Bowling Green professor emeritus Akiko Kawano Jones passed away on June 13. She taught Japanese language and culture in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

For 43 years, Akiko integrated Japanese culture into Bowling Green in many ways. Akiko’s journey at Bowling Green started in 1983, achieving many career accolades including BGSU’s Faculty Senate Lifetime Achievement Award, Master Teacher Award, and the American Association of Teachers of Japanese Teacher Award.

Before her time at Bowling Green, Akiko was born and raised in Kobe, Japan. She enrolled at Kobe College, graduated with her bachelor’s degree and in 1970 moved to the United States for a teaching position at Bucknell University. At Bucknell, Akiko went on to earn her Master’s degree and in 1974, married her husband, Eric Jones.

Before settling down in Bowling Green, Akiko and Eric had stops in Arizona, where she taught on the Navajo Hopi Indian reservation and in Charlottesville, Virginia where the two started their family.

In 1983, Akiko and her family moved to Bowling Green after accepting a professor role, teaching Japanese language and culture. In 2005, Akiko became the director of the program and was later granted emeritus status in 2021. She established the Akiko Kawano Jones Study Abroad Scholarship in 2014, ensuring opportunities to many students.

Akiko also worked closely with the Consulate General’s Office in Detroit to help students travel to Japan to teach English and developed the summer Hiroshima experience at Bowling Green in 2006. Students that were part of the peace and conflict studies program were able to travel to Hiroshima to observe the impact of the war and immerse themselves in Japanese culture.

While her resume stands out with countless achievements, her family was the most important part of her life. She enjoyed countless swim meets, piano recitals, hockey games and soccer matches with her children and husband.

She is survived by her husband Eric Jones, her children Nathaniel Jones and Natalie Hoffman, as well as grandchildren Parker, Hadley, Emika, Juna and Emmett. Join Akiko’s family in celebrating her life on September 19, 2026 at the BGSU Lenhart Grand Ballroom at 1:00 pm. Donations can be made to the Akiko Kawano Jones Japanese Study Abroad Scholarship.

Her husband, Eric, posted this to the Facebook page for Arlyn’s Good Beer.