Akimi Yoshida is a Japanese manga artist and original creator born on August 12, 1956, in Shibuya, Tokyo. A graduate of Musashino Art University, she made her professional debut in 1977 with the short story Chotto Fushigi na Geshukunin, published in Bessatsu Shōjo Comic magazine. Her career includes numerous acclaimed works, and she has been credited as the original creator for the 1981 anime movie Akuma to Himegimi, a short comedy film directed by Ryosuke Takahashi and produced by Toei Animation.

Yoshida is best known for the long-running crime thriller series Banana Fish, which was serialized from 1985 to 1994 and later received an anime adaptation by MAPPA in 2018. Her other notable manga series include California Story (1978–1981), Kisshō Tennyo (1983–1984), Sakura no Sono (1985–1986), Yasha (1996–2002), Eve no Nemuri (2003–2005), and Umimachi Diary (2006–2018), the latter of which was adapted into the 2015 live-action film Our Little Sister directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. Her ongoing series Utagawa Hyakkei began publication in 2019.

While her work is primarily published in shōjo manga magazines, Yoshida’s storytelling often incorporates elements more commonly associated with shōnen manga, such as intricate action sequences and psychological depth. In a 1982 interview, she addressed this perception, stating that being a "secret shojo manga artist" allowed her creative freedom. Her artistic identity is characterized by a focus on complex character relationships, mature themes, and narratives that blend genres like suspense, drama, and family dynamics.

Yoshida has received significant industry recognition, including the Shogakukan Manga Award three times: in the shōjo category for Kisshō Tennyo in 1983 and Yasha in 2001, and in the general category for Umimachi Diary in 2015. She also won the Manga Taishō award for Umimachi Diary in 2013 and received an Excellence Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival for the same work in 2007.