is a given name present in a few languages. It is a unisex

Japanese given name in modern times consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, in that order. Nevertheless, when a Japanese name is written in the Roman alphabet, ever since the Meiji era, the official policy has been to cater to Western expecta ...

that is predominantly used for males. There are several

kanji are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are still used, along with the subsequ ...

for Akira. In Thai, Akira or Arkira ( th, อาคิรา, อาคีรา, อาคีระ) is a unisex name meaning 'the sun' or 'sunlight'.

Possible writings

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

there are many alternative ways to write the name Akira in

. This is not an exhaustive list. A popular kanji is 明 (the combination of the two different characters 日 = sun and 月 = moon) which means "the light coming from the sun", "sunlight and moonlight", "bright", "intelligent", "wisdom" or "truth". Though Akira is generally used to name males, sometimes it can be a female name as well. * 明, "bright" * 亮, "light" * 昭, "shining" * 昌, "prosper" * 晃, "clear" * 彰, "acknowledge" * 朗; "clear/bright" * 晶, "sparkle" * 章, "chapter/section" * 旭; "rising sun" * 顕; "exposure/clarity" * 彬, "refined/gentle" * 明楽, "bright, ease" * 秋良, "autumn, good" * 了, "completion" * 安喜良, "calm, joy, good" * 亜紀良, "asia, chronicle, good" * 日日日, "day, day, day" * 彬良, "refined/gentle, good" * 明良, "bright, good" * 旦 "morning/dawn"

People with the name

*, Japanese footballer *

Akira Amano is a Japanese mangaka known for the '' shōnen'' series ''Reborn!''. Early versions of ''Reborn!'' were published in ''seinen'' manga magazines. In late 2003, the series, a stand-alone short story at the time, was published in the ''Weekly Sh ...

(born 1973), manga artist *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese Magic: The Gathering player * Akira Disaro (born 1996), Japanese footballer *

Akira Haraguchi __NOTOC__ (born 1946, Miyagi Prefecture), a retired Japanese engineer, is known for memorizing and reciting digits of pi. Memorization of pi He holds the current unofficial world record (100,000 digits) in 16 hours, starting at 9a.m. (16:28 GMT) ...

(born 1946), mental health counsellor *, Japanese scholar and diplomat *, Japanese swimmer * Akira Himekawa, pen name used by a duo of manga artists *, Japanese manga artist *, Japanese footballer *

Akira Ifukube was a Japanese classical and film music composer, best known for his works on the ''Godzilla'' franchise. Biography Early years in Hokkaido Akira Ifukube was born on 31 May 1914 in Kushiro, Japan as the third son of a police officer Toshimi ...

(昭, 1914–2006), composer of classical music and film scores *

Akira Iida is a Japanese racing driver currently competing in the Super GT series in GT300 class with , one of the teams under Toyota Motorsport's GAZOO racing arm. Iida won the 2002 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship GT500 class with Esso Toyota Te ...

(born 1969), racing driver *

Akira Inaba is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 8- dan. Inaba, together with Tetsurō Itodani, Masayuki Toyoshima and Akihiro Murata, is one of four Kansai-based young shogi professionals who are collectively referred to as the "Young Kansai Bi ...

, Japanese shogi player *

Akira Ioane Akira Ioane (born 16 June 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player. Ioane plays blindside flanker and number 8 for the Auckland rugby union team in the Mitre 10 Cup, for the Blues in the Super Rugby competition and was selected for the All Blac ...

(born 1995), rugby player *

Akira Iriye is a historian of diplomatic history, international, and transnational history. He taught at University of Chicago and Harvard University until his retirement in 2005. In 1988 he served as president of the American Historical Association, the ...

(born 1934), historian of American diplomatic history *, Japanese sailor *, Japanese voice actor *, Japanese-American engineer and academic *

Akira Isogawa is an Australian contemporary fashion designer. Early life Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1964, he emigrated to Australia in 1986 at the age of 21. In his early 20s, Isogawa worked in Japanese restaurants and as a tour guide. He studied fashion at th ...

(born 1964), fashion designer *

Akira Ito (field hockey) Akiro Ito (born March 10, 1981) is a field hockey player from Japan, who finished in ninth place with the national squad at the 2006 Men's Hockey World Cup in Mönchengladbach. Before the start of the tournament he played 23 international matches ...

