Akimoto defended her national title in 1980, then again in 1981, improving further to 13.71 seconds. She won another bronze medal at the Pacific Conference Games that year – one of only three Japanese women ton win an individual medal there, alongside high jumper Hisayo Fukumitsu and fellow hurdler Yumiko Aoi. She remained unchallenged at continental level, repeating her hurdles victory at the 1981 Asian Athletics Championships (again held in Tokyo) in a new championship record of 13.78 seconds ahead of China's Dia. Another appearance for Asia came as a result at the 1981 IAAF World Cup, where she again placed eighth.