Signed photo for 850 yuan? Suguru Osako: 'That wasn't signed by me' ·…

Suguru Osako yesterday issued a formal statement on social media, responding to the recent malicious resale of a signed photo at a high price (¥850). He said he learned of the situation from a Chinese friend and stressed that the signature on the photo is not his and that he has never signed in that way.

In response to the unauthorized use and resale, he stated he will take the necessary measures and announced that going forward he will refuse any autograph requests for which the requester's identity or the intended use cannot be verified, in order to prevent fans from being deceived and to stop further misuse of his image.

Signature Forgery

Suguru Osako responds

Suguru Osako, who often uses social media to share his views, posted again yesterday and stressed that he learned from a Chinese friend thatmalicious parties had stolen and were selling his signature.

In the Chinese and Japanese versions of his post, he made it clear that he has no memory of ever providing a signature in that form, nor of having left such a signature in similar situations.

©Suguru Osako's personal social media

Regarding reports on social media that someone had forged a relative's identity and inflated prices to produce fake autographs, he wrote in the statement, “We will take firm action against malicious reselling, unauthorized use, or misuse of my signature.”

He further added that, to prevent similar incidents from happening again, he will refuse any future autograph requests for which the requester's identity or the intended use of the signature cannot be confirmed.

©Social media

This decision is not meant to distance him from fans, but to protect supporters from being exploited by illegal activity.

He pointed out that a signature should be a genuine exchange between athlete and fans, but when it is forged, resold, or used for profit it has strayed from its original meaning.

Therefore he must adopt stricter management to ensure autographs' value is not abused and to avoid fans being duped by illicit products.

Where is the privacy boundary?

Training — Dangerous close-up filming

Besides the signed-photo incident, Suguru Osako today also issued additional comments about a training video circulating on social media.

The video shows him during a running session, filmed up close by a user riding a motorcycle. Because the filming distance was so close, some viewers misinterpreted his demeanor as cold or impatient toward the filmer, which sparked discussion.

©Suguru Osako's personal social media

The footage shows Osako being forced to stop mid-run, using his phone's translation app to communicate with the filmer and clearly asking them not to follow him on the motorcycle because he was training.

In his clarification he thanked everyone for their support but emphasized that training requires focus, and he hopes the public understands athletes' state and needs during training.

Close-range filming from vehicles not only risks safety but also disrupts training rhythm. His response in the video was not one of coldness, but an explanation based on training conditions and safety factors.

Overall, Osako's clarification about the training clip focuses on reminding people to keep a safe distance and avoid affecting the training process, rather than responding to his personal attitude.

Social interaction

Speaking up for himself

From past incidents, when misunderstandings, misuse or controversies occur, Osako usually chooses to explain publicly on social platforms as soon as possible. These events repeatedly remind the public that athletes need reasonable space and respect in training and daily life.

When it comes to situations involving close-range filming by fans, riding closely beside an athlete, or forceful approaches, the problems become more specific.

Close-range filming during training not only affects safety but also destroys training rhythm. For athletes doing high-speed runs, tempo sessions, or long-distance training, any sudden close interference can create risk and is easily misinterpreted.

Therefore, from the public's perspective, we should call for rational support. It's fine to follow and film, but keep your distance, respect the training environment, do not overstep, and do not cause disturbance in the name of “support.” Expressing concern reasonably both protects athletes' training conditions and preserves a healthy public discussion.

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Text / Editor: Jim

Image source: Paoye Dabaozha

Visuals: Max