Akira Fukase is a resident of Kotobuki Manor, the apartment building also known as the Yokai Apartment, where he lives in room 103. He is a human being, though his appearance and demeanor often lead others to assume otherwise. Akira is a man in his late forties, but he possesses a youthful look that belies his true age, making him appear much younger. He has distinct red hair, which he typically wears slicked back, and brown eyes. His overall aesthetic and tough, unrefined mannerisms give him the appearance of a former delinquent or a member of a biker gang.

In truth, Akira is a professional painter, though his artistic reputation is somewhat unusual; he is considered a rebellious or outsider artist who has found greater popularity and recognition overseas than in his home country of Japan. This dichotomy between his rough exterior and his creative interior is central to his character. He is often seen with a cigarette in his mouth, contributing to his hardened, world-weary image. Despite this intimidating facade, his personality is that of a reliable and dependable older brother figure to the other residents. He is good-natured and protective, especially towards the younger inhabitants of the apartment like the protagonist, Yushi Inaba.

However, Akira is not without his complexities. While he is generally trustworthy and good-hearted, he also possesses a clear-eyed, pragmatic, and sometimes cynical view of the world. He is known to be quite combative and does not shy away from a fight, a trait he demonstrates readily when the need arises. This willingness to use violence is balanced by a strong sense of justice, as he primarily uses his strength to defend his home and friends. He has a hidden side that is more pessimistic, a realist who accepts that some things in life are beyond saving or fixing.

Akira plays a significant role in the daily life of Kotobuki Manor as a protector and a friend. He is one of the key human residents who helps ground the more supernatural elements of the story. He shares a particularly strong bond with his beloved pet, a large dog named Snowman, though the animal is also referred to as Cigar. Snowman is not an ordinary dog; he is a giant breed mixed with wolf blood, whom Akira acquired as a puppy during his travels in Alaska. The dog is as intimidating as his owner and is a constant companion.

His relationships within the apartment are marked by mutual respect and camaraderie. He gets along well with the other human residents and the various yokai and ghosts, having long since accepted the unusual nature of his home. He is particularly protective of Yushi, helping to acclimate the young man to his strange new living situation and offering him blunt, practical advice. Akira is also a capable fighter, possessing considerable strength and skill in physical combat, which he uses without hesitation against anyone who threatens the peace of the apartment, whether they are human bullies or supernatural troublemakers.

Throughout the story, Akira does not undergo a dramatic personality change, but his character is gradually revealed to be more layered than his initial roughneck appearance suggests. His dedication to his art, his loyalty to his friends, and his surprisingly deep understanding of the world's harsh realities all come to the forefront. In the final chapters of his story, after the events at the apartment conclude, Akira makes the significant decision to move permanently to Alaska, indicating a final chapter in his life of seeking solace and inspiration in the wild. This move suggests a culmination of his free-spirited and somewhat restless nature, choosing a life of solitude and natural grandeur over the company of the apartment he had called home for so long.