AkitaIPA:[aꜜki̥ta]; lit."Autumn field City" is the capital city of Akita Prefecture, Japan, and has been designated a core city since 1 April 1997. As of 1 August 2023, the city has an estimated population of 300,502 persons in 136,628 households and a population density of 332 persons per km². The total area of the city is 906.07 square kilometres (349.84 sq mi).
Takuya Kawamura is a Japanese professional basketball guard currently signed to the Nishinomiya Storks. In 2005, he skipped college and started playing professional basketball, following Kazuo Nakamura's advice. In 2009, he decided to leave the Japan Basketball League and try to earn a contract in the NBA. In the 2009 NBA Summer League, the Phoenix Suns added Kawamura to their roster. He has been dubbed "Offence Machine" and very talkative as he had a radio show on Tochigi's Radio Berry FM.
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. The team was formed as an expansion team of the bj league in 2010 and found success for the first time in 2013–14, finishing their fourth season as league runners-up. 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.
Makoto Hasegawa is a Japanese basketball coach and a former player. Hasegawa was the head coach of Akita Northern Happinets. He is the first Japanese player ever to play in the American Basketball Association. Because of his trademark bushy goatee, his nickname is "hige" in Akita. He played for Kosei Club and Akita Northern Bisons as an amateur in his home prefecture. Currently he serves as an unaffiliated director of the Akita Happinets and the Japan national 3x3 team coach.
Akita Prefectural Gymnasium is a stadium in Akita, Akita Prefecture, Japan.
Josep "Pep" Clarós Canals is a Spanish professional basketball coach with experience in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America.
Seiya Ando is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for Shimane Susanoo Magic of the B.League in Japan. He plays as Playmaker and is a native of Tokyo.
Kenichi Takahashi, nicknamed Shocho, is a former Japanese professional basketball player and served for Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League as the ambassador. Takahashi is currently the instructor for Toreiku Katagami. He was selected by the Sendai 89ers with the third overall pick in the 2006 bj League draft. He has played for the four Tohoku clubs of the bj league. In October 2015 he became a one-day honorary police chief at the Akita Higashi Police Station. Since then a police officer salute has become popular among Akita's boosters. Takahashi studies NBA to improve his game, and he is an Air Jordan collector. His retirement memorial game was held at Akita Prefectural Gymnasium on October 29, 2017.
Ryosuke Mizumachi is a former Japanese professional basketball player who played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan.
Ryosuke Shirahama is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Shimane Susanoo Magic of the B.League in Japan. His nickname is "Hama". On April 13, 2019, he scored 21 points in a win to the Levanga Hokkaido. He and Chanson V-Magic player, Satomi Ochiai have registered their marriage in June 2019. He has been appointed the new captain of the team in August 2019.
Tatsunori Fujie is a Japanese former professional basketball player who last played for the Iwate Big Bulls of the B.League in Japan. He was selected by the Toyama Grouses with the 4th overall pick in the 2012 bj League draft. On August 16, 2016, Fujie signed with the Akita Happinets.
Nices Arena (ナイスアリーナ) is a multi-use indoor arena in Yurihonjo, Akita. Groundbreaking and construction began on March 18, 2016, and opened in October 2018. The arena's parking lot can hold 1,000 cars. Yurihonjo city introduced the Daktronics high-definition LED centerhung display for the second time in the prefecture. "EXPERIENCE THE DAKTRONICS DIFFERENCE" was the very first message on this HD video set. There is no ribbon displays and "see through" shot clocks. It is named after the supermarket Nices based in Akita city. The store pays JPY3.1 million annually for the naming rights.
Akita Northern Gate Square (秋田ノーザンゲートスクエア) is an indoor basketball arena in Akita, Akita, Japan. Groundbreaking and construction began in 2018, and it was opened on December 17, 2019. It is located adjacent to the JR Akita Station, and the home practice arena of JR East Akita Peckers basketball. Featuring Akita cedar ceiling frameworks and glass walls, the three-storey building also houses the practice facility and team headquarters of the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League.
Cable Networks Akita, also known as CNA and in Japanese as Akita Cable Television (秋田ケーブルテレビ), is a cable provider in Japan with 46,418 connected households as of February 27, 2017. The company was established in June 1985 with investments from local companies; however, due to economic constraints, the company remained inactive before starting regular operations. In 1994, due to deregulation in the broadcast and communications sectors, companies like Nissho Iwai and Nippon Telecom injected capital in 1994 and under the leadership of both companies, its service started on December 1, 1997. They acquired the naming rights of the Akita Municipal Gymnasium, the home of Akita Northern Happinets, in 2015.
Sylvester Seay is an American former professional basketball player. He last played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the Japanese bj league. He played college basketball for Arizona State and Fresno State.
Ryuto Yasuoka is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan. He also plays for Japan men's national 3x3 team, and competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics. He is the first Olympian from Edogawa University.
Kotooka General Gymnasium is a gymnasium in Mitane, Akita, Japan. It opened in 2004. This building is fully air-conditioned, and hosted National Sports Festival of Japan men's basketball games in 2007.
Hiroomote is a neighbourhood located in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan. Annexed by the city in 1941, it borders the neighborhoods of Shimokitate on the east, Yanagida on the north, Tegata on the west and Sakura and Yokomori on the south that is bounded by Taihei River. Developed primarily in the post-World War II era, it is residential with commercial uses fronting prefectural roads #41, #28 and #62. The neighborhood is the location of the Akita University Hospital and Hiroomote Shopping Center.
The Prestige International Aranmare Akita are a women's basketball team based in Akita, Akita that will play in the Women's Japan Basketball League. Aranmare also has a volleyball team in Sakata, Shonai, and a handball team in Imizu, Toyama.
Yokote Gymnasium (横手体育館) is an indoor sporting arena located in Yokote, Akita, Japan. It hosts indoor sporting events such as basketball, volleyball and table tennis. It hosted National Sports Festival of Japan men's volleyball games in 2007. Japan women's national basketball team, Japan national 3x3 team, and Japan women's national 3x3 team practiced here.
