tennis player Naomi Osaka, boycotted the traditional pressWith the launch of a new company, content producer Hana Kuma will take control of the narratives she wants to share.
In partnership with four-time Grand Slam champion basketball star LeBron James, he announced the founding of the initiative, which, in his own words, will touch on “incredible stories untold.”
“I’m proud to have built a business that is my true reflection, and I couldn’t think of a better partner to do it than LeBron James,” he wrote on Instagram.
Partnership with NYT will be Naomi Osaka’s media company’s 1st project
Naomi is going through tough times in her career as her physical and mental health issues have made more headlines in recent months than her success on the field. Despite this, the 24-year-old Japanese seems to be taking advantage of his massive image capital to enter other businesses and get closer to non-sports audiences.
LeBron James and American entrepreneur Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Company will become the financing, operations and production partners of Hana Kuma, led by Naomi Osaka and her manager Stuart Duguid.
This will be the second partnership of the duo. In May, they founded sports agency Evolve, the first client Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios announced this week.
The diversity of Japanese business is nothing new. Under Duguid’s watch, Naomi Osaka has signed several partnership deals and last year was ranked second on SportsPro’s list of the top 50 most “marketable” athletes in 2020.
Now she wants to expand her vision beyond marketing and tennis courts. The press release states that Osaka will produce “stories that are culturally specific yet universal to all audiences” with Hana Kuma (meaning “flower” and “bear” in Japanese, respectively).
The tennis player claims that opening up the entertainment market to culturally diverse creators will allow for this.
And he seems to bet on streaming, where content has a “more global perspective.”
“I built my career with a different approach to those around me and opened my eyes to all the great untold stories because my journey was so different,” Naomi wrote on Instagram.
“Stories about important social issues globally, about diverse cultures and perspectives.
That’s why I’m launching Hana Kuma, a media platform focused on culturally specific yet universal stories. Bold and funny stories like mine.”
“I’m incredibly proud to be building a business that truly reflects myself, and I couldn’t think of a better partner to do it than LeBron James.”
Check out this photo on Instagram
The basketball player also mentioned Naomi Osaka’s new company on social media:
“There’s a reason we call ourselves ‘The Empowerment Company’. This amazing woman and the stories she will bring to life are EXACTLY WHO WE ARE! I am incredibly proud to call him my partner.”
There’s a reason we call ourselves the Empowerment Company. This incredible woman and the stories she will bring to life are ALL about us!!!I am incredibly proud to call her my partner. @naomiosaka @makespringhill #MoreThananAthlete https://t.co/mellHFKP9Q
— LeBron James (@KingJames) 21 June 2022
Hana Kuma’s first project is The New York Times’ upcoming documentary “MINK!” about Patsy Mink, the first black woman elected to the US Congress. will be.
Ben Proudfoot, who won the Oscar for another film published in the newspaper “The Queen of Basketball”, which tells the story of basketball player Lucy Harris, who won the Best Short Documentary Award in 2022, will be directing.
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Oscar-Winning NYT Documentary Reveals Black Basketball Pioneer’s Story
Engaged activist Naomi Osaka wants to grow stories like hers
In an interview with the newspaper where he will develop his first audio-visual project, the tennis player said that he plans to make series, documentaries, anime and content for brands with his new production company.
“Honestly, I can’t say right now whether I would personally be on anything,” Osaka told the NYT. “What excites me is being able to inspire people and tell new stories, especially what I wanted to see as a kid. I always wanted to see someone like me. [nas telas]”.
Born in Japan, she is the daughter of a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, but was raised in the United States. Off the court, Naomi Osaka has gained a reputation as an activist and has always spoken openly about sensitive issues such as racism for star athletes and other celebrities.
Conflicts with the press during last year’s Roland Garros tournament revealed mental health issues that he also didn’t try to hide.
He was fined $15,000 and threatened with disqualification for refusing to attend the competition’s press conferences and claiming that they hurt him emotionally (statements made to journalists are part of the athletes’ contract with the Grand Slam circuit).
Therefore, he withdrew from participation in the championship. However, he received support from other athletes and even sponsors.
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Tennis player Naomi Osaka boycotting press conferences garnered support from athletes and sponsors
After the episode, she stated in interviews that she had faced depression and anxiety in the past.
In an article of his authorship published in the American magazine Time, he transparently and rarely described the difficulties and emotions experienced by athletes in an environment where they should be seen as strong and invincible heroes.
And he said he was opposed not to the media, but to the system of mandatory press conferences after matches at the Grand Slam circuit, admitting that in a world as divided as today, “you can never please everybody”.
This sincerity reached an audience beyond sports fans, especially young people. at the Tokyo Olympics, The tennis player also spoke of “pressure” for high performance.
Maybe that’s why he has shown difficulties in tennis in recent months. Osaka was eliminated in the first round of the French Open in May.
And last week, he said he wouldn’t be going to Wimbledon due to his Achilles tendon injury – despite having previously criticized the change to the points system.
My Achilles is still not right, see you next time ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/mryWdKnitN
— NaomiOsaka 大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) 18 June 2022
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source: Noticias
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