Akibo was a big smile of a guy. He emanated good cheer and was fun to be around. He was a gentle, caring guy who tried to make others happy. My memories of Akibo are often filtered through the lens of the love of his life, Erika. He was a great presence in her life right from the beginning of their relationship. I first met Akibo through my good friend Erika when we were living in Japan in the 1990s. He was this big guy (maybe had longish hair at the time) with a big smile and a very gentle manner. He was protective of Erika and was always sure to phone her the morning after the girls had had a night out to make sure she was home safe and sound. My sister visited me in Japan one spring and we went cherry blossom viewing on the grounds of the Osaka Mint with Akibo and Erika. Actually, it was more like pushing our way through a jam-packed crowd while looking at the beautiful cherry blossoms above. Akibo was our beacon as his height and skill at forging a path through a crowd led us through the throngs of people. He looked after us all and made sure we had a good time. We shared a wonderful meal all together and Akibo was instrumental in making it a great memory for my sister and me. When Erika and I became friends we talked on the phone most evenings and shared our hopes and fears and ups and downs as we both navigated dating Japanese men and living in a foreign country. And of course we did what all young women do: we analyzed everything about our relationships. It was clear to me then that Erika and Akibo cared deeply about each other and I wasn’t surprised when Erika didn’t want to go back to America without trying to find a way for Akibo to come too. Akibo had a quality about him that drew people in with his genuine and open smiling face. The last time I saw Akibo was when I visited San Francisco in January 2004. He was as happy and smiling as ever. We all went out for dinner one night in the Castro. Erika had warned me that every time they went to the Castro, Akibo got all the attention. Sure enough, at dinner the waiter fawned over Akibo with barely a glance at Erika or me! Akibo was just the kind of guy that people responded to. He made you feel at ease and accepted you for who you were.