Save Gender Masculine Usage Japanese Scripts 昭一, 昭和, etc.(Japanese Kanji) Pronounced Pron. A-KEE-KAH-ZOO [key] Meaning & History From Japanese kanji 明 (aki) meaning "bright" or 朗 (aki) meaning "bright, clear" or 昭 (aki) meaning "shining" combined with 和 (kazu) meaning "harmony, peace" or 一 (kazu) meaning "one". Other kanji combinations are possible.