(亮, born 1981), hockey player *

Akira Itō (manga artist) Akira Ito or Itō may refer to: * Akira Ito (footballer) (born 1972), Japanese footballer *Akira Ito (field hockey) (born 1981), Japanese field hockey player *Akira Itō (artist) is a manga artist. Ito drew ''Yu-Gi-Oh! R'' while the creator of t ...

(章), manga artist *

Akira Jimbo , is a Japanese jazz fusion drummer who combines electronic drum technology and acoustic drums. Aside from his solo work, he was the drummer for the Japanese jazz fusion band Casiopea and had participated in side projects with Keiko Matsui, Sh ...

(born 1959), jazz fusion drummer *

Akira Kaji is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defender. He last played for Japan national team until 2008. Club career After graduating from Takigawa Daini High School, Kaji joined Cerezo Osaka in 1998. He made his first league ...

(born 1980), Japanese football player *, Japanese guitarist *

Akira Kamiya is a Japanese voice actor. He played several notable roles in Japanese manga and anime television series, including Kenshiro in '' Fist of the North Star'', Ryo Saeba in '' City Hunter'' and Shutaro Mendo in '' Urusei Yatsura''. In mecha anim ...

(明, born 1946), voice actor *

Akira Kanbe is a Japanese mangaka, manga artist from Hyōgo Prefecture, known for his work as the illustrator of ''Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Episode Zero'', specializes in the yaoi genre. Leroy Dessaroux described Kanbe as being "unusually good at figure draw ...

, manga artist *, Japanese comedian, television personality and actor *

Akira Kobayashi is a Japanese actor and singer. His nickname is . Biography Kobayashi attended Meiji University but left before graduating. He became an actor at Nikkatsu and made his film debut with "Ueru Tamashii" directed by Yuzo Kawashima in 1956. He s ...

(born 1938), actor *, Japanese basketball player *

Akira Komoto __NOTOC__ is a Japanese artist and photographer, whose photographs often show his artworks in the open air. Born Masaaki Komoto (, ''Komoto Masaaki'') in Ōmori-ku, Tokyo (now Ōta-ku, Tokyo) on 14 August 1935,Mihashi Junko (), "Nomoto Akira", ...

(章, born 1935), artist *

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dyna ...

(明, 1910–1998), film director, producer, and screenwriter *

Akira Machida Akira Machida (町田顯 ''Machida Akira'', October 16, 1936 – April 5, 2015) was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan from 2002 to 2006. He was born in Shimonoseki, Japan. He first began his career in 1959, when he was appointed as ...

(顯, born 1936), head of the Japanese Supreme Court *

Akira Maeda (born Go Il-myeong ( Hangul: 고일명, Hanja: 高日明), January 24, 1959) is a Japanese mixed martial arts promoter, writer and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist of Korean descent. Maeda was also known by the ring ...

(born 1959), wrestler * Akira Masuda (born 1962), Japanese karate practitioner * Akira Mikazuki (1921–2010), Japanese scholar and politician *

Akira Morishita is a Filipino-Japanese actor, singer and songwriter known for being a member and lead vocalist of the Filipino boy group BGYO. Morishita has co-written several tracks released by BGYO: " The Light" (2021), " Runnin'" (2021), " The Baddest" (202 ...

(born 2001), Filipino-Japanese actor and singer * Akira Mutō (章, 1892–1948), general in the Imperial Japanese Army *, Japanese sport wrestler *

Akira Narahashi is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He earned 38 caps for the Japan national team between 1994 and 2003, including three games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Club career Narahashi was born in Chiba on November ...

(born 1971), Japanese football defender *

Akira Nishio is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is currently serving as an executive director of the Japan Shogi Association. Nishio introduces shogi theory in the English language through his blog ''Shogi Openings'' and his occasiona ...

, Japanese shogi player *

Akira Nogami is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working as Akira (occasionally stylised in all-capitals). He has also worked as a trainer. Professional wrestling career New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1984–2004) After graduating from high s ...

(born 1968), wrestler *

Akira Raijin (born July 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working under the ring name . He is a two-time holder of the Gaora TV Championship. He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) under the ring name and is a ...

or Akira Kawabata (born 1978), Japanese professional wrestler * Akira Sakata (born 1945), free jazz saxophonist *, Japanese alpine skier *

Akira Sasanuma is a Japanese voice actor who is a member of Arts Vision. He voiced Austria in the '' Hetalia: Axis Powers'' series and was the voice of Link in '' The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess''. Filmography Anime Video games Tokusatsu Refer ...

