APRIL 2, 2018. Miya Osamu in a black T-shirt, standing under a banner that reads “ONIGIRI MIYA: THREE YEARS! Thank you for your support!”. He leans casually against his open door, arms crossed, cap perched at an angle. His gaze is fixed somewhere beyond the camera. There’s the tiniest hint of a curve on the corner of his mouth. Photo by: Suna Rintarou.
The rumours are true: Miya Atsumu is a consummate professional. He speaks about volleyball with genuine passion, and once he gets going about his latest game, or what he’s working on right now, the conversation flows non-stop. But when we ask him what he’s most looking forward to about returning to Japan, he sits up straight and says without hesitation, that onigiri my brother owes me for losing our last bet. What bet was that, we ask? He grins and says: well, that’s personal, but let’s just say Osamu’s really dumb about some things that are really obvious to anyone who’s known him since high school—
In any case, he plans to challenge his brother to make him an onigiri that’s off menu and exclusive, using some kind of ingredient from London. He asks if we have suggestions. We offer a Greggs sausage roll. At this point, teammate Suna Rintarou happens to pass by, and Miya Atsumu raises his voice. What do you think, Suna? Suna Rintarou, without missing a beat, replies: there’s no way Osamu will fail.
(Spike! Magazine UK, December 2019)
AUGUST 15, 2021. Suna Rintarou in Team Japan red, exiting a stadium in Tokyo with his sports bag slung round his shoulders. In one hand, he holds a bottle of Pocari Sweat. The back of his other hand is resting against his face, wiping the sweat off. He’s looking away like he hasn’t seen the camera. From this angle, this distance, the summer sun throws his features into sharp relief. Photo by: Miya Osamu.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG ASPIRING SPORTSMEN?
SUNA: This is a difficult question. I think most people would say something like, keep working hard. Or, believe in yourself and your dream. But for me, what I really want to say is, it’s really important to surround yourself with people who believe in you too. Sometimes, you’ll feel like you just don’t have the energy to go on. But if there’s someone who trusts in you, you’ll figure out a way.
(Olympics Special: Get to Know Team Japan, Sporting Life Monthly, Japan, June 2021)
NOVEMBER 10, 2012. Inarizaki High School Cultural Festival. Miya Osamu, wearing an apron, squeezing chocolate sauce from a bottle onto a plate of waffles. There is a smudge of batter on his cheek. Next to him, Suna Rintarou leans over with a finger outstretched, about to swipe it off. They’re looking at each other, mid-laugh. Photo by: Miya Atsumu.
“Oh, is the camera rolling already? Okay, um, irrashaimase. My name is Miya Osamu, the owner of Onigiri Miya. Today on Memories from my Hometown, I’m going to introduce you to places that are special to me here in Amagasaki! And the first place is where I went to school: Inarizaki High School. Some of you might know that Inarizaki is a volleyball powerhouse. We won the Spring High in my third year, when my brother was captain. But I had many other good memories here, aside from volleyball… one of my first and happiest cooking experiences was during the cultural festival when my class ran a waffle stall. You could even say that if that hadn’t happened, I might not be where I am today…”
Miya Osamu pauses under a sakura tree. He rests one hand against the trunk, then looks up, past the pink canopy overhead, towards a classroom on the second floor. A smile spreads across his face. The camera lingers on it, framing the moment in warm spring light.
(Memories from my Hometown: Hyogo Prefecture, Fuji TV, April 2024)
for san // sunaosa // three photographs & three media clippings
The rumours are true: Miya Atsumu is a consummate professional. He speaks about volleyball with genuine passion, and once he gets going about his latest game, or what he’s working on right now, the conversation flows non-stop. But when we ask him what he’s most looking forward to about returning to Japan, he sits up straight and says without hesitation, that onigiri my brother owes me for losing our last bet. What bet was that, we ask? He grins and says: well, that’s personal, but let’s just say Osamu’s really dumb about some things that are really obvious to anyone who’s known him since high school—
In any case, he plans to challenge his brother to make him an onigiri that’s off menu and exclusive, using some kind of ingredient from London. He asks if we have suggestions. We offer a Greggs sausage roll. At this point, teammate Suna Rintarou happens to pass by, and Miya Atsumu raises his voice. What do you think, Suna? Suna Rintarou, without missing a beat, replies: there’s no way Osamu will fail.
(Spike! Magazine UK, December 2019)
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG ASPIRING SPORTSMEN?
SUNA: This is a difficult question. I think most people would say something like, keep working hard. Or, believe in yourself and your dream. But for me, what I really want to say is, it’s really important to surround yourself with people who believe in you too. Sometimes, you’ll feel like you just don’t have the energy to go on. But if there’s someone who trusts in you, you’ll figure out a way.
(Olympics Special: Get to Know Team Japan, Sporting Life Monthly, Japan, June 2021)
“Oh, is the camera rolling already? Okay, um, irrashaimase. My name is Miya Osamu, the owner of Onigiri Miya. Today on Memories from my Hometown, I’m going to introduce you to places that are special to me here in Amagasaki! And the first place is where I went to school: Inarizaki High School. Some of you might know that Inarizaki is a volleyball powerhouse. We won the Spring High in my third year, when my brother was captain. But I had many other good memories here, aside from volleyball… one of my first and happiest cooking experiences was during the cultural festival when my class ran a waffle stall. You could even say that if that hadn’t happened, I might not be where I am today…”
Miya Osamu pauses under a sakura tree. He rests one hand against the trunk, then looks up, past the pink canopy overhead, towards a classroom on the second floor. A smile spreads across his face. The camera lingers on it, framing the moment in warm spring light.
(Memories from my Hometown: Hyogo Prefecture, Fuji TV, April 2024)