Named in honor of Isao Akita (b. 1948), president of the comet observers network in Japan, “Hoshi no Hiroba”, since 1988. He is a well-known amateur astronomer and keen observer and photographer of comets and galaxies. He is especially at home assisting in the efforts of other comet enthusiasts, both within his group and throughout the country. Name proposed by the discoverers following a suggestion by Y. Yamada.