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[Fukushima Prefecture] Fukushima's professional sports teams are striving to reach the top! [Introduction to professional sports in the six Tohoku prefectures]
[Fukushima Prefecture] Fukushima's professional sports teams are striving to reach the top! [Introduction to professional sports in the six Tohoku prefectures]
Fukushima Prefecture has two soccer teams that are members of the J.League and one basketball team, as well as a team that is a member of an independent baseball league that brings together players with the aim of playing in NPB (professional baseball)
In particular, Fukushima Prefecture, home to the soccer mecca "J Village," is the only prefecture in Tohoku with two J.League teams. Currently, they are in J2 and J3, but expectations are high for the "Fukushima Derby."
Fukushima United FC (Football: Meiji Yasuda Life J.League)
Fukushima United FC official Facebook page
The team began as the Fukushima Dream Group in 2002 with the aim of "creating a J.League team in Fukushima." Having overcome difficulties such as a series of player departures following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the team has steadily improved its position in the J3 League and is aiming to be promoted to J2
The "1977" depicted on the emblem is the year that FC Pelada Fukushima, one of the team's parent organizations, was founded, and this year was designated as the team's start
What are Fukushima United FC's club colors?
Fukushima United FC official Facebook page
UNITED means "unity" in English, and represents the unity of players, staff, and supporters, as well as the unity of Fukushima Prefecture, which is divided into three regions
Fukushima United FC official Facebook page
The emblem, painted in the three United colors of red, black, and yellow, features a phoenix wearing a crown and holding a soccer ball, representing strength and eternal activity
Fukushima United FC official Facebook page
The team mascots are the young lord of the Fukushima domain, Fukushima Hinosuke, who has been reborn as a phoenix, his younger brother servant Kohaku, and his vassal Akabee, who are passionately cheering on the prosperity of Fukushima Prefecture and the team
Fukushima United FC official Facebook page
Fukushima United FC's progress so far
Fukushima United FC official Facebook page
Fukushima Yume Shudan, which started in the Fukushima Prefecture Amateur Soccer League in 2005, took over the management rights of FC Pelada Fukushima in 2006 and joined the Tohoku Amateur League
2008: Fukushima Sports Management is established and Fukushima United FC is born
2013: Formed a business partnership with Shonan Bellmare and entered the JFL
November 2013: Approval for membership in the J.League and decision to enter the J3 League
2022: Obtain J2 club license
Where is Fukushima United FC's hometown?
Fukushima United FC official Facebook page
The team's home stadium is the Toho Minna no Stadium in Fukushima Azuma General Athletic Park at the foot of Mount Azuma, and its home town is the entire prefecture of Fukushima, centering on Fukushima City, Aizuwakamatsu City, Date City, Kunimi Town, Kori Town, and Kawamata Town
A small soccer club in Iwaki City in the Hamadori region became a club team when a Tokyo company expanded into Iwaki City, and eventually grew to become a member of the J.League
The team's hometown is an area that became difficult to return home to due to the nuclear accident caused by the tsunami following the Great East Japan Earthquake, and they are expected to play an active role as a symbol of recovery
What are Iwaki FC's team colors?
From Iwaki FC official Facebook page
The colors are the same "red/blue" as the Iwaki City symbol mark, with "KING red" representing the red used in the traditional clothing of Hawaiian kings and "Minato blue" representing the blue of the seas around Iwaki's ports, such as Onahama Port
From Iwaki FC official Facebook page
The shape of the emblem is based on the silhouette of Iwaki city, and the mascots, "Harmer and Dory," are based on the Futabasaurus dinosaur, whose fossils Suzuki discovered in Iwaki city
From Iwaki FC official Facebook page
As of April 24th, the team is ranked 19th out of 22 teams in the 2023 J2 season, but there are hopes that they will move up in the rankings in the future
Iwaki FC's progress so far
From Iwaki FC official Facebook page
Iwaki FC won its first JFL championship and was promoted to J3, a first for Japan
In their first year in the J3 league after moving from the JFL, they won their first championship and were promoted to the J2 league, becoming the second club to achieve this feat in the J.League
June 2012: Founded in Iwaki City
December 2015: Established Iwaki Sports Club Co., Ltd
November 2021: The team won the JFL, which it had been participating in since 2020, and was promoted to J3
November 2022: The team won its first championship in its first year in J3, securing promotion to J2
Where is Iwaki FC's hometown?
From Iwaki FC official Facebook page
The hometowns are Iwaki City as well as the towns and villages of Hirono, Naraha, Tomioka, Kawauchi, Okuma, Futaba, Katsurao, and Namie in the Hamadori area
The team's home stadium is Iwaki Green Field in 21st Century Forest Park in Iwaki City, and before obtaining its J2 license, it was the stadium of J Village, a soccer mecca in Hirono Town
INFORMATION
Team name: Iwaki FC
Office address: 1-1 Kamanomae, Tokiwakami Yunagase-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture
From the Fukushima Firebonds official Facebook page
The club was founded by the FSG College League, a group of vocational schools in Koriyama City, and has been a member of the bj League and B2 League East Division since 2013, achieving consistent results every year and currently in fourth place in the 2022-23 season
What does Firebonds mean? What are the team colors?
From the Fukushima Firebonds official Facebook page
The nickname comes from the English word "Bonds," which means "bonds" and refers to a burning fighting spirit
The team color, fuchsia purple, represents the purple of Fukushima Prefecture's happiness (flowers, etc.), and is a symbol of hope for the happiness of Fukushima
And the team logo is a flaming purple basketball
The Fukushima Firebonds' journey so far
From the Fukushima Firebonds official Facebook page
Since joining the B League, the team has remained in B2 and has been selected to advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive year in the 2022-23 season
May 2013: Joined the bj League
2016: Belongs to the B2 East Division with the launch of the B League
2022: Advance to the B2 playoffs, but lose to the Sendai 89ERS in the quarterfinals
Where is the Fukushima Firebonds' home arena?
From the Fukushima Firebonds official Facebook page
The team's home arena is the Houraya Koriyama General Gymnasium, located near Kaiseiyama Park in Koriyama City, and home games are also held at the Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena in Fukushima City
INFORMATION
Team name: Fukushima Firebonds
Office address: Ishii Building 1F, 1-2 Domaecho, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture
Fukushima Red Hopes (Baseball: Baseball Challenge League)
From Fukushima Red Hopes official Facebook page
The team's color is red, its home stadium is York Kaiseiyama Stadium (Koriyama General Sports Park Kaiseiyama Baseball Stadium) in Koriyama City, and Akinori Iwamura, formerly of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, is the team's executive and manager
The only BC League team in Tohoku
The team is the only BC League team in Tohoku, having joined the independent league called the Route Inn BC League, which developed from the Hokuriku Baseball League, in 2014
INFORMATION
Team name: Fukushima Red Hopes
Office address: 3-22 Yayamada, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture
Soccer fans in Fukushima Prefecture can't wait for the two J.League teams to compete in the Fukushima Derby in the J1 league in the near future
The efforts of various professional sports teams, including soccer, basketball, and baseball, will surely bring joy and hope to Fukushima, which is still only halfway through recovery due to issues such as the nuclear power plant
I'm a former Edokko man who loves Morioka and the six Tohoku prefectures, and I also love history, food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. I'll be introducing you to the interesting, delicious, and great things about Tohoku!
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