Nao Murakami Named GM – Kyoto Hannaries | Official Announcement

Thank you very much for your continued support for Kyoto Hannary’s.

At Kyoto Hannary’s, it has been decided that Kota Matsushima, Representative Director and General Manager (hereinafter referred to as GM), will retire as GM, and that Assistant GM Nao Murakami will take over as GM.

[Change of position]
・Kota Matsushima Representative Director, President and GM → Representative Director and President
・Nao Murakami GM Assistant and Promotion Officer → GM

Sunao Murakami

■Date of birth: December 4, 1986
■Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture
■Alma mater: Rakunan High School-Doshisha University
■Career:
2009-17 Kyoto Hannary’s
2017-19 Seahorse Mikawa
2019-20 Kyoto Hannarys
2021-23 Kyoto Hannaries Club Ambassador
2024-Present Doshisha University Athletic Association Basketball Club Head Coach
2025- Kyoto Hannary’s GM Assistant and Promotion Officer

Comment from Nao Murakami GM

My name is Nao Murakami and I have been appointed as the general manager of Kyoto Hannary’s.

Although I will be taking up the position in the middle of the season, I will of course continue to focus on winning, but I also want to build a club that is rooted in the city of Kyoto and that everyone who always supports us can be proud of.
To that end, we will continue to communicate with each other, create an environment where our players and staff can demonstrate their full potential, and do our best to build a team that will be competitive over the long term.
The team is currently in a very difficult situation, but I truly believe that with the help of the Hannary’s Boosters, we can reach even higher places.

We will take on the challenge with determination and responsibility to help Kyoto Hannary’s make further progress.

“Together, we will climb.”

While sharing everything, including victories, frustrations, and challenges,
We want to build a strong team, a team that we can be proud of.
Together from here.
Let’s climb together.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

Comment from Kota Matsushima, Representative Director and President

Thank you very much for your continued support and support for Kyoto Hannary’s.

As I mentioned in my greetings at the time of my appointment as GM (Comments from Kota Matsushima, Representative Director, President, and GM), I have been searching for a suitable person to serve as GM of Kyoto Hannary’s since March of last year, while concurrently holding the positions of president and GM.

At that time, considering only the short term, there was an option to have a new GM take over as soon as possible.
However, when I thought about the long-term future of the club, I decided that as a manager myself, experiencing the role of GM would have a positive impact on the future management of the club, so I set aside time to focus on the selection process.
Also, it is true that I thought that by gaining experience as a GM myself, I could be of great help to the newly appointed GM.
Under these circumstances, as I continued to talk with Mr. Murakami, an alumnus of the Kyoto Hannary’s, I felt a strong sense of his passion for the Kyoto Hannary’s, the city of Kyoto, and the people who have supported the club over the years, and I became convinced that, “With this person, we can support each other over the long term and move toward a bright future for the club.”
From now on, I will be responsible for supporting negotiations with players and staff, budget management for salary cap measures, etc., and GM Murakami will be primarily responsible for decision-making regarding team composition and team direction.

My ability as a GM was lacking, and I was unable to meet everyone’s expectations in the first half. We take this responsibility seriously.
However, the season is not over. The team is working hard to turn this situation around. From now on, the club will continue to fight as one to repay the feelings of everyone who continues to believe in and support us even during difficult times.
Thank you for your continued support.