After having studied illustration in college Akiyo Nagano found employment in 2003 with Q-LiA, a design firm that specializes in stationery items with a focus on cute characters. There she's been entrenched in the development of countless characters and properties. In 2014, Nagano developed the BANANYA character, and it was promptly implemented for domestic merchandising. In 2016, BANANYA was developed into an anime series with Nagano helming all character design work. She is now retired from her position as a full-time illustrator and spends her time working on Bananya-related manga and other publications for children. She lives in Osaka, Japan.