Grulla Morioka is based in Iwate Prefecture, on the northeastern coast of Japan's main island. Though the city itself is a fair-sized urban area, the rest of the prefecture is largely mountainous, rugged country, famous for its beautiful scenery, rocky shorelines, picturesque mountains and cold winters. The women of Iwate are reputedly among the most beautiful in Japan, and referred to as "Tohoku Bijin" (Tohoku beauties).
Grulla Morioka was officially established in 2004, though the team was based on a small local club that had been active for a few years previously. It had strong local backing, and from the beginning it had the stated intention of becoming a J.League member. Unfortunately, the meagre finances and rural location made it difficult for Grulla to move up the ladder towards the pro ranks, and it was not until 2014 that the team finally made the jump. Grulla does not have an official mascot, though its team crest has always been based on the Japanese Snow Crane -- a bird that (like the storks of Europe) is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.
For the time being, however, we have assigned Grulla an unofficial mascot based on the "Tohoku Bijin" of local fame.
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