Akinori Imai

Akinori Imai was born in Ola’a Hawaii and lived through World War II much in the territorial days. He lived in Honolulu for 13 years, became an electrician then went to college and became a teacher where he taught in Kona for 25 years. During that time, Akinori also started a successful electrical contracting business “Aki’s Electrical Service” and retired after nearly 25 years. Akinori at age 82 in January 2010 after his Uncle Richard’s passing (the last of his generation), Akinori decided to take up the project of recording the family’s history. To date, he has chronicalled four published family related books.

Updated September 2021

Stories from This Author

Our Remarkable Parents

Oct. 8, 2021 • Akinori Imai

It is stated in the “Divine Message of Grand Harmony” by Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi as follows: “Be reconciled with the whole universe. When you are so reconciled the whole universe is your friend. When the whole universe is your friend nothing whatever can harm you.” And he continues, “The greatest among your brothers and sisters are your parents. Those who are grateful to God but cannot be grateful to their parents are against the Divine Will.” There is a Japanese …

aesthetics families generations Hawai'i metaphysics Nisei psychology theory of knowledge United States values

Nikkei Chronicles #10—Nikkei Generations: Connecting Families & Communities

Life with Grandpa Toyoji & Grandma Kii Imai - Part 2

Sept. 21, 2021 • Akinori Imai

Read Part 1 >> Grandmother Kii Imai (1873-1964) displayed her humbleness, respect for all forms of life, her debt of gratitude for everything, and her meekness. She was not as well educated formally as grandfather, but yet understood the nature of man and lived a life of gratitude. She greeted everyone with a deep bow, always with a smiling face. Unlike grandpa, she was the one who tilled the soil and took care of the back yard garden and grew …

families generations Hawai'i immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration religion traditions United States

Nikkei Chronicles #10—Nikkei Generations: Connecting Families & Communities

Life with Grandpa Toyoji & Grandma Kii Imai - Part 1

Sept. 20, 2021 • Akinori Imai

PartGrandpa Toyoji (1869-1953--from Niigata, Japan) was unquestionably a unique person, exercising complete freedom and free will. His mannerisms and actions that he displayed, his character that he portrayed, makes me think he was one that no one can ever duplicate. He would be so stern at times, and yet on the other hand he could be very compassionate and caring. Grandfather was never a physical person, in that he was never seen in the back yard garden, nor working with …