He graduated from the 41st class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1913, ranked 61st out of 118 cadets.

Akiyama was promoted to lieutenant on 1 December 1918, and was assigned to the destroyer Isokaze as chief torpedo officer.

He subsequently commanded the destroyers Yūgure, Tachibana, Kashiwa, Sawarabi, Hamakaze and Murakumo in the 10-year period from 1924 to 1934.

At 01:06 off Kolombangara, the task group came into contact with U.S. Navy Task Group 36.1 (TG 36.1), commanded by Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth, and consisting of light cruisers USS Helena, Honolulu, and St. Louis, along with four destroyers.

In the resultant Battle of Kula Gulf, the American ships opened fire at 01:57 and quickly sank the Japanese flagship, destroyer Niizuki, killing Admiral Akiyama.