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[Akita Prefecture] Basketball and soccer are hot in the beautiful country of Akita! [Introduction to professional sports in the six prefectures of Tohoku]
[Akita Prefecture] Basketball and soccer are hot in the beautiful country of Akita! [Introduction to professional sports in the six prefectures of Tohoku]
When it comes to sports in Akita Prefecture, many people will think of Noshiro Technical High School, which has won the national high school basketball championship a total of 58 times
Noshiro Technical High School changed its name in 2021 due to a merger, but basketball remains popular in Akita Prefecture, and the B1 League's Northern Happinets are doing well in the 2022-23 season
Soccer is also popular in Akita Prefecture due to the success of the former TDK soccer club, and many players from the local Akita prefecture are currently on the J2 team Blaublitz
Akita Northern Happinets (Basketball: B League)
From the Akita Northern Happinets official Facebook page
In addition to Noshiro Technical High School, Akita Prefecture has also had strong basketball teams in the past, such as the Isuzu Motors basketball team, and is known for its high level of basketball enthusiasm
Due to this basketball passion, the team was founded as the prefecture's first professional sports team, and as of 2023, it is a member of the B1 League along with the Sendai 89ERS in Tohoku.Although it was relegated to B2 only once in 2018, it has always been a top contender in the B1 League
What does Northern Happinets mean? What are the team colors?
From the Akita Northern Happinets official Facebook page
The "Northern" part of the name comes from respect for the Akita Northern Bullets RFC, a local rugby club
And with the desire to be a team that everyone involved can share happiness with, the word "Happinets" was added to the name to create the Northern Happinets
The logo features golden ears of rice from Akita, a rice-producing region, and a crown representing the pride of Akita's shining basketball world
The team colors are as follows:
Happinets Pink: An exciting pink that expresses happiness and joy
Inaho Gold: As the B League season begins and rice ripens at the same time, it is a prayer for a good harvest
Northern Black: Expressing strength
From the Akita Northern Happinets official Facebook page
The team mascot is a pink frog!
Vicky is 182cm tall and weighs 82kg, has outstanding jumping ability, and his specialty is the "ceiling dunk shot."
The team was named after the Akita dialect word for frog, "Bikki." Their uniform number 82 represents "hapi" (8) and "nettsu" (2), and together with the cheerleading team in the same pink costumes, they bring victory to the Northern Happinets
From the Akita Northern Happinets official Facebook page
The Akita Northern Happinets' journey so far
From the Akita Northern Happinets official Facebook page
In 2007, the "Akita Professional Basketball Team Establishment Study Committee" was established with the aim of establishing a professional team in Akita, the basketball kingdom, but the plan was stalled
The following year, in 2008, the "Akita Professional Basketball Team Creation Association" was established and the team joined the then bj league
January 2009: Establishment of the operating body "Akita Professional Basketball Club Co., Ltd."
May 2009: Decided to join the bj League, and has participated in the playoffs and finals every year since
September 2016: Joined the newly established B.League's first division (B1 East Division)
2017: In their first season in the B1 League, they finished 16th and lost in the relegation playoffs, resulting in relegation to B2
2018: With a record of 54 wins and 6 losses in B2, the team advanced to the playoffs and finished as runner-up, and was promoted to B1 in one year
Since returning to the B1 East Division, the team has maintained a stable ranking of 5th to 7th place, and for the 2022-23 season, they are currently in 4th place as of April 17th, and are aiming to advance to the playoffs
What is the home arena for the Akita Northern Happinets?
From the Akita Northern Happinets official Facebook page
The team's home arena is CAN Arena★Akita (Akita City Gymnasium), which is located in Akita City and features a silver dome-shaped roof. Akita Cable Television holds the naming rights to the arena
However, as the stadium is now 55 years old and showing signs of aging, plans for a new arena have been raised
A new arena is being planned for Akita City
From the Akita Northern Happinets official website
In order to join the new B League, which will start in 2026, a new arena with a capacity of 5,000 people is needed by autumn 2028, and construction of the Akita Prefectural Gymnasium, which is scheduled to be rebuilt, is being rushed
The new arena concept is also introduced on the team's official website
Blaublitz Akita (Football: Meiji Yasuda Life J League)
Blaublitz Akita official Facebook page
The TDK Soccer Club, based in Nikaho City and having won the Tohoku Amateur Soccer League 11 times, became a club team in 2010 and formed Blaublitz Akita
The team has been performing well every year in J2, and as of April 16, 2023, they are in 4th place, putting them in a position to qualify for the playoffs and aim for promotion to J1
What does Blaublitz mean? What are the team colors?
Blaublitz Akita official Facebook page
"Blaublitz" means "blue lightning" in German, and the team color is blue
The emblem incorporates the design of the TDK soccer club, including "Namahage" and "lightning," and the mascot character, "Braugon," is a dragon, symbolizing "divinity," "miracle," and "strength."
Blaublitz Akita official Facebook page
Blaublitz Akita's progress so far
Blaublitz Akita official Facebook page
Continuing the tradition of the prestigious TDK soccer club, the team won its first J3 championship, but had to give up because the stadium did not meet J2 standards.However, they were promoted to J2 after winning their second championship
2013: Becomes a J.League associate club
2014: Decision made to join the newly established J3 League
2017: Despite winning their first J3 title, they were unable to find a stadium that met J2 standards and had to give up on promotion
2019: Obtained J2 license after renovating home stadium
2020: Won the J3 title for the second time and was promoted to J2
What is Blaublitz Akita's hometown?
From the Blaublitz Akita official website
The team plays in Akita City, Yurihonjo City, Nikaho City, Oga City, Katagami City and the surrounding areas, and their home stadium is Soyus Stadium (Akita City Yabase Sports Park Athletics Stadium) in Akita City
After the team missed out on promotion to J2 for the first time, the Soyus Stadium underwent renovations to accommodate over 18,000 people and meet J2 standards
Akita Prefecture is also seeing growing basketball enthusiasm, with the founding of the Akita Steelers, a professional basketball team for 3x3, a game that has been attracting attention as a new event at the Tokyo Olympics
Additionally, the Akita Rising Wars has been established as a professional team in e-sports, a form of computer game competition that has become a hot topic recently
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
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