(晃, born 1973), voice actor *, Japanese photographer *, Japanese ski jumper *

Akira Sekine is a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo. She is affiliated with Aptepro. Works Anime *''Nisekoi'' (2014) - Raku Ichijou (child), Female Student, Schoolgirl, Student, Suzuki *''Aikatsu!'' (2014–16) - Miyabi Fujiwara *'' Dog Days' (2015) - Mai ...

, (関根明良), Japanese voice actress *

Akira Senju is a Japanese composer, arranger and conductor. Biography Senju studied composition at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and received his master's degree with honors. Between 1994 and 2003, he produced series of cover albums ...

(明, born 1960), Japanese composer *

Akira Shima is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He was the first Ryūō title holder and is also a former managing director of the Japan Shogi Association. Shogi professional Shima is a member of the so-called ''Shōwa 55'' group (55� ...

, Japanese shogi player *

Akira Shoji Akira Shoji (小路晃) (born January 31, 1974) is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. He is most known as being a regular in almost all the beginning Pride Fighting Championship Shoji was in Pride 1 to Pride 7, an ...

(born 1974), Japanese professional mixed martial artist * Akira Suzuki (disambiguation), multiple people *, Japanese footballer *

Akira Takarada was a Japanese film actor best known for his roles in the ''Godzilla'' film series. Life and career Akira Takarada was born in Korea under Japanese rule, and lived for a time in Manchuria, China. His father worked as an engineer on the S ...

(明, born 1934), actor *

Akira Takasaki is a Japanese musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and sole constant member of the heavy metal band Loudness. He is also the guitarist of the band Lazy, with which he first rose to prominence in the 1970s. Career He started his ...

(晃, born 1961), heavy metal guitarist * Akira Takayasu (晃, born 1990), Japanese sumo wrestler *, Japanese middle-distance runner * Akira Tamura (田村明, 1926–2010), Japanese city planner *

Akira Taue is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is also a former All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had fourteen 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. ...

(明, born 1961), professional wrestler *

Akira Terao is a Japanese musician, singer and movie actor. As of 2012, he is the only male actor to have received both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Academy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. Early life Terao was bor ...

(聰, born 1947), entertainer *, Japanese diplomat *

Akira Toriyama (ophthalmologist) was a Japanese ophthalmologist and photographer. During his career, he became president of Showa University and also had his photography exhibited and published. Biography and medical career Akira Toriyama was born on 20 June 1898 in Shinagawa-m ...

(晃, 1898–1994), ophthalmologist and photographer *

Akira Toriyama is a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for his highly successful manga series '' Dr. Slump'', before going on to create '' Dragon Ball'' (his best-known work) and acting as a character des ...

(明, born 1955), Japanese manga and game artist *

Akira Tozawa Akira Tozawa (戸澤陽, ''Tozawa Akira'', born July 22, 1985) is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. He is a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion and WWE 24/7 Champion, winning ...

(戸澤陽, born 1985), Japanese professional wrestler *

Akira Watanabe (shogi) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is the current holder of the Meijin, and Kiō major titles, and also a former holder of the Kisei, Ōshō, Ōza and Ryūō titles. He is also a Lifetime Kiō and a Lifetime Ryūō ti ...

, Japanese shogi player *

Akira Yaegashi is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2019. He was a three-weight world champion, having held the WBA mini-flyweight title from 2011 to 2012, the WBC and '' The Ring'' flyweight titles from 2013 to 2014, and the ...

(東, born 1983), professional boxer *, Japanese philosopher *, Japanese trade unionist *, Japanese artist *, Japanese World War II flying ace *

Akira Yamaoka is a Japanese composer and music producer. He is best known for composing music for several video games in the '' Silent Hill'' series by Konami, among other games. Yamaoka also worked as a producer on the series, as well as composing for the ' ...

(晃, born 1968), composer *, Japanese water polo player *, Japanese rugby union player *

Akira Yoshizawa Akira Yoshizawa (吉澤章 ''Yoshizawa Akira''; 14 March 1911 – 14 March 2005) was a Japanese origamist, considered to be the grandmaster of origami. He is credited with raising origami from a craft to a living art. According to his own es ...

(章, 1911–2005), origami artist

Fictional characters

* Akira (''Akira''), the title character of ''Akira'' *Akira (Blue Mask), a character in ''

Hikari Sentai Maskman is Toei's eleventh entry of the Super Sentai metaseries. It aired on TV Asahi from February 28, 1987 to February 20, 1988, replacing ''Choushinsei Flashman'' and was replaced by ''Choujyu Sentai Liveman'' with a total of 51 episodes. Its intern ...

