The Akita Northern Happinets are a Japanese professional basketball team based in Akita that competes in the Eastern Conference of the First Division of the B.League.[4] The team was formed as an expansion team of the bj league in 2010[5] and found success for the first time in 2013–14, finishing their fourth season as league runners-up.[6] They went on to finish as runners-up for the second year in a row in 2014–15 and in third place in 2015–16, the final season of the bj league.[7]
History
Akita Prefecture's connection with basketball has historically lay with Noshiro Technical High School, which has won a total of 58 national-level championships,[8] and the Isuzu Motors corporate team (Akita Isuzu Motors, currently the Yokohama Giga Spirits), which was based in Akita from 1955 until 1987.[9] Following the formation of the independent bj league in 2006, a committee was formed to investigate the formation of a professional club within the prefecture in 2007 but was unsuccessful. In June 2008 another association was formed to pursue a bj league franchise licence and a pre-season match between the Sendai 89ers and Niigata Albirex BB was held a few months later.[10] In January 2009 Akita Pro Basketball Club Co., Ltd. was established and in the following May was granted a licence to enter the 2010-11 bj league season. The team's name was announced at a pre-season match hosted in Akita between the 89ers and Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in September 2009.[11]
2010-11 season
The Happinets entered the Eastern Conference of the bj league in October 2010 as one of three expansion teams. The Shimane Susanoo Magic and Miyazaki Shining Suns joined the Western Conference, taking the league to a total of 16 teams.[12] For their first season the Happinets signed Seiichi Oba as general manager[13] and former Shiga Lakestars coach Robert Pierce as head coach.[14] 39-year-old Akita native and Noshiro Tech alumnus Makoto Hasegawa was acquired from Niigata in exchange for a first-round draft pick and took on a player-manager role.[15] The team drafted Jun Nakanishi [ja] and Ryosuke Mizumachi in the expansion draft, Yuki Nobuhira [fr] in the second round of the rookie draft and Makoto Sawaguchi in the development draft.[16] The team was unable to reach a deal with Nakanishi, who instead signed with Rizing Fukuoka before the start of the season.[17] Happinets' inaugural home game was held at the Akita Prefectural Gymnasium in October.[18]
2011-12 season
In November 2011 the team signed Curtis Terry, brother of NBA player Jason Terry, to replace the injured Brandon Wallace. After 14 games Terry was released from the club in January due to his arrest for theft from a convenience store.[19]
2013-15 seasons
Has emerged as a strong league power, and won a conference title two years in a row.
2016-17 season
ANH struggled throughout the season and were relegated to second division.[20]
2017-18 season
Akita finished the regular season with a 54–6 record, defeated Kumamoto Volters in the B2 playoffs and were promoted to B1.[21]
2018-19 season
The team suffered its 11th consecutive defeat,[22] However, Akita was not relegated and remained in the B1 league.
Assistant coach Makoto Tanaka was arrested for drink-driving on July 17, 2021.[27] The team clinched their first B. League playoff berth on May 8, 2022.
2022-23 season
Amida Brimah was released by Happinets on August 29, 2022. He originally signed for this season on July 13.
The Akita Northern Happinets Cheer Dance Team are the official B.League Cheerleading squad representing Happinets. The group performs at CNA Arena Akita, the home court of the Happinets. The squad also has a "Junior Cheer School Programme", for young women aged 5–12.[28]
Bicky is the official mascot of the Akita Northern Happinets. The Frog wears #82 and is able to slam-dunk. He is 182 cm tall and weighs 82 kg.[31] Happinets introduced a new mascot Rana, Bicky's girl friend, on June 26, 2020.[32] University HOSP man is the unofficial mascot.
Arenas & Facilities
Akita International University Suda Hall
The Happinets play their home games at CNA Arena Akita, their home since 2016. During their time in the bj league, the Happinets played their home games at the Akita Prefectural Gymnasium. Another home, Nices Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Yurihonjo. A new prefectural gymnasium will be built in 2026.[33] The team has practice facilities at the Akita Northern Gate Square, Akita Bank Gymnasium, Akita Xerox Sports Square and Akita International University Suda Hall.[34] They also build muscle at Varsity Weight Room in Yabase, Akita.[35] Happinets players love to take spa at Youland Hotel Yabase in Akita.[36] (Tattooed players have special privileges to take a bath.)
The Happinets fans are widely known as "Crazy Pink" and sometimes have overwhelming numbers at the visitors games.[37][38][39] The hoop-crazed fans light up arena with "Bigabiga", pink glow sticks and sing the prefectural anthem before the game.[40] The Happinets home court rocks with another stadium anthem "Fly Again" by Man with a Mission, and CNA Arena Akita is one of the hottest and loudest basketball venues in Asia.[41][42][43] The Akita Airport limousine buses have the painted images of the Happinets and Blaublitz Akita.[44]
^"bjリーグドラフト会議 2010 指名選手のお知らせ" [Announcement of players drafted at the 2010 bj league draft] (in Japanese). 8 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2016-09-27. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
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