Natsumi Itsuki is a Japanese manga artist and original creator born on February 5, 1960, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. She began her professional career in 1979 with the one-shot Megumi-chan ni sasageru comedy, published in the manga magazine LaLa. Her body of work, which often blends science fiction, supernatural drama, and historical elements, has established her as a significant figure in shōjo manga.

Itsuki is the creator of several major works that have been adapted into anime. The manga Hanasakeru Seishōnen was serialized from 1987 to 1994 and later received a television anime adaptation. Her series Eight Clouds Rising, also known as Yakumo Tatsu, was published in LaLa from 1992 to 2002 and compiled into 19 volumes. This supernatural drama was adapted into a two-episode original video animation in 1997, directed by Tomomi Mochizuki and produced by Studio Pierrot. Another of her notable works, Oz, was serialized in the early 1990s and also adapted into an anime. Her manga Jyu Oh Sei was another series that received an anime adaptation.

Throughout her career, Itsuki has received critical recognition for her work. She won the Seiun Award for best science fiction manga in 1993 for Oz. In 1997, she was awarded the Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga for Eight Clouds Rising. Her artistic identity is characterized by a focus on intricate narratives that frequently incorporate elements of fantasy, mythology, and psychological depth, distinguishing her work within the shōjo and josei demographics. Her series Eight Clouds Rising, for example, weaves together contemporary supernatural encounters with historical backdrops and themes of shamanism. This consistent output of acclaimed series, many of which have been adapted into animated formats, underscores her lasting influence as a creator in the anime and manga industry.