. 

The announcement came over social media; The athlete shared an Instagram post with an image of the company’s name. On a bright yellow background, in a bold black font, “Hana Kuma,”  the media company’s name was displayed for all of her followers to see. Osaka writes, “I’ve built my career taking a different approach than those around me and because my journey has been so different it’s opened my eyes to all the incredible stories out there that aren’t getting told.” 

“That’s why I’m launching Hana Kuma, a media platform focused on stories that are culturally specific but universal,” Osaka continued. “Stories that are bold and playful like me.”

Osaka isn’t going on this venture alone, however. In the same post, Osaka announced that she chose to collaborate with NBA all-star Lebron James, and the two became business partners. Osaka stated, “I’m incredibly proud to be building a business that is a true reflection of me and I couldn’t think of a better partner than @kingjames to do this.”  

Lebron James took to his Twitter to announce his excitement for the project. “There’s a reason we call ourselves an Empowerment Company. This incredible woman and the stories she is going to live is EXACTLY what we about!!!” James tweeted. “Incredibly proud to call her my partner.” 

There’s reason we call ourselves an Empowerment Company. This incredible woman and the stories she is going to bring to life is EXACTLY what we about!!!Incredibly proud to call her my partner. @naomiosaka @makespringhill #MoreThananAthlete https://t.co/mellHFKP9Q

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 21, 2022

Osaka is a 24-year-old Japanese tennis player who rose to fame in the past few years due to her undeniable talent and skill. Winning four single Grand Slams and becoming the first Asian player to hold the No. 1 title, there is no doubt how influential Osaka has become, even outside the sport.

The tennis player faced controversy in 2021 when she withdrew from the French Open due to mental health concerns. Despite all the negativity surrounding her in the news, Osaka stood firm in her decision. She even went on to write an article discussing mental health in sports and her personal experience titled, “It’s O.K. Not to Be O.K.” which was published in TIME. Osaka has since continued to speak out on mental health issues and be outspoken on her social media platforms. 

Hana Kuma has already announced its first project, MINK!, a film that surrounds Title XI. The film tells Patsy Mink’s story and how as a Japanese woman, she changed the world of sports forever. Mink was not only the first woman of color to be elected to Congress but also the first Asian-American woman while simultaneously being the first woman elected to Congress from Hawaii. 

Here at Glitter, we are so excited for Osaka as she begins her media company, and we can’t wait to see all of the things that Hana Kuma will produce. Fans can check out Osaka’s tweet below to learn more about Hana Kuma and MINK!.

Honored to work with Oscar winning director @bgproudfoot for Hana Kuma’s first project. Patsy’s story resonates as a Japanese woman of color growing up in the US while advocating for change. She leveled the playing field for women athletes to be the legends they are today. #MINK! pic.twitter.com/kfT5YHUYUR

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) June 23, 2022