September 4, 2025
DOWA HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
DOWA HOLDINGS CO., LTD. (14-1, Sotokanda 4-Chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Capital: 36.4 billion yen; President: SEKIGUCHI Akira), together with our group company AKITA ZINC CO., LTD. (217-9, Furumichi-shimokawabata, Iijima, Akita; Capital: 5 billion yen; President: SUGAWARA Yoshiaki), has signed the official partnership contract and SDGs partnership contract for the 2025-2026 season with the AKITA NORTHERN HAPPINETS, a professional basketball team belonging to the B.LEAGUE.
The AKITA NORTHERN HAPPINETS, founded in 2010 with the desire to "Energize Akita through sports!", is the first professional sports team in the Northeast region of Japan. In recent years, the team has steadily improved its performance, and it has been decided that they will join the newly established top league "B.LEAGUE PREMIER" in 2026.
The DOWA Group has been extensively operating businesses in Akita since its founding in 1884, when it acquired the Kosaka Mine (Kosaka-machi, Kazuno, Akita) from the government. Currently, 24 of our group companies, accounting for approximately 40% of our group in Japan, are located in Akita Prefecture, engaging in deeply rooted business activities such as the establishment of a "smelting and recycling complex" centered around our group company KOSAKA SMELTING & REFINING CO., LTD. (60-1 Otarube, Kosakakouzan, Kosaka-machi, Kazuno, Akita; capital: 4.7 billion yen; President: SATO Shigeki).
With the aim of vitalizing Akita, the DOWA Group has been supporting the AKITA NORTHERN HAPPINETS since the team's inception in 2010. In 2019, we became the main partner of the "DREAM SCHOOL" and have been supporting the team's school visit program, which involves visiting elementary schools within Akita to conduct basketball classes, cheer dance schools, and lectures by players. Furthermore, in 2022, the Company became an SDGs partner, promoting recycling within Akita by placing boxes for collecting used small appliances at the venues of the team's hosted games.
As we approach the 2025-2026 season, the team's desire for further growth and the DOWA Group's desire to expand regional contributions have aligned, leading to the conclusion of the official partnership contract and SDGs partnership contract. Notably, this marks the 16th consecutive year for the official partnership contract and the 4th consecutive year for SDGs partnership contract for the DOWA Group.
[Overview of AKITA NORTHERN HAPPINETS]
1. Team Name: AKITA NORTHERN HAPPINETS
2. Established: 2010
3. Representative: MIZUNO Yuki
4. Home Venue: CNA Arena☆Akita
5. League: B.LEAGUE (B1)
6. Team Colors: Happinets Pink, Inaho Gold, Northern Black
7. Operating Company: Akita Northern Happinets Co., Ltd.
[Uniform Design for the 2025-2026 Season (Back side)]
Starting this season, the DOWA Group logo will be displayed on the back of the team uniforms.
[Overview of AKITA ZINC CO., LTD.]
1. Headquarters: 217-9, Furumichi-shimokawabata, Iijima, Akita
2. Established: February 1971
3. Capital: 5 billion yen
4. Representative: SUGAWARA Yoshiaki, President and Representative Director
5. Employees: Approximately 400 (as of the end of April 2025)
6. Shareholders: 100% owned by DOWA METALS & MINING CO., LTD.
7. Business Activities: Zinc smelting, production of cadmium and sulfuric acid
