Born in Suma-ku, Kobe in 1901, Akira Shimada was the first-born son of a physician.

He attended study meetings at Nishibori Shōin, where he was deeply interested in the book Hagakure and the teachings of Saigō Takamori on the chivalric code of Japanese warriors, bushido.

It was the height of World War II, with intervention by the American forces regarded as inevitable.

[1] In March, violent air-raids began and the Okinawan local government moved from Naha to a cave in Shuri, the previous capital of Okinawa.

[2] On June 9, Shimada ordered the dissolution of the prefecture and police staff, with his desire of preserving their life.

On June 26, Shimada left the cave called Todorokino Gō with Taizo Arai, the police chief and, after that, their whereabouts were unknown.

In place of Shimada, Ota sent a telegram to the Vice-Admiral of mainland Japan reporting on the tragic conditions of Okinawans.

[3][4] The cave where he died is now called Todorokino Gō, also known as the last Okinawa Prefectural Office.

In 1951, the tower of Shimamori was constructed as a memorial to Shimada and 453 officials of the Okinawa Prefectural Office.

The Shimada Cup is now given to the winning team of the high school baseball tournament in Okinawa.