Tohoku derby

Tohoku derby (東北ダービー) refers to matches played between professional football clubs of Tohoku region, Japan. This area consists of six prefectures and such clubs include Vanraure Hachinohe, Iwate Grulla Morioka, Vegalta Sendai, Blaublitz Akita, Montedio Yamagata, Fukushima United FC, and Iwaki FC. Historically, the most significant are games which were played between Vegalta and Montedio (Michinoku derby), the two most successful of Tohoku's football clubs. The Blaublitz vs Montedio derby is called Ōu Honsen and played in the former Dewa Province. The Nambu derby is a football rivalry between Vanraure and Grulla, both teams are based in old Nambu domain territory. The Fukushima derby is the match in the Prefecture, between Fukushima United and Iwaki FC.

Tohoku derby Akita vs Sendai
The  Tohoku derby Akita vs Sendai, also referred to as the Kurikoma derby, is a footballing rivalry played between Blaublitz Akita and Vegalta Sendai, both professional J.League teams from the cities in the Tohoku, Japan. The latest meeting between the two sides took place on 3 May 2023, and ended in a draw attracting a crowd of 15,026.

Historical Background
The sports rivalry between Akita and Sendai likely originated from the Boshin Civil War and battles that lasted for months, which later expanded into football and basketball. On 4 July 1868, 12 Sendai feudal retainers in their lodgins were killed by impetuous young samurai from Akita and their heads were mounted for display on Kawabata's bridge in Kubota, Akita. This incident caused the Akita War. Sendai had been the largest municipality in the Ōshū, on the other hand, Akita had been the capital of Ushū with the Ōu's largest port of Tsuchizaki.

Stadiums
The game is usually hosted at Soyu Stadium and Yurtec Stadium Sendai. The two stadiums are approximately 170 km (106 miles) apart. Sendai is the largest city in the Ou region and the venues draw large home attendance.

Past results
Sendai overwhelmed the derby with 12 victories against Akita's 1 in the official meetings.

Statistics as of 3 May 2023

Tohoku Soccer League
In 1980s TDK SC based in Nikaho, Akita joined the Japan Soccer League 2 and were relegated from the second tier. The derby was first contested in 1991 when Sendai club, Tohoku Electric Power, was promoted to Tohoku Soccer League. The two teams did not play each other in the league again until the 2022 J2 League season after Sendai's relegation.

Emperor's Cup Tohoku Preliminaries
The derby was also played twice in the Emperor's Cup Tohoku Preliminaries.

J2 League
The clubs met again in the J2 League, after Sendai got relegated from J1 League, the top tier. The series occurs twice a year, with each team hosting one match. Both sides have met a total of 4 times which resulted in 2 victories for Sendai, 2 draws, and 0 victories for Akita in the second tier.

Players who have played for both clubs

 * 🇯🇵 Koji Hachisuka (S: 2012–2023, A: 2024-)
 * 🇯🇵 Ryutaro Iio (S: 2019–2020, A: 2021-2023)
 * 🇯🇵 Shingo Kumabayashi (S: 2006–2007, A: 2013–2015)
 * Satoshi Otomo (S: 2000–2002, A: 2006)
 * 🇯🇵 Toshio Shimakawa (S: 2009–2013, A: 2012–2015)
 * 🇯🇵 Ryota Takada (A: 2022–2023, S: 2024-)

Tohoku derby Akita vs Iwate
The Tohoku derby Akita vs Iwate, also known as the Kita-Tohoku derby, the  Ōshū Kassen, and Michinoku Mitsudomoe, is a local derby contested between the Japanese J.League's two north-Tohoku-based clubs, Blaublitz Akita and Iwate Grulla Morioka. It is also a confusing fact that the surname of Iwate's ex-manager and president is Akita. Derby spectators wore Yutaka-Akita-faced cardboard masks on 13 August 2022.

Stadiums
The game is usually hosted at Soyu Stadium and Iwagin Stadium. The two stadiums are roughly 90 km (56 miles) apart. New LED night lighting equipments were set to be installed at Iwasuta in 2020.

Past results
There have a been a total of 22 matches between both the teams with Akita and Morioka winning fifteen and five matches respectively and two games ended in a draw.

Statistics as of 12 May 2023

Tohoku Soccer League
The derby was first contested in 2005 when Morioka club was promoted to Tohoku Soccer League 1st division.

J3　League
The clubs met again in the newly formed J3 League in 2014.

J2　League
The most recent meeting saw Akita win 1–0 in August 2022 at the Iwagin Stadium. The two teams are currently separated due to Iwate's relegation from the J2 League at the end of the 2022 season.

Friendlies
They have competed more than 4 practice games together.

