Mito HollyHock Announces Addition of Ishioka City, Chikusei City, and Sakuragawa City as New Hometowns

May 8, 2026

Mito HollyHock Football Club announced that Ishioka City, Chikusei City, and Sakuragawa City in Ibaraki Prefecture have been approved as new hometowns at the J-League management meeting. This expansion increases the total hometown population to over 1.19 million, reinforcing the club's commitment to community-based activities.

その他NQ 34/100出典：PR Times

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📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 02:10
🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 17:32
🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 18:48 (1h 16m after Collected)

Mito HollyHock Football Club Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce that Ishioka City, Chikusei City, and Sakuragawa City in Ibaraki Prefecture have been approved as new hometowns at the J-League management meeting held on Thursday, April 30th. Mito HollyHock Hometowns Mito City, Hitachi City, Hitachinaka City, Kasama City, Naka City, Omitama City, Hitachiota City, Kitaibaraki City, Hitachiomiya City, Takahagi City, Ibaraki Town, Shirosato Town, Oarai Town, Daigo Town, Tokai Village Mito City, Hitachi City, Ishioka City, Hitachinaka City, Kasama City, Naka City, Chikusei City, Sakuragawa City, Omitama City, Hitachiota City, Kitaibaraki City, Hitachiomiya City, Takahagi City, Ibaraki Town, Shirosato Town, Oarai Town, Daigo Town, Tokai Village About Holly-kun in the New Hometowns Ishioka City Holly-kun, Chikusei City Holly-kun, Sakuragawa City Holly-kun ■ Ishioka City Holly-kun With Mount Tsukuba and the Koise River in the background, roses from Ibaraki Flower Park and local specialties like persimmons and strawberries are arranged. Holly-kun is dressed in a lion's head and a happi coat, reminiscent of the Ishioka Festival. ■ Chikusei City Holly-kun With the representative Diamond Tsukuba and Akeno's sunflower fields of Chikusei City in the background, local specialty mini watermelons are placed, and Holly-kun holds a Chikusei pear in his hand. ■ Sakuragawa City Holly-kun With the representative wild cherry blossoms of Sakuragawa City in the background, Amabiki Kannon and Makabe Hina dolls are arranged. Holly-kun holds a Hina Matsuri lantern in his hand. Comment from Ko Kojima, Representative Director and President, Mito HollyHock Football Club Co., Ltd. We are delighted that Ishioka City, Chikusei City, and Sakuragawa City have newly joined as hometowns. We express our sincere gratitude to the existing hometowns that have supported the club so far, and we are very pleased to welcome the residents of these three new cities as our companions. In 2022, when the northern Ibaraki area joined as a hometown, we commented that the hometown population exceeded 1 million. However, due to recent population decline, the hometown population as of 2026 has decreased to 995,000. With the addition of these three cities, the hometown population will once again exceed 1 million, reaching 1,194,000. As a club, we feel an even greater responsibility and intend to further enhance our community-based activities. We aim to strengthen our ties with each region not only through football but also through school visits, local events, and sports promotion activities for children. Taking this hometown expansion as an opportunity, we will continue to interact with the residents of Ishioka City, Chikusei City, and Sakuragawa City, and contribute to promoting the charm of each region. Mito HollyHock will continue to be a community club that walks alongside the local residents, supported by the 18 municipalities, and aims to remain a presence that brings energy and pride to this region, from "GO J1 to GO ASIA." Comment from Yasushi Takahashi, Chairman of Mito HollyHock Hometown Promotion Council, Mayor of Mito City I am very pleased and sincerely welcome the additional approval of Ishioka City, Chikusei City, and Sakuragawa City as Mito HollyHock's hometowns by the J-League management meeting. This council is working on attracting spectators and public relations activities to encourage as many people as possible to come to the stadium. With the official addition of these three cities to the hometowns, we expect the entire hometown area to become even more vibrant. Wishing for Mito HollyHock's further success, the 18 hometown municipalities will further cooperate and support the club. Scene from the press conference held at K's Denki Stadium Mito on May 7, 2026. Keywords:

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