Ohayo everyone!! The population of Akita has been decreasing for at least 2 decades. When I came back to Akita a half year ago, I imagined that “Isn’t the city becoming less and less vibrant?” That was untrue. What a surprise, people are crazy for Basketball league!! Originally Noshiro City was called “basketball town” and had a high school, Noshiro-Kogyo, that Yuta Tabuse, who is the first NBA player from Japan, graduated from. (The high school was merged with the other school and it was named Noshiro science and technology high school.) It seems that the basketball team of Noshiro-Kogyo is a model of Sanno-Kogyo that appeared in Slum-dunk which is a famous Japanese Basketball manga. Did you know that?? Anyway, the passion for basketball is becoming higher and higher in Akita again.
There is a team called “Akita Northern Happinets”, established in 2009. At that time, I was a junior high school student, and I knew the news of this new team and went to watch the game with my friend’s family, but honestly I never imagined it would be so popular because the team was not so strong. However, the situation changed. When I went to watch the game with mom again last January, most people wore the official goods, belonged to the fandom, and the shuttle bus was in operation for spectators. That was surprising!! Considering it is so popular now, I feel that the players, coaches and staff have continued to try making it exciting. I respect them!!
Individually, the movement of supporting sports is higher and higher in Japan, not only Akita. Japanese national sports are Sumo and Budo(Kendo, Judo, and Kyudo) but many Japanese players regardless of the type of sports are performing greatly. For example, Shohei Ohtani is amazing needless to say (it’s unbelievable he and I are the same age….!! so proud of him!!!!). The players are giving us courage and energy for tomorrow. Akita Northern Happinets is also definitely a presence that energizes people, and I hope other teams, Blaublitz Akita which is the soccer team and Akita Northern Bullets which is the rugby football team will also make us excited.
