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.
Josep "Pep" Clarós Canals is a Spanish professional basketball coach with experience in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America.
Scott Morrison, nicknamed "Scomo", is a Canadian former professional basketball player who last played for Ryukyu Golden Kings of the B.League. Morrison played the center position.
Daichi Taniguchi is a Japanese professional basketball player for Shimane Susanoo Magic of the B.League in Japan. He stood six feet, three inches tall as a 12-year-old boy. In 2009 Taniguchi won the "Slam Dunk Scholarship" funded by Takehiko Inoue, and played for the American colleges. He rejected the offers from the Kansai-area clubs and signed with the Akita Happinets in 2015. Due to the B.League's foreign player regulations, he receives significantly more playing time in 2016-17. He has been named the new Akita captain after Toshino's departure in November 2018. He is a Starbucks mug cup collector and a tropical fish addict. Use of the moai emoji is usually meant to imply strength or determination, and it's also used frequently in Taniguchi's posts. He signed with Hiroshima Dragonflies on June 24, 2019.
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.
Nao Eguchi is a Japanese football player for Kamatamare Sanuki from 2023. He scored a goal from 60 metres for Akita on October 14, 2020.
Takuya Nakayama is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan. He wears #17 because his mother, Yuko was born on the 17th day of the month. On April 22, 2017, Nakayama made the longest shot of the B.League at first quarter buzzer beater. On December 30. 2017, he hit another longest shot of the league at the third quarter buzzer beater.
Rintaro Tokunaga is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for Saga Ballooners of the B.League in Japan. He torn his left knee ACL on April 15, 2018. His nickname is "Rinrin".
Yu Yoshimoto is a former Japanese professional basketball player who played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the bj league in Japan. He currently teaches amateurs at the Happinets organization. He also plays for the Mitane Taikyo Kotooka of Noshiro Yamamoto Basketball Association.
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.
Jordan DeMercy is an American professional basketball player who played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the Japanese bj league.
Tomofumi Fujiyama is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for J2 League club Blaublitz Akita.
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.
Yuto Otsuka is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the B.League in Japan.
Masahiro Narita is a Japanese former professional basketball player who last played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan. He played college basketball for Takushoku University.
Kengo Nomoto, nicknamed Nomoken, is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Gunma Crane Thunders of the B.League in Japan. The small forward also represented the Japan national basketball team in 2014 and 2016. He tested positive for the coronavirus on November 24, 2020.
Takahiro Shimoyama, nicknamed Hiro or Poyo, is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Iwate Big Bulls of the B.League in Japan. He played college basketball for the Kanto Gakuin University.
Justin Anthony Keenan is an American professional basketball player for Gunma Crane Thunders in Japan. He plays at the power forward and center positions.
