Good afternoon, my name is Michael Mooney and the Akiya family has asked me to talk to you about Mrs. Akiya and Judo.
The three most important things in my life are Family, Church & Judo.
The Akiya's are responsible for my love of Judo. I can't speak about Mrs. Akiya and Judo without speaking about Mr. Akiya as they were inseparable.
I'm probably one of their oldest active Judo students having staring with them 45 years ago at the East Cleveland YMCA.
When I was a teenager I could have gotten in trouble as I was heading that way but after my friend Chip Morgan took me to a Judo class at the Y and after I joined I was hooked. From then on I was in judo class or at the Akiya's or at tournaments. I didn't have time to get in trouble.
I've told my family and friends all my life that I turned out like I did thanks to the principles I learned from the Akiya's and Judo. They were my coach, teacher, and friend. Not only have they been my instructors they have been like Parents to me.
When we were at their home we learned about their food, language, dress and customs. I didn't just learn Judo I learned to appreciate the Japanese culture.
Whether we were at a tournament, demonstration or promotion, whatever, Mr. Akiya drove and Mrs. Akiya always had an abundance of Japanese food for us to eat.
Chip and I was with them when they moved from the Y and opened Mid East Judo Academy in Wickliffe. We helped them stuff the mats with sawdust and paint the place. They were tireless, Mr. Akiya taught Judo after working all day and Mrs. Akiya was still raising a family.
I dropped out of Judo after a knee injury, went to College, got married, had kids but I never completely lost contact with them.
Years later I was invited to their 60th Wedding Anniversary and decided after seeing them to come back to Judo, which I did with 4 of my children.
My kids like me fell in love with Judo and the Akiya's. They were like another set of Grandparents to my kids. Thanks to their help Jonathan & Ashley became National competitors and got their Black belts.
I'm not going to try and explain all the things I learned in Judo from them but everything that I've accomplished is a direct result of their teachings. With their help I now am a National Referee and a 3rd degree Black Belt and run a judo club that they helped me start.
They encouraged me to bid for the biggest Judo tournament in the United States and in 2002 my partner Paul Jordan and I held the Senior Nationals at Public Hall. Sadly Mr. Akiya had passed on and didn't get to see the fruits of his labor but Mrs. Akiya was there and proud of all of her students that were there working and competing at the tournament.
Nothing of what I have accomplished and all of their other Judo students would have happened without their love for Judo and their guidance. They are responsible for scores of Black Belts, and another generation of instructors to teach the sport that they loved.
The Akiya's were active and ran many of the local and state Judo organizations. They have too many awards and thanks to mention here. Every Judo instructor and student here could tell their own story about the wonderful things the Akiya's have done for them and the sport.
At Judo camps during the summers I used to sit at the pool and talk to Mrs. Akiya as we watched the kid swim. She would tell me stories about Mr. Akiya and the camp they were at in Wyoming. She gave me an education you can't get in school or a history book.
Mrs. Akiya could always be counted on to have Japanese food at any tournament she attended. The referees always said they ate the best when she was there. She even came to my house to show my wife Daria & I how to make sushi and we videotaped it so we could always remember what she taught. She also made sure that my wife and children had kimono's to wear.
After she physically couldn't do Judo and her health was deteriorating I would visit her at home or at the hospital and you'd never guess what she wanted to talk about. Mr. Akiya and Judo, and she could talk about both for hours. She had an amazing life and blessed many in her path.
I was fortunate to see Mrs. Akiya the Sunday after Christmas with Jonathan & Ashley. Her body was failing but not her spirit. She talked to us for an hour about my Family and Judo. This was to be our last visit.
When Paul Jordan, Liam Eddy & I opened our Judo club in 1995 this statement was framed and hanging on the wall:
Chu To Bu Judo Club is dedicated to Edward and Grace Akiya their dedication to the sport as well as the principles they taught were an inspiration to me and my children The Akiya's are the reason for this Judo Club
My only regret is that I was never able to fulfill a teenage dream of mine which was to go to Japan with them.
In the movie The Last Samurai there is a scene where the character Nathan Algren says to the Samurai Katsumoto, who is dying,
I will miss our conversations.
That expresses the way I feel today about Mrs. Akiya
Dom Arigato Akiya Sensei and Sayonara.