Players who have played for both clubs

 * 🇯🇵 Shuhei Fukai (A:2016-2018, I: 2019)
 * 🇯🇵 Takumu Fujinuma (I:2018, A: 2019)
 * 🇯🇵 Futoshi Harada (I:2005, A: 2006)
 * 🇯🇵 Daiki Kogure (A: 2022-2023, I: 2024-)
 * 🇯🇵 Hiroki Kotani (I: 2018, 2020, A: 2019)
 * 🇯🇵 Taro Sugahara (I: 2007–2008, 2014, A: 2009–2010, 2013)
 * 🇯🇵 Masashi Wada (A:2019, I: 2021-)

Tohoku derby Akita vs Iwaki
Football matches between Blaublitz Akita and Iwaki FC are described as the Tohoku derby Akita vs Iwaki. It is a match between two cities located in Northeast region. This rivalry is also known as Iwaki derby, stretching back to Iwaki, Akita (Yurihonjo) and Iwaki, Fukushima's historical Iwaki clan connection. Iwaki's Riku Saga was raised in Katagami, Akita and Yukihito Kajiya of Blaublitz played for Iwaki Astron FC in his youth.

Venues
The game is usually hosted at Soyu Stadium and Hawaiians Stadium Iwaki. The two stadiums are approximately 312 km (194 miles) apart. Greenfield was renovated to meet J.League stadium standard in 2023. New spectator seats, new night lighting towers, large video equipment, doping inspection room and press seats were installed and total renewal costs were JPY 1.7 billion.

Past results
Statistics as of 2 July 2023

J2　League
The derby was first played on 14 May 2023 when Iwaki club was promoted to J2 League. The match was televised by NHK throughout two prefectures utilizing the On-set virtual production.

Friendlies
They have competed more than 4 practice games together.

Players who have played for both clubs

 * 🇯🇵🇨🇩 Kyowaan Hoshi (I: 2022, A: 2023-)

Tohoku derby Akita vs Fukushima
Tohoku derby Akita vs Fukushima, also referred to as the Michinoku Mitsudomoe , is an inter-Tohoku soccer rivalry between Blaublitz Akita and Fukushima United FC. Akita was promoted to J2 League and the matches were discontinued in 2020. Keita Saito, Hayate Take and Hiroto Morooka suited up for both sides.

Attendance records
The record for a Blaublitz home match is 10,607, set on 25 March 2018, when the Fukushima United defeated Akita 1–0 with a goal by Nildo at Yabase Athletic Stadium.

Venues
The game is usually hosted at Soyu Stadium and Toho Stadium. The two stadiums are roughly 223 km (135 miles) apart. Toho is the largest athletic stadium in the prefecture and four 54-meter-tall LED-bulb light steel towers are installed to Tousuta in 2022.

Past results
There have a been a total of 19 matches between both the teams with Akita and Fukushima winning eleven and five matches respectively and three games ended in a draw.

Statistics as of 12 May 2023

JFL
The two clubs faced each other for the first time in 2013 when Fukushima City club was promoted to Japan Football League.

Emperor's Cup
The derby was also played once in the Emperor's Cup. Akita ripped apart Fukushima to win 3–0 in the match, Shimakawa, Hirai and Makiuchi all scored.

Friendlies
They have competed more than 6 practice games together.

Players who have played for both clubs

 * 🇯🇵 Shoma Kamata (A: 2020, F: 2021)
 * 🇯🇵 Hiroto Morooka (F: 2019–2022, A: 2023-)
 * 🇯🇵 Keita Saito (F: 2015, A: 2020-)
 * 🇯🇵 Hayate Take (F: 2018–2019, A: 2021-)
 * 🇯🇵 Yuji Wakasa (F: 2018–2019, A: 2020–2022)
 * 🇯🇵 Yu Yanagihara (A: 2006, F: 2008–2010, 2011–2013)

Tohoku derby Akita vs Hachinohe
Football matches between Blaublitz Akita and Vanraure Hachinohe are described as the Tohoku derby Akita vs Hachinohe. It is a match between two cities located in Northern Tohoku region. This rivalry is also known as Kita-Tohoku derby.

Venues
The game is usually hosted at Soyu Stadium and Prifoods Stadium. The two stadiums are approximately 151 km (94 miles) apart.

Past results
Statistics as of 12 May 2023

J3　League
The derby was first played on 30 June 2019 when Hachinohe club was promoted to J3 League.

Emperor's Cup
The derby was also played once in the Emperor's Cup.

Friendlies
They have competed more than 2 practice games together.

Players who have played for both clubs

 * 🇯🇵Mizuki Aiba (A: 2020–2021, H: 2023)
 * 🇯🇵Shuhei Fukai (A: 2016–2018, H: 2020)
 * 🇯🇵Keita Hidaka (A: 2016–2018, H: 2019)
 * 🇯🇵Shintaro Kato (A: 2022, H: 2023-)
 * 🇯🇵Daiki Koike (A: 2019–2020, H: 2022)
 * 🇯🇵Masashi Kokubun (H: 2018–2020, 2022- A: 2021)
 * 🇯🇵Naoyuki Yamada (A: 2013–2021, H: 2022-)