
This earthenware figure or dogū from the Jōmon period of Japanese prehistory (14,000 to 300 BC), was found in Tsugaru, Aomori Prefecture in 1886 and held up by Erich von Däniken in 1968 as evidence of extraterrestrial contact. Its snow-goggle eyes give it the name Shakōkidogū in Japanese. You only have to look at photos of Aomori in wintertime to see why snow-googles would be a thing. Today the figure is emblematic of Tsugaru, and Dogizaka FC have it on their crest.
Matches:
J2: Thespakusatsu Gunma 2 - 1 Mito HollyHock (June 4)
JFL: Nara Club 0 - 0 FC Kariya (yesterday)
Tohoku Div 1: Nippon Steel Kamaishi [0 - 2] Dogizaka
Dogizaka FC is written 筒木坂FC, which Google Translate insists is Tsutsugizaka FC.
Tohoku Div 2 N: Gonohe SC (五戸SC) vs Akita Cambiare [postponed]
[Gonohe did manage to get a game played in May, losing 6 - 0 to New Pearl Hiraizumi Maezawa.]
How can a person follow Dogizaka FC or Gonohe SC? Both have pages at Transfermarkt. Aomori Goal magazine, which has a Twitter account in Japanese, covers both clubs.
PK-35 [0 - 0] TPS
The SWF Championship was supposed to begin this weekend, but so far nothing. [2020-21 is null and void, and the new season will start in August. The messaging on this has not been very clear.]
Developments:
Shaun Rodgers, Justin Johnson, Rabin Omar and James Wallace have been released by Morton. Chris Millar, Kalvin Orsi and Craig McGuffie are also not returning. Aidan Nesbitt has signed with Falkirk.
Morton have signed defender Alan Lithgow, formerly of Hearts, Stirling Albion, Clyde, Dumbarton, Ayr United, Stenhousemuir, Airdrieonians and Livingston. Gary Oliver has signed a one-year extension.
Stephen Farrell has left Stranraer to take on the managerial role at Dumbarton. Billy Dodds is the new manager at ICT.
Jim Duffy is joining the backroom staff at Ayr United.
Queen's Park will groundshare at Partick Thistle's Firhill Stadium this season.
[The Canadian league will start June 26th with the first 32 games being played in Winnipeg.]
How do things stand in the Japanese leagues?
J1: After 20 games Kawasaki Frontale are tops, followed by Nagoya Grampus and Yokohama F Marinos.
J2: Albirex Niigata lead, followed by Kyoto Sanga and FC Ryukyu. Our guys Mito HollyHock are tenth, as always.
J3: After 9 games Kataller Toyama and Roasso Kumamoto lead.
JFL: After ten games our guys Iwaki FC are tops, followed by Honda FC and FC Osaka.
Hokkaido: This league is just starting.
Tohoku: This league is just starting.
Kanto: After seven games Briobecca Urayasu are tops.
Hokushinetsu: After four games Niigata University of Health and Welfare and Fukui United are undefeated.
Tokai: This league is just a game or two into its season.
Kansai: Ococias Kyoto lead after four games.
Chugoku: Fujifilm lead after three games.
Shikoku: FC Tokushima and Tadostu FC are undefeated after four games.
Kyushu: Okinawa SV are tops as usual.
WE League: The new women's pro league hasn't started yet, but Nadeshiko 1 and 2 are well under way with Iga FC Kunoichi Mie on top of division 1.
Mito HollyHock in the 1990s:
Mito FC:
1994 Ibaraki Div 4
1995 Ibaraki Div 3
1996 1st, Ibaraki Div 2
Prima Ham Tsuchiura:
1994 18 10 2 6 36 25 +11 22 3rd, KSL
1995 18 14 3 1 48 13 +35 45 1st, KSL
1996 18 12 4 2 58 15 +43 40 2nd, KSL P
Mito HollyHock:
1997 30 3 0 1 26 24 69 -45 10 16th, JFL
1998 30 7 1 0 22 37 69 -32 23 14th, JFL
1999 24 13 3 0 8 48 32 +16 45 3rd, JFL P
Sources: Japanese Wikipedia, RSSSF.
Seasons of Gonohe SC:
2020 4 1 0 3 3 16 -13 3 5th, T2N
2019 18 6 1 11 30 71 -41 19 9th, T2N
2018 18 3 4 11 27 66 -39 13 8th, T2N
2017 9 8 1 0 35 9 +26 25 1st, AP1
2016 8 3 1 4 13 16 -3 10 5th, AP1
2015 8 5 1 2 18 11 +7 16 2nd, AP1
2014 7 4 3 0 12 6 +6 15 2nd, AP1
2013
2012
2011
2010 9 2 0 7 9 24 -15 6 9th, AP1
2009 11 5 1 5 23 24 -1 16 7th, AP1
T2N = Tohoku Member of Society Soccer League, Division Two North
AP1 = Aomori Prefecture Member of Society Soccer League, Division 1
I haven't yet found a source for the Aomori league, Division 2.
(Sources: Wikipedia, RSSSF.)