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[Iwate Prefecture] Professional sports in Iwate, which gave birth to Yusei Kikuchi, Shohei Otani, and Aki Sasaki, will reach even greater heights! [Introduction to professional sports in the six prefectures of Tohoku]

The long winter in Iwate Prefecture has finally come to an end and the long-awaited spring has arrived. As life is finally returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, people can now cheer out loud at sports events as they did before

Iwate Prefecture does not have a professional baseball team, but it does have two professional sports teams: the Iwate Big Bulls basketball team and the Iwate Grulla Morioka soccer team (as of April 3, 2023)

Both teams are in great form in 2023, currently leading the B3 and J3 leagues respectively, and Big Bulls boosters and Grulla supporters are extremely excited!

Iwate Big Bulls (Basketball: B.LEAGUE)

From Iwate Big Bulls official Facebook page

Since joining the then "bj League" in the 2011-12 season, the team has been beloved as Iwate Prefecture's first professional sports team

Starting from the 2016-17 season, the team will join the new professional league, B.LEAGUE, and will restart as a professional team in the East Division of the second division (B2)

The team was relegated to the third division (B3) in the 2017-18 season, but this season (2022-23), they have maintained their good form from the start, fighting for the top spot and winning their first B3 championship on April 2nd

From here, we aim to win the playoffs and return to B2 next season

What does Big Bulls mean? What are the team colors?

From Iwate Big Bulls official Facebook page

The name was chosen through a public contest, combining "big" to represent Iwate Prefecture, the largest prefecture on Honshu, and "bull," which symbolizes Iwate's thriving dairy farming industry and its brand-name beef, such as Maezawa beef and shorthorn beef

The team colors are as follows:

  • Red (Bulls Red): Represents the passionate feelings of the people of Iwate Prefecture
  • Dark blue (Iron Marine Blue): Inspired by Nambu ironware and the Sanriku sea
  • Heritage Gold: Inspired by the World Heritage site of Hiraizumi, home to the Golden Hall of Chusonji Temple

The team logo depicts a brave and courageous bullfighter winning the championship, representing vitality, energy, tenacity and dedication, and is an image that inspires dreams and excitement in Iwate Prefecture, drawing in a sense of unity and vitality

Cheer dance team "Red Charm"

From Iwate Big Bulls official Facebook page

The team name contains the meaning of a "goddess" who is also a "talisman" that supports the Big Bulls and all the hard-working people of Iwate Prefecture

Together with the team character "BULLZO," this team is made up of goddesses of victory who will raise the spirits of the boosters and energize the team during the game and at halftime

From Iwate Big Bulls official Facebook page

Big Bulls' journey so far

From Iwate Big Bulls official Facebook page

Despite being at the mercy of the turmoil in the Japanese basketball world, the team is aiming to become the best in Japan

  • August 10, 2010: Iwate Professional Basketball Establishment Preparatory Committee established, submitting application to join the bj League
  • August 26, 2010: Decision made to join the bj League from the 2011-12 season
  • 2016: It has been decided that the newly launched "B.LEAGUE" will enter the second division (B2) East region from the 2016-17 season.
  • 2018: Finished last in the league and lost in the relegation match, resulting in relegation to B3
  • April 2023: The team competes for the top spot in the 2022-23 season and wins its first championship on April 2nd

What is the Big Bulls' home arena?

From Iwate Big Bulls official Facebook page

The main arena is Morioka Takaya Arena in Morioka city, but matches are also held at gymnasiums throughout the prefecture that serve as home arenas

Additionally, because the team had previously practiced in public gymnasiums, there were restrictions on practice due to facility constraints, and problems with transportation to the training grounds made it difficult to find a place to live, which resulted in top athletes sometimes refusing to transfer

However, in January 2021, a practice gymnasium called the Yahaba Town Iwate Big Bulls Arena opened in Yahaba Town, creating an environment where the team can practice at any time, which some say contributed to the team's victory this season

The facility also saw the formation of the Big Bulls U15 team and the opening of a basketball academy

INFORMATION

  • Team name: Iwate Big Bulls
  • Office address: 95-1 Hosoyachi, Mukai Nakano, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 019-681-6257
  • URL: Iwate Big Bulls official website

GOOGLE MAP

Iwate Grulla Morioka (Football: Meiji Yasuda Life J.League)

From Iwate Grulla Morioka official Facebook page

Grulla started the 2023 season in the J3 League, and as of April 2nd they are in first place with 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw!

Although they were promoted to J2 last year, they were unable to do so well and were sent back to J3 after just one season, but this season they have made a great start and are aiming to be promoted back to J2 next season

What does Grulla mean? What are the team colors?

From Iwate Grulla Morioka official Facebook page

The club name "Grulla" comes from the Spanish word "Grulla" (crane), and represents the Iwate spirit through the image of a crane spreading its wings after surviving the harsh winter of northern Iwate

From Iwate Grulla Morioka official Facebook page

The club's name comes from the family crest of the Nanbu clan, the feudal lords of the former Morioka domain, "Mukaitsuru," and "jajamen," a B-grade gourmet dish that is a specialty of Morioka. "Mukaitsuru" is used in the design of the club emblem, and the team color is white, which represents the color of a crane's feathers as a winning star

Incidentally, the team mascot, "Kizuru," is also based on the motif of an origami crane

From Iwate Grulla Morioka official Facebook page

Grulla's progress so far

From Iwate Grulla Morioka official Facebook page

The team was founded in 2000 and became a professional sports team in 2013 when it joined the J.League

  • 2000: Alumni of two Morioka high schools founded Villanova Morioka (Tohoku Amateur Soccer League Division 2)
  • December 2003: The "Association to Create a J.League Team in Morioka" is launched and the team is named "Grulla Morioka."
  • 2004: Promoted to the Tohoku Amateur Soccer League Division 1 and won its first championship the following year
  • August 2013: After the J.League Board of Directors approved the application for associate membership, the club decided to join J3

What is Grulla's hometown?

From Iwate Grulla Morioka official Facebook page

The team's home town is Morioka City, which covers all 14 cities, 15 towns, and 4 villages in Iwate Prefecture, and its home stadium is Iwagin Stadium (capacity 5,046), located in Morioka City Minami Park Baseball Ground, where a new baseball stadium was completed this year

INFORMATION

GOOGLE MAP

summary

A new baseball stadium, Iwagin Ballpark (Iwate Morioka Ballpark), opened in Iwate Prefecture on April 1, 2023

Amidst the excitement surrounding the scheduled professional baseball games to be held in May and June, the dynamic performances of two professional sports teams based in Iwate Prefecture are poised to further boost the professional sports scene in Iwate Prefecture

Let's cheer on the Big Bulls and Grulla and hope they reach even greater heights!

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