[3] He attended Nihon University, but suffered multiple injuries while competing there, requiring surgeries on both shoulders which ended his hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

[3] After Akazawa graduated from Nihon University, he spent several years training in Russia but missed out on qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

[3] He recalled that one of his junior high school teachers had taught judo in Samoa and got in contact with him.

[4] Akazawa moved to Samoa in June 2017 and continued training; United World Wrestling noted that he became one of "about 10 wrestlers over the age of 14 in the entire country," as rugby is the most popular sport.

[3] After marrying a woman he met in Samoa in 2018, he set up a massage parlor, which became popular locally.