“She should have researched extensively”: Name of Naomi Osaka’s media company ‘Hana Kuma’ leaves the internet divided

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka unintentionally left international Twitter divided, with the launch of her new venture. The 24-year-old Grand Slam Champion's latest venture has raised several eyebrows and garnered major flak in Africa, as the company name has a vulgar meaning in Swahili.She partnered with Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James to launch a new media venture called ’Hana Kuma.' She said they aim to produce TV shows, branded content, and documentaries.The sporting Superstar stated that the term Hana Kuma means “flower bear” in Japanese.Naomi Osaka’s new venture causes a Twitter uproarOsaka's new venture has caused a Twitter uproarfor the wrong reasons (Image via Reuters)What can be seen as a significant marketing blunder has been trending on Twitter. In Swahili, Hana Kuma means &quot;woman without a v*gin*.&quot; The name controversy started trending in various African countries, with fans requesting her to change the name of the venture. Many African users claim that the research team of the brand must be held accountable for not being respectful of global cultures.caramel_ace@caramel_ace1@brooksbarnesNYT Did they do a global search on what the name means?She should have been well advised it has a very vulgar meaning in Swahili which is spoken by many people.3@brooksbarnesNYT Did they do a global search on what the name means?She should have been well advised it has a very vulgar meaning in Swahili which is spoken by many people.Kenya's most popular news outlet, Citizen TV, tweeted that Kenyans are “losing their heads” over this name.Ugandan journalist Daniel Kibet tweeted:Daniel Kibet@DanielKibet_Naomi Osaka has partnered with LeBron James to start a media company called Hana Kuma. Well, this 'Hana Kuma' name means something different in Swahili. I won't say it.4Naomi Osaka has partnered with LeBron James to start a media company called Hana Kuma. Well, this 'Hana Kuma' name means something different in Swahili. I won't say it.Another fuming user tweeted:IAM,King David.@Dudionly@FOS @naomiosaka @KingJames @mavcarter Amazing the lack of research. Lots of money but that brand won't fly in Africa let it stay in America and Japan: its offensive do you even have a clue what it means get rid of your ego and change the name.&quot;Don't have a Vagina&quot; that's what it means. God forgive your ignorance.11@FOS @naomiosaka @KingJames @mavcarter Amazing the lack of research. Lots of money but that brand won't fly in Africa let it stay in America and Japan: its offensive do you even have a clue what it means get rid of your ego and change the name.&quot;Don't have a Vagina&quot; that's what it means. God forgive your ignorance.Another tweet displayed concern for the brand image:Esmael Omar@EsmaelOmarN@naomiosaka If you keep the name '#hanakuma , the name will override the news and the stories you wish to share. The name of the brand is already news! I suggest a change and also, just being a bit respectful to global culture. It's not overthinking here, it's protecting a brand!!28@naomiosaka If you keep the name '#hanakuma , the name will override the news and the stories you wish to share. The name of the brand is already news! I suggest a change and also, just being a bit respectful to global culture. It's not overthinking here, it's protecting a brand!!Another user stated that Osaka should have researched extensively before choosing a name for her venture:Kevin Fighter@fighter_kevNaomi Osaka should forget swahili speaking audience now that she named her media &quot;Hana Kuma&quot;She should have researched extensively131Naomi Osaka should forget swahili speaking audience now that she named her media &quot;Hana Kuma&quot;She should have researched extensivelySwahili is a sub-Saharan language that over 200 million speakers speak. UNESCO has declared July 7 as the World Day for the Swahili language.Though Osaka has not made a public statement regarding the controversy, she shared a cryptic post on Twitter on Wednesday night saying: “Prayers for all my overthinkers. We are going through it.”NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ@naomiosakaprayers for all my overthinkers. We be going through it 467196981prayers for all my overthinkers. We be going through it 😔Naomi Osaka's company isn't the first to make such a blunderNaomi Osaka's venture is not the first to make such a lost-in-translation error.The Coors Brewing Company put out the slogan &quot;Turn it loose,” which in Spanish means, “Suffer from diarrhea.” When Coca-Cola entered China, the company's name was rendered as Ke-kou-ke-la, which locally meant “Bite the wax tadpole.”In Taiwan, Pepsi's slogan “Come alive with the Pepsi Generation” came out as “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead.”More about Naomi Osaka's new venture Hana KumaOsaka expressed her intentions for Hana Kuma to flourish as a leading Hollywood media firm that creates TV episodes, documentaries, and branded content in an interview with The Times. SpringHill, a marketing business that James co-founded, and this company were created together. According to Osaka, the business would prioritise diverse storytelling. She said, in an interview with The Times:“What excites me is being able to inspire people and tell new stories, particularly ones that I would have wanted to see when I was a kid,” she stated. “I always wanted to kind of see someone like me.”The tennis professional earned a stunning $57 million previous year, making her the highest-paid female sportsperson in the world. The shrewd player signed lucrative relationships with companies like Nike and Louis Vuitton, which account for a large portion of Osaka's revenue. The former World No. 1 confirmed this week that an Achilles issue will prevent her from competing in the 2018 Wimbledon competition.

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