Hiroshima Dragonflies

The Hiroshima Dragonflies (Japanese: 広島ドラゴンフライズ, Hepburn: Hiroshima Doragonfuraizu) are a professional basketball team based in Hiroshima, Japan. In October 2014 they commenced competing in the Western Conference of the Japanese National Basketball League.^[1] In September 2016 they joined the B.League, the NBL's successor league, and currently play in the first division's Western Conference. The Dragonflies have won the B.League championship once, in 2024.^[2] They also won the East Asia Super League (EASL) in 2025.

Hiroshima Dragonflies
Conference	West
Division	1st
Leagues	B.League East Asia Super League
Founded	2013; 12 years ago (2013)
History	Hiroshima Dragonflies (2014–present)
Arena	Hiroshima Sun Plaza
Capacity	6,052
Location	Hiroshima Prefecture
Team colors	Teal, Orange, Brown, White
Head coach	Shogo Asayama
Ownership	Nova Holdings
Championships	1 B.League (2024) 1 EASL (2025)
Website	hiroshimadragonflies.com
Home Away 3rd

History

Foundation

In April 2014, following the announcement that the former Japan Basketball League would be restructured as the National Basketball League, a group was launched to support the formation of a professional basketball team in Hiroshima.^[3] In May 2014 the group received support from the prefectural basketball association ^[4] and an application to join the NBL was submitted in July.^[5] In August 2014 the application was approved^[6] and the name Hiroshima Dragonflies was decided.^[7] In October 2014 an operating company Hiroshima Dragonflies Corporation (株式会社広島ドラゴンフライズ) was established.

Championship (2024)

On May 29, 2024, the Dragonflies won their first-ever B1 League championship after they defeated the Ryukyu Golden Kings 2–1 in the finals.^[2]

The Dragonflies won the 2024–25 East Asia Super League.^[8]

Team

Head coach

The inaugural head coach of the Dragonflies was Kenichi Sako, a former Japanese national player. It was the first coaching role for Sako, who was known as "Mr. Basketball" during his playing career that ended in 2011.^[9]

The team has not been able to retain a coach during the 2017–2018 season, and players have been filling in to the team's detriment.

• Kenichi Sako
• Jamie Andrisevic
• Shogo Asayama
• Shota Shakuno
• Takeshi Hotta
• Kyle Milling

Roster

Hiroshima Dragonflies roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age G 0 Ryo Terashima 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 28 – (1997-10-23)23 October 1997 F/C 1 Masato Ichikawa 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 24 – (2001-09-20)20 September 2001 G 3 Naoto Tsuji 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 36 – (1989-08-08)8 August 1989 G 5 Isaiah Murphy 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 27 – (1998-04-10)10 April 1998 F 7 Seiya Funyu 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 32 – (1993-12-15)15 December 1993 F/C 8 Kerry Blackshear Jr. 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 28 – (1997-01-28)28 January 1997 G 10 Toshiki Kamisawa 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 27 – (1998-06-02)2 June 1998 PG 12 Takuto Nakamura 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 24 – (2001-03-03)3 March 2001 F 23 Ryo Sadohara 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 26 – (1999-10-24)24 October 1999 F/C 24 Nick Mayo 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 28 – (1997-08-18)18 August 1997 G 30 Ryo Yamazaki 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 25 – (2000-09-25)25 September 2000 G/F 34 Keijiro Mitani 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 24 – (2001-06-15)15 June 2001	Head coach Shogo Asayama[10] Assistant coach(es) Shoyo Kato Ryoichi Nishitani Jay Sakamato Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster Updated: October 2, 2024

Arenas

• Hiroshima Sun Plaza
• Fukuyama Rose Arena
• Shishin-yo Oak Arena
• Higashihiroshima Sports Park Gymnasium
• Maeda Housing Higashiku Sports Center

Notable players

Dragonflies in 2017

• Clint Chapman
• Daniel Dillon
• Yusuke Okada
• Shannon Shorter
• Kosuke Takeuchi
• Wendell White
• Daiji Yamada
• Kai Sotto