Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has teamed up with NBA superstar LeBron James to launch a media production company.
The SpringHill company, co-founded by James and his long-time associate Maverick Carter, will provide Osaka’s Hana Kuma with production and strategic resources.
Hana Kuma will produce scripted and nonfiction content and their first task will be to provide content for a New York Times documentary about Patsy Mink.
Mink was the first woman elected to the US Congress as one of Hana Kuma’s goals is to highlight “culturally specific” stories.
“There has been an explosion of creators of color finally being equipped with resources and a huge platform,” Osaka said in the release. “In the streaming age, content has a more global perspective. You can see this in the popularity of television from Asia, Europe and Latin America that the unique can also be universal. My story is a testament to that as well.”
Osaka on the launch of Hana Kuma
“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,” Osaka wrote on Instagram. “Stories that are global, about a variety of cultures and points of view, about important social issues. That’s why I’m launching Hana Kuma, a media platform focused on stories that are culturally specific but universal. Stories that are bold and playful like me. 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. I’m so excited to do this with him, @mavcarter, @stu_duguid, @uninterrupted, and @makespringhill. Can’t wait to share our stories.”
In May, Osaka launched her own sports agency called Evolve.
This week, Kyrgios became the first client of Osaka’s Evolve agency.