[Akita Prefecture] Basketball and soccer are hot in the beautiful country of Akita! [Introduction to professional sports in the six prefectures of Tohoku]

When you think of sports in Akita Prefecture, many people probably think of Noshiro Technical High School, which boasts 58 national championships in high school basketball.

Noshiro Technical High School changed its name due to integration in 2021, but basketball is still popular and popular in Akita Prefecture, and the Northern Happinets of the B1 league are doing well in the 2022-23 season.

Soccer is also popular in Akita Prefecture thanks to the success of the former TDK Soccer Club, and many players from the local Akita region currently belong to J2 team Blaublitz.

Akita Northern Happinets (Basketball: B League)

In addition to Noshiro Technical High School, Akita Prefecture is also home to strong basketball teams such as Isuzu Motors Corporation, and is known for its strong passion for basketball.

It was founded as the first professional sports team in the prefecture due to the basketball fever, and as of 2023, it will be in the B1 league in Tohoku along with the "Sendai 89ERS", and although it was demoted to B2 only once in 2018, it has always competed for the top in the B1 league. I'm joining.

What does Northern Happinets mean? What is the team color?

We chose the word ``northern'' in our name out of respect for the local rugby club team ``Akita Northern Bullets RFC.''

From the desire to be a presence where everyone involved in the team can share happiness, "Northern Happinets" was created by adding "Happinets".

The logo is designed with golden ears of rice from Akita, the rice-producing region, and a crown representing the pride of Akita's basketball world, which shines at the top.

The team colors are the following three colors:

• Happiness Pink: Expressing “happiness” and “fun” with exciting pink
• Inaho Gold: Since the opening of the B League and the ripening of rice ears are the same, it is used as a prayer for a good harvest.
• Northern black: expresses strength

The team mascot is a pink frog!

"Vicky", who is 182 cm tall and weighs 82 kg, has outstanding jumping ability, and her specialty is the "ceiling dunk shot."

The name comes from the Akita dialect for frogs, which is called "bikki." The uniform number 82 represents Happy (8) and Nettu (2), and together with the cheer dance team wearing the same pink costumes, they are calling for victory for the Northern Happinets.

Akita Northern Happinets’ journey so far

In 2007, the ``Akita Professional Basketball Team Establishment Study Committee'' was established with the aim of establishing a professional team in the basketball kingdom of Akita, but it failed once.

The following year, in 2008, the ``Akita Professional Basketball Team Creation Association'' was established and entered the then-BJ League.

• January 2009: Establishment of management organization “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 then.
• September 2016: Entered the newly established B League First Division (B1 East District)
• 2017: In the first season of the B1 League, we placed 16th, lost in the playoffs and were demoted to B2.
• 2018: With a record of 54 wins and 6 losses in B2, advanced to the playoffs and finished runner-up, promoted to B1 in one year.

After returning to the B1 East region, they have maintained stable results by maintaining 5th to 7th place, and are aiming to advance to the playoffs in the 2022-23 season with a good result that puts them in 4th place as of April 17th.

What is the home arena of Akita Northern Happinets?

The home arena in Akita City is CAN Arena★Akita (Akita City Gymnasium), which has a distinctive silver dome-shaped roof and which Akita Cable Television has the naming rights to.

However, as the stadium is 55 years old and has deteriorated, plans for a new arena have been proposed.

Planning a new arena in Akita city

In order to participate in the new B League that will start in 2026, a new arena with a capacity of 5,000 people will be needed by the fall of 2028, and construction of the Akita Prefectural Gymnasium, which has plans to rebuild, is being rushed.

The new arena concept is also introduced on the team's official website.

INFORMATION

• Team name: Akita Northern Happinets
• Office address: Akita Northern Gate Square 2F, 7-1-2-3 Nakadori, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 018-865-0521
• URL: Akita Northern Happinets official website

• Home stadium name: “CAN Arena★Akita (Akita City Gymnasium)”
• Address: 6-12-20 Yatsuhashihonmachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 018-866-2600
• URL: Akita City official website

GOOGLE MAP

Blaublitz Akita (Soccer: Meiji Yasuda Life J League)

The TDK Soccer Club, which has won 11 championships in the Tohoku Amateur Soccer League based in Nikaho City, became a club team in 2010, and ``Blaublitz Akita'' was born.

They have achieved good results every year in J2, and as of April 16, 2023, they are in 4th place and are in a position to compete in the playoffs and aim for promotion to J1.

What does Blaublitz mean? What is the team color?

"Blaublitz" means "blue lightning" in German, and the team color is blue.

The emblem incorporates ``Namahage'' and ``Lightning'' into the design of the TDK Soccer Club, and the mascot character ``Blaugon'' is an image of a dragon, symbolizing ``divinity,'' ``miracle,'' and ``power.''

Blaublitz Akita’s journey so far

Continuing the tradition of the prestigious TDK Soccer Club, they won their first J3 championship, but the stadium failed to meet J2 standards and they gave up, but with their second victory they were promoted to J2.

• 2013: Becomes a J League associate club
• 2014: Decided to join newly created J3
• 2017: Won their first J3 title, but gave up on promotion because they could not find a stadium that met J2 standards.
• 2019: Obtained J2 license due to home stadium renovation
• 2020: Second victory in J3 and promotion to J2 decided

What is Blaublitz Akita's hometown?

Akita City, Yurihonjo City, Nikaho City, Oga City, Katakami City and their surrounding areas, and their home stadium is Soyous Stadium (Akita City Yatsuhashi Sports Park Track and Field Stadium) in Akita City.

The Soyous Stadium was renovated to meet J2 standards with a capacity of over 18,000 people after the team missed out on promotion to J2.

INFORMATION

• Team name: Blaublitz Akita
• Office address: Tokan Building 1F, 3-1-7 Sanno, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 018-874-9777
• URL: Blaublitz Akita official website

• Home stadium name: Soyous Stadium (Akita City Yatsuhashi Sports Park Athletics Stadium)
• Location: 1-10 Yatsuhashi Sports Park, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 018-823-1472
• URL: Akita City official website

GOOGLE MAP

summary

In Akita Prefecture, the passion for basketball is increasing, with the creation of the Akita Steelers, a professional team that plays the 3x3 (three-by-three) game, which attracted attention as a new sport at the Tokyo Olympics.

In addition, ``Akita Rising Wars'' has been established as a professional e-sports team that competes in computer games, which have recently become a hot topic.