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.
Angus John Brandt is an Australian professional basketball player for the Veltex Shizuoka of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for Oregon State University before beginning his professional career with the Sydney Kings in 2014. After two seasons with the Kings, he joined the Perth Wildcats, where he won two NBL championships in three years. He has also had stints in Lithuania, New Zealand and Italy.
Josep "Pep" Clarós Canals is a Spanish professional basketball coach with experience in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America.
The Yokohama B-Corsairs are a Japanese professional basketball team that compete in the first division of the B.League. Following the team's establishment in 2010, they participated in the Eastern Conference of the bj league for five seasons and in 2013 became the first team based in the Kanto region of Japan to win the league's championship.
Gerald Leon Beverly is an American professional basketball player for Iwate Big Bulls of the Japanese B3 League. He played college basketball for the Daemen Wildcats.
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 moyai 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 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.
Evan Ravenel, nicknamed E, is an American professional basketball player for Niigata Albirex BB of the B3 League.
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.
Kadeem D'Arby Coleby, nicknamed KC, is a Bahamian professional basketball player who last played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan. He is one of the league-leading skilled shot blockers. He fractured both kneecaps during the game on February 10, 2021.
Christopher Anthony Cayole is an American former professional basketball player who last played for Santos de San Luis in Mexico. He has consistently been one of the most proficient 3 point marksmen in the NBL Canada and other leagues. Cayole's off court experience included serving as a Basketball Camp Counselor for eight years at the University of Vermont and his alma mater Saint Michael's College.
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.
Yuta Kobayashi is a Japanese former professional basketball player who played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the bj League in Japan. He was a man behind the mascot Bicky. He currently lives in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Masahiro Narita is a Japanese former professional basketball player who last played for the Akita Northern Happinets of the B.League in Japan. He also 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.
Masashi Hosoya, nicknamed Mashi, is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the SeaHorses Mikawa of the B.League in Japan. He played college basketball for Kanto Gakuin University. On October 9, 2016, he recorded a career-high 39 points in a win to the San-en NeoPhoenix. The Ninomiya town native played soccer in his youth, and he is good at ball juggling.
John Patrick Mooney is an American professional basketball player for Chiba Jets Funabashi of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
