This area consists of six prefectures[1] and such clubs include Vanraure Hachinohe,[2] Iwate Grulla Morioka,[3] Vegalta Sendai,[4][5] Blaublitz Akita,[6] Montedio Yamagata,[7] Fukushima United FC, and Iwaki FC.

[8][9] Historically, the most significant are games which were played between Vegalta and Montedio (Michinoku derby),[10][11] the two most successful of Tohoku's football clubs.

[12] The Blaublitz vs Montedio derby is called Ōu Honsen and played in the former Dewa Province.

[15][16][17] 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 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.

[33] Sendai is the largest city in the Ou region[34] and the venues draw large home attendance.

Statistics as of 3 May 2023 In 1980s TDK SC based in Nikaho, Akita joined the Japan Soccer League 2 and were relegated from the second tier.

Statistics as of 12 May 2023 The derby was first contested in 2005 when Morioka club was promoted to Tohoku Soccer League 1st division.

[103] Statistics as of 2 July 2023 The derby was first played on 14 May 2023[104] when Iwaki club was promoted to J2 League.

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[114][115] at Yabase Athletic Stadium.

[33] 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.

Akita ripped apart Fukushima to win 3–0 in the match, Shimakawa, Hirai and Makiuchi all scored.

Statistics as of 12 May 2023 The derby was first played on 30 June 2019 when Hachinohe club was promoted to J3 League.