Cika wannan jumla: A shekara ta 2004, gasar Pacific League ta Japan, a cikin matsalolin kudi, ta sauke kungiyoyi biyu, wanda ya haifar da yajin aiki na 'yan wasa. Jami'an gasar sun kusanci Mikitani game da kafa ƙungiyar fadadawa a Sendai, wanda za a kira shi Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Mikitani ya sake ginawa, ya dawo da kuma gyara filin wasa a Sendai, kafin kakar wasan farko ta kungiyar a shekarar 2005. Golden Eagles sun lashe 2013 Japan Series, shekaru biyu bayan da
Girgizar kasa da tsunami na 2011 da suka lalata Sendai da yankin Tōhoku.