Matsuri Akino is a Japanese manga artist known for creating supernatural, horror, and mystery stories. Born on July 7 in Tokyo, she originally comes from Mitaka and currently resides in Yokohama. Her professional career began in the late 1980s, with her first serialized work, Reikan Shouhou Kabushikigaisha, appearing in 1988.

Akino is best known as the original creator of the manga Pet Shop of Horrors. This series, which ran from 1995 to 1998, is set in a mysterious pet shop in Los Angeles’ Chinatown run by the enigmatic Count D, where customers can purchase fantastical and supernatural creatures. The manga was adapted into a four-episode anime miniseries produced by the studio Madhouse in 1999. The world of Pet Shop of Horrors expanded with several sequel and spin-off series, including Shin Pet Shop of Horrors (also known as Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo), Pet Shop of Horrors: Passage-Hen, and Pet Shop of Horrors: Ark Adrift.

Beyond this signature work, her bibliography includes a wide range of titles that blend fantasy, mystery, and horror. Notable works include Genju no Seiza, Kamen Tantei, and Kenja no Ishi, also known as Zakuro no Meikyuu. She has also adapted existing novels into manga, such as Kaze yo, banri wo kakeru yo based on a story by Yoshiki Tanaka, and mystery adaptations of works by Yasuo Uchida.

Akino’s artistic identity is defined by a focus on supernatural themes, intricate plotting, and a gothic or mysterious atmosphere. Her work often explores moral dilemmas and the consequences of human desire. In her author commentaries and self-portraits, she frequently depicts herself as a kappa, a creature from Japanese folklore, often with braids or a traditional odango hairstyle. Her art is noted for its detailed linework and ability to create an ethereal and tense mood. Her contributions have established her as a significant figure in the fantasy and horror manga genres, with a career spanning several decades and numerous series.