[1] Akira Toyoshima was working as an accountant at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant when the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami struck Japan.
[2] Toyoshima said that he was organizing important and urgent documents in the main office building of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant as a member of the accounting team.
He took note of the number of people who had to live in emergency shelters after the disaster which prompted him to withdraw from the 2012 London Paralympics.
[2] He inspiration to pursue his dreams in wheelchair basketball came from footballer Aya Sameshima who played an instrumental role in helping Japan win the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Aya Sameshima happened to be one of Akira Toyoshima's colleagues while working at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.