Akira Yoshida

Akira was a one-in-a-million kind of guy. I wish his family the best. I just found about his passing.

Akira, as colleague and a friend, was a wonderful person who exuded a natural a vibrant energy. It was an honor to have taught along side him for several years, as we taught on-air classes. Great person and a personal model of excellence. May he rest in peace.

Sensei was always so patient and had a big, bright smile in class. He really opened my eyes and those of other students to the mysteries of Japan, by showing great videos and offering his own insights. Many of my best memories of high school were in his Japanese classes. I wish he could have lived a much longer life, but am grateful for the time I had with him. Thank you, Sensei!

10 years later and Im still in Japan, with a beautiful family and a life Im very grateful for. Its all thanks to Sensei for setting me down this path! I wish more kids had had the chance for their lives to be touched by him. Thank you for everything, Sensei, rest in peace and I hope to see you again someday.

Yoshida Sensei was an amazing man. He inspired me to start learning Japanese during my sophomore year. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with cancer during this same year. We were unlucky to not have him as a teacher for our entire year of first-year Japanese. But, we cherish the very little time we had with him early on in that school year. You would never meet a man with an optimistic humor like Mr. Yoshida's. He would always cheer you up on a bad day. If it weren't for him, I would not be...

I took Mr. Yoshida's class for 2 years at Joel E. Ferris High School. When I first met him he inspired me to actually study Japanese before I started my first year of Japanese language study. He was the first true friend I had made at Ferris, and I was inspired by him to actually start the first official Japanese Club at Ferris. He also arranged for me to take 3 Japanese foreign exchange students and his daughter, Mia to Ferris's Homecoming Dance. In 2004 I went with him, his daughter Anna...

Praying for the Yoshida family: that they would be comforted by the legacy he left Spokane and that their memory of him would remain vivid and meaningful. I am most appreciative for his gracious encouragement to our son who struggled in first yr Japanese while he also nurtured our family interest in the Japanese culture after our Japanese summer homestay student departed. His encouragement has fostered our love for the culture. God Bless the Yoshida family.

Mr. Yoshida was my math teacher. He was an a great man and teacher. He took time from his family early in the morning and after school to help me understand math better. What a great man, his smile that could light up any room will truely be missed.