History:
Akira has a long history, starting with his birthplace in Kyoto, Japan. He had a twin brother named Kenji who followed the path of the Ninja rather than the Samurai. Akira bore him no ill-will for that. He and his brother served as stint as warriors protecting the world from a other-dimensional evil. That's wear he met his wife, Kotoha Shiba. While her family frowned upon their relationship, they, along with his brother, migrated to America. He and Kotoha settled in Angel Grove to begin having a family. He had one daughter, who later married Tai's father only for them to die four years after Tai came along in a feiry car crash.
Akira began swordsmithing in Japan, and continued his work when he immigrated. Swords by Akira Watanabe were highly sought after and he made a decent amount of money to support his family. Watanabe of Kyoto swords had long been highly sought after, so he also access to old family money.
Unexpectantly saddled with a toddler after the death of his daughter and son-in-law, and his wife having passed away long before, Akira had to start parenting all over again. He taught his grandson everything he knew about swordsmithing, bushido, kendo and karate. He all but retired from commercially selling his swords but that's until he approached by an android by the name of Alpha 5 to build some special weapons. Unknown to his grandson, Akira crafted the blades that were used in many Power Ranger weapons from then on.