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Tad Akazawa Died

December 18, 2007 | Book
The Founding President of the Elvis Presley Fan Club of Japan (Tokyo) Mr. Tad Akazawa has passed away. He suffered a massive heart attack and was only in his late 50's. The EPFCJ has a 5,000 strong membership and the former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his brother are also members of his Club.

The Elvis Statue in front of the Love Me Tender Rock and Roll Museum is his work. He has done a lot for Elvis Presley in Japan and has kept the Elvis flag flying for a long time. Our deepest and sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.
Source:Elvis Unlimited
SendToTodd wrote on December 18, 2007
I am so saddened to read this. The Japanese Fans are fantastic fun in Memphis, and we Brits always look forward to meeting them. Tad was an amazing fan club boss and he will certainly be missed. To involve the Prime Minister was a master touch, and his meeting with Bush was the news of the year. Thank you for all you have donme for Elvis and our thoughts are with your family. Todd Slaughter.
Bill E. Burk wrote on December 18, 2007
Tad Akazawa has been a very dear friend of mine since 1984 when I was fund-raising consultant for the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center here in Memphis and trying to organize the Elvis fans and fan clubs into a support system that remains in existence today. Tad and his EPFC of Tokyo club were among the first to step forward and support the Trauma Center. After our ELVIS WORLD magazine was formed in 1987, Tad quickly became one of our worldwide contributors for Elvis news from his part of the world. It was thru Tad that we came to know a member of his fan club -- a guy named Ichiro Koizumi, who was later to become Prime Minister of Japan. When Koizumi came to Graceland in 2006, Tad helped us to no end in getting all the news and photos of that visit, from the time he stepped off the airplane in Memphis until hours later when he left. Tad was an originator of the Elvis Alliance in Asia -- bringing together all the Asian fan clubs into one group to promote Elvis Presley in positive ways (something clubs in the rest of the world could damn sure copy today!!). The visiting Japanese fans each August, though fewer in number than the British, were just as fervent in their love and admiration for Elvis. Losing Tad Akazawa -- to me -- is like losing a member of my own family (and I have experience in that, too, in the past 3 weeks). May his soul rest in Peace forever. / 007
Elvisnites wrote on December 19, 2007
Bill, my condolences on the loss of your son. It is also a sad day for the loss of Mr. Akazawa. My condolences also to his family and friends. May he rest in peace. He lived a life he enjoyed.
samcra wrote on December 19, 2007
Very sad to hear this. May he rest in peace.