'' *Akira Asaba (麻羽央), a character in ''

Magical Trans! is a magical girl manga series by Yutaka Kashii (香椎ゆたか, ''Kashii Yutaka''). It was serialised in eBookJapan's ''Minna no Comic'' magazine, and published by ''Manga-Mon'' in Indonesia. Plot Minami Maki, a high school student, joi ...

'' *Akira Momoi, a character in ''

Denshi Sentai Denziman is Toei's fourth entry to its Super Sentai metaseries. It was broadcast from February 2, 1980 to January 31, 1981, replacing ''Battle Fever J'' and was replaced by ''Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan''. The title given to this series for international dis ...

'' *Akira Kogane, a character in '' Voltron: Defender of the Universe'', also known as ''

Beast King GoLion is a Japanese super robot anime television series. The animation from ''GoLion'' was edited and trimmed to create the version of the American '' Voltron: Defender of the Universe'' series, with new names and dialogue. In 2008, ''GoLion'' was ...

'' (given name changed to '

Keith Keith may refer to: People and fictional characters * Keith (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Keith (surname) * Keith (singer), American singer James Keefer (born 1949) * Baron Keith, a line of Scottish barons i ...

' for the US adaptations) * Akira (''The Simpsons''), a character in ''The Simpsons'' media *Akira Agarkar Yamada, a character in '' Tsuritama'' media *Akira Hojo, a character in ''

Sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a sa ...

'' *Akira Inugami (aka Wolf), a character in the manga ''

Wolf Guy is a Japanese manga series of two volumes published in 1970 by Bunkasha. Originally written by Kazumasa Hirai and illustrated by Hisashi Sakaguchi (坂口尚), the series has been readapted with a more violent and mature setting in 2007 ...

'' *Akira Hayama, a character in the manga ''

Shokugeki no Soma is a Japanese manga series written by Yūto Tsukuda and illustrated by Shun Saeki. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from November 2012 to June 2019. Its chapters were compiled in 36 ''tankōbon'' volumes published ...

'' *Akira Himi (aka Aqua Current), a character in the light novel ''

Accel World is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by HiMA. The series began publication in ASCII Media Works' '' Dengeki Bunko'' imprint from February 2009 and is licensed in North America by Yen Press. Two mang ...

'' * Akira Kazama, a character in ''Rival Schools'' media * Akira Kogami, a character in ''Lucky Star'' franchise *Akira, a character in ''

Shin Megami Tensei IV is a Japanese post-apocalyptic role-playing video game developed by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is part of the ''Shin Megami Tensei'' series, the central series of the ''Megami Tensei'' franchise, though no direct story connection exists ...

''franchise * Akira Kurusu, the protagonist's name in the manga adaptation of ''Persona 5'' * Akira Kusano, a character in ''Nobuta wo Produce'' media *Akira Mimasaka, a character in ''

Boys Over Flowers , is a Japanese ''shōjo'' manga series written and illustrated by Yoko Kamio and set in Tokyo, Japan, and the fictional "Eitoku Academy" (an elite school for children from rich families). It tells the story of Tsukushi Makino, a girl f ...

'' media * Akira Okochi, a character in ''Negima!: Magister Negi Magi'' media * Akira Okuzaki, a character in ''My-HiME'' media *Akira Renbokoji, a character in the anime '' Kakumeiki Valvrave'' *Akira Satou, a character in ''

Katawa Shoujo is a bishōjo-style visual novel by Four Leaf Studios that tells the story of a young man and five young women living with varying disabilities. The game uses a traditional text and sprite-based visual novel model with an ADV-style text box ru ...

'' * Akira Sendoh, a character in the manga ''Slam Dunk'' *Akira Sengoku, the main character in the manga '' Eden no Ori'' *Akira Sohma, a character in ''

Fruits Basket , sometimes abbreviated , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Natsuki Takaya. It was serialized in the semi-monthly Japanese manga magazine , published by Hakusensha, from 1998 to 2006. The series' title comes from ...

'' *Akira Tachibana (橘あきら), a protagonist in the manga '' After the Rain (manga)'' *

Akira Takano The ''School Rumble'' manga and anime series features a cast of characters designed by Jin Kobayashi. The story takes place mostly in a Japanese high school and revolves around various love triangles and polygons. The manga series is followed ...

, a character in ''School Rumble'' media *Akira Takizawa, a character in the anime '' Eden of the East'' *Akira Toudou, a character in the '' Special A'' *

Akira Toya The plot of ''Hikaru no Go'' revolves around the Japanese Go world. Several of the manga's prominent characters hold Go titles. The title holder is then called by a combination of their name and the title they hold. In the case of a multiple tit ...

