An Okinawa basketball group has been approved by bj-league to join the eight-team circuit as an expansion franchise from the 2007-2008 season, the Japan professional basketball league announced Thursday.

Okinawa, which has been lobbying to get a pro hoop team, recently got the nod from the league. Okinawa will play host to 20 regular-season games as the home of the new team, whose name is to be announced later this month.

The Okinawa team will play its games at Okinawa Convention Center, Naha Municipal Gymnasium, and other facilities in the prefecture.

The bj-league began play with six teams in the fall of 2005, and added two clubs -- Takamatsu and Toyama -- for the upcoming season which tips off Nov. 4.

The league will expand to 10 teams for the 2007-2008 season. The other expansion franchise will be announced by the end of this month.