▁T such i ura . ▁It ▁changed ▁its ▁name ▁to ▁Prima ▁Ham ▁FC ▁T such i ura ▁and ▁gained ▁promotion ▁to ▁the ▁Japan ▁Football ▁League ▁after ▁finishing ▁as ▁runner - up ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁Regional ▁League ▁play - off . ▁It ▁merged ▁with ▁FC ▁M ito ▁( f ounded ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 ) ▁and ▁re - brand ed ▁itself ▁as ▁M ito ▁Hol ly H ock ▁before ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁season ▁when ▁Prima ▁Ham ▁decided ▁to ▁dis continue ▁its ▁financial ▁support ▁to ▁the ▁club . ▁ ▁M ito ' s ▁application ▁to ▁play ▁in ▁the ▁inaug ural ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁season ▁of ▁J . ▁League ▁Division ▁ 2 ▁was ▁initially ▁turned ▁down ▁due ▁to ▁an ▁un stable ▁financial ▁and ▁fan ▁base . ▁However , ▁after ▁finishing ▁ 3 rd ▁in ▁the ▁Japan ▁Football ▁League ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁and ▁gain ing ▁support , ▁the ▁club ▁was ▁invited ▁into ▁the ▁J . ▁League ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁ ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁M ito ▁Hol ly H ock ▁fields ▁teams ▁in ▁women ' s ▁football ▁in ▁K anto ▁league ▁division ▁ 2 , ▁and ▁ice ▁hockey ▁in ▁the ▁I bar aki ▁pre fect ure ▁league . ▁ ▁Str ategy ▁ ▁Being ▁a ▁tradition ally ▁weak ▁club ▁in ▁the ▁league , ▁M ito ▁has ▁t ended ▁to ▁play ▁a ▁def ensive ▁game ▁and ▁has ▁proven ▁successful ▁at ▁it . ▁This ▁st