Mito HollyHock
Mito HollyHock is a Japanese professional association football club located in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. The club will compete in the J1 League for the first time in the club's history after clinching the 2025 J2 League title.
Name origin
Its nickname "HollyHock" derives from the family crest of the Tokugawa clan who governed from Mito in the Edo period.History
The club was founded in 1990 as Prima Aseno Football Club by the factory workers of Prima Ham in Tsuchiura. It changed its name to Prima Ham Tsuchiura and gained promotion to the Japan [Football League (former)|Japan Football League] after finishing as runner-up in the 1996 Regional League play-off. It merged with FC Mito and re-branded itself as Mito HollyHock before the start of the 1997 season when Prima Ham decided to discontinue its financial support to the club.Mito's application to play in the inaugural 1999 season of J. League Division 2 was initially turned down due to financial instability, and low home attendance at their stadium. However, after finishing 3rd in the Japan Football League in 1999, and having an increasing stadium attendance, the club was invited into the J. League in 2000. During their time in the J2 League, the club finished through the mid-table, with their highest placement being 7th in 2003 and 2019.