Maizuru Naval District
Akiyama was born to a farm family in what is now part of the city of Kan'onji, Kagawa, Japan. The family was very poor, and could not afford any machinery, so as a youth, Akiyama spent his school holidays in the fields. In 1911 he was accepted into the 42nd class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, and graduated in December 1914 ranked 66 out of 114 cadets. He was assigned as a second lieutenant on the battleship . After graduating from gunnery school, he served as artillery officer on the cruiser , on the staff of the Maizuru Naval District and as executive officer on the . In 1937, he was promoted to captain, and received his first command, that of the supply ship . He returned to shore duty to command the guard division at Kure Naval District. He was promoted to rear admiral in May 1943 and made commander of the Kure Naval Arsenal.