Akito is the head of the Sohma clan. Akito is very frail and has poor health. He often runs fevers and rarely walks out of the main house other than to greet some of the Zodiac members, such as Yuki and Shigure, that live in the outside world.

Akito has a definite mean streak and has physically and emotionally scarred many members of the Sohma family, but Akito's rule in the Sohma clan is absolute, and none dare oppose him. While Akito isn't cