Akira (given name)

In Japanese there are many alternative ways to write the name Akira in kanji. 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"
• 光, "light"
• 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"

• Akira Akao (赤尾 公, born 1988), Japanese footballer
• Akira Amano (born 1973), manga artist
• Akira Ando (安東 輝, born 1995), Japanese footballer
• Akira Asahara (浅原 晃), Japanese Magic: The Gathering player
• Akira Disaro (born 1996), Japanese footballer
• Akira Hagiwara (萩原 光, 1956–1986), Japanese racing driver
• Akira Haraguchi (born 1946), mental health counsellor
• Hayashi Akira (林 韑, 1800–1859), Japanese scholar and diplomat
• Akira Hayashi (swimmer) (林 享, born 1974), Japanese swimmer
• Akira Himekawa, pen name used by a duo of manga artists
• Akira Hiramoto (平本 アキラ, born 1976), Japanese manga artist
• Akira Ibayashi (井林 章, born 1990), Japanese footballer
• Akira Ifukube (昭, 1914–2006), composer of classical music and film scores
• Akira Iida (born 1969), racing driver
• Akira Inaba, Japanese shogi player
• Akira Ioane (born 1995), rugby player
• Akira Iriye (born 1934), historian of American diplomatic history
• Akira Ishibashi (石橋 顕, born 1973), Japanese sailor
• Akira Ishida (石田 彰, born 1967), Japanese voice actor
• Akira Ishimaru (アキラ 石丸, born 1928), Japanese-American engineer and academic
• Akira Isogawa (born 1964), fashion designer
• Akira Ito (field hockey) (亮, born 1981), hockey player
• Akira Itō (manga artist) (章), manga artist
• Akira Jimbo (born 1959), jazz fusion drummer
• Akira Kaji (born 1980), Japanese football player
• Akira Kajiyama (梶山 章), Japanese guitarist
• Akira Kamiya (明, born 1946), voice actor
• Akira Kanbe, manga artist
• Akira Kawashima (川島 明, born 1979), Japanese comedian, television personality and actor
• Akira Kobayashi (born 1938), actor
• Akira Kodama (小玉 晃, born 1944), Japanese basketball player
• Akira Komoto (章, born 1935), artist
• Akira Kurosawa (明, 1910–1998), film director, producer, and screenwriter
• Akira Machida (顯, born 1936), head of the Japanese Supreme Court
• Akira Maeda (born 1959), wrestler
• Akira Masuda (born 1962), Japanese karate practitioner
• Akira Mikazuki (1921–2010), Japanese scholar and politician
• Akira Morishita (born 2001), Filipino-Japanese actor and singer
• Akira Mutō (章, 1892–1948), general in the Imperial Japanese Army
• Akira Nakaura (中浦 章, born 1935), Japanese sport wrestler
• Akira Narahashi (born 1971), Japanese football defender
• Akira Nishio, Japanese shogi player
• Akira Nogami (born 1968), wrestler
• Akira Raijin or Akira Kawabata (born 1978), Japanese professional wrestler
• Akira Sakata (born 1945), free jazz saxophonist
• Akira Sasaki (佐々木 明, born 1981), Japanese alpine skier
• Akira Sasanuma (晃, born 1973), voice actor
• Akira Satō (photographer) (佐藤 明, 1930–2002), Japanese photographer
• Akira Satō (ski jumper) (佐藤 晃, born 1964), Japanese ski jumper
• Akira Sekine, (関根 明良), Japanese voice actress
• Akira Senju (明, born 1960), Japanese composer
• Akira Shima, Japanese shogi player
• Akira Shoji (born 1974), Japanese professional mixed martial artist
• Akira Suzuki (disambiguation), multiple people
• Akira Takabe (高部 聖, born 1982), Japanese footballer
• Akira Takarada (明, born 1934), actor
• Akira Takasaki (晃, born 1961), heavy metal guitarist
• Akira Takayasu (晃, born 1990), Japanese sumo wrestler
• Akira Takeuchi (athlete) (竹内 章, born 1947), Japanese middle-distance runner
• Akira Tamura (田村 明, 1926–2010), Japanese city planner
• Akira Taue (明, born 1961), professional wrestler
• Akira Terao (聰, born 1947), entertainer
• Akira Tomii (富井 周, 1890–1959), Japanese diplomat
• Akira Toriyama (ophthalmologist) (晃, 1898–1994), ophthalmologist and photographer
• Akira Toriyama (明, born 1955), Japanese manga and game artist
• Akira Tozawa (戸澤 陽, born 1985), Japanese professional wrestler
• Akira Watanabe (shogi), Japanese shogi player
• Akira Yaegashi (東, born 1983), professional boxer
• Akira Yamada (山田 晶, 1922–2008), Japanese philosopher
• Akira Yamagishi (山岸 章, 1929–2016), Japanese trade unionist
• Akira Yamaguchi (山口 晃, born 1969), Japanese artist
• Akira Yamamoto (山本 旭, 1913–1944), Japanese World War II flying ace
• Akira Yamaoka (晃, born 1968), composer
• Akira Yanase (柳瀬 彰良, born 1988), Japanese water polo player
• Akira Yoshida (吉田 明, born 1971), Japanese rugby union player
• Akira Yoshizawa (章, 1911–2005), origami artist

• Akira (Akira), the title character of Akira
• Akira (Blue Mask), a character in Hikari Sentai Maskman
• Akira Asaba (麻羽 央), a character in Magical Trans!
• Akira Momoi, a character in Denshi Sentai Denziman
• Akira Kogane, a character in Voltron: Defender of the Universe, also known as Beast King GoLion (given name changed to 'Keith' 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
• Akira Inugami (aka Wolf), a character in the manga Wolf Guy
• Akira Hayama, a character in the manga Shokugeki no Soma
• Akira Himi (aka Aqua Current), a character in the light novel Accel World
• Akira Kazama, a character in Rival Schools media
• Akira Kogami, a character in Lucky Star franchise
• Akira, a character in Shin Megami Tensei IV 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 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
• 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
• Akira Tachibana (橘 あきら), a protagonist in the manga After the Rain (manga)
• Akira Takano, 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, a character in Hikaru no Go media
• Akira Udō, a character in Air Gear media
• Akira Yuki, a character in the Virtua Fighter universe
• Akira Kaburagi Regendorf, the protagonist in the Dance in the Vampire Bund manga and its anime adaption
• Akira, a character in the anime and manga Samurai Deeper Kyo
• Akira, a character in the manga Dengeki Daisy
• Akira, the main protagonist in the BL visual novel Togainu no Chi
• Akira Rai, a character in Jab Tak Hai Jaan
• Akira Fudo, the main character in Devilman
• Akira Mado, a supporting character in the manga series, Tokyo Ghoul
• Akira Shimotsuki, a supporting character in the manga series, Watashi ni xx Shinasai
• Akira Kunimi (国見 英), a character from Haikyu!! 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
• Akira Toudou, a character from the manga series World's End Harem
• Akira Takaoka, an antagonist in Assassination Classroom
• Akira Nishikiyama, an antagonist from the game series Yakuza
• Akira Howard, the twin of the main protagonist in Astral Chain
• Akira Otoishi, a minor antagonist in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure

• Akira (disambiguation)