, a character in ''Hikaru no Go'' media * Akira Udō, a character in ''Air Gear'' media *

Akira Yuki Akira Yuki is a fictional character in the '' Virtua Fighter'' fighting game franchise by Sega. As the series' main protagonist and mascot, Akira appears in every ''Virtua Fighter'' game as a playable character, and is usually shown on the g ...

, a character in the ''Virtua Fighter'' universe *Akira Kaburagi Regendorf, the protagonist in the ''

Dance in the Vampire Bund is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nozomu Tamaki. The manga was serialized in Media Factory's ''seinen'' manga magazine '' Monthly Comic Flapper'' between 2005 and 2012, and is licensed for publication in English by ...

'' manga and its anime adaption *Akira, a character in the anime and manga ''

Samurai Deeper Kyo is a manga series written and illustrated by Akimine Kamijyo. Set during the Edo period of Japan's history, ''Samurai Deeper Kyo'' follows , a feared samurai seeking to regain his body after his soul is sealed inside the body of his rival ...

'' *Akira, a character in the manga ''

Dengeki Daisy is a Japanese '' shōjo'' manga series written and illustrated by Kyousuke Motomi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Betsucomi'' magazine from May 2007 to October 2013. Shogakukan later collected the individual chapters into 16 bound vol ...

'' *Akira, the main protagonist in the BL visual novel '' Togainu no Chi'' *Akira Rai, a character in ''

Jab Tak Hai Jaan ''Jab Tak Hai Jaan'' (), also simply known as ''JTHJ'', is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Yash Chopra and written and produced by his son Aditya Chopra under their banner Yash Raj Films. The film stars Shah Rukh ...

'' *

Akira Fudo is a fictional superhero from Go Nagai's manga series '' Devilman''. A shy teenager living in Japan while his parents work abroad, Akira absorbs the powers of the devil Amon thanks to his friend Ryo Asuka. Then as the self-proclaimed title c ...

, the main character in ''

Devilman is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. The manga focuses on a high school student named Akira Fudo who absorbs the powers of the demon called " Amon" with help of his friend Ryo Asuka in order to batt ...

'' *Akira Mado, a supporting character in the manga series, ''

Tokyo Ghoul is a Japanese dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Sui Ishida. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''seinen'' manga magazine '' Weekly Young Jump'' between September 2011 and September 2014, and was collected in fou ...

'' *Akira Shimotsuki, a supporting character in the manga series, '' Watashi ni xx Shinasai'' *Akira Kunimi (国見英), a character from ''

Haikyu!! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine '' Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from February 2012 to July 2020, with its chapters collected in 45 '' tank� ...

'' with the position of wing spiker for Aoba Johsai High *Akira Midousuji (御堂筋翔 Midōsuji Akira), a character in the manga and anime '' Yowamushi Pedal'' *Akira Nijino, a character from '' Ressha Sentai ToQger'' * Akira Kenjou (剣城あきら), a character in the anime series ''Kirakira PreCure a la Mode'' *Akira Yamabuki (Yamatoga in the English dub), a character from the anime series ''

Beyblade Burst is a Japanese manga and toyline created by Hiro Morita, originally based on Takara Tomy's ''Beyblade'' franchise. The third incarnation of the franchise after the '' Metal Fight'' series, the ''Beyblade Burst'' toyline launched on ...

'' *Akira Toudou, a character from the manga series ''

World's End Harem is a Japanese manga series written by LINK and illustrated by Kotarou Shouno. The first part of the manga was serialized in Shueisha's online magazine ''Shōnen Jump+'' from May 2016 to June 2020, while a second part, ''World's End Harem: A ...

'' *Akira Takaoka, an antagonist in ''

Assassination Classroom is a Japanese science fiction comedy manga series written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui. The series follows the daily life of an extremely powerful octopus-like being working as a junior high homeroom teacher, and his students dedicat ...

* Akira Nishikiyama, an antagonist from the game series ''Yakuza'' *Akira Howard, the twin of the main protagonist in ''

Astral Chain is a 2019 action-adventure game, action-adventure hack and slash video game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch. It was directed by Takahisa Taura, who was previously lead game designer for ''Nier: Automata' ...

'' * Akira Otoishi, a minor antagonist in ''Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akira (Name) Japanese unisex given names Unisex given names

Possible writings

People with the name

Fictional characters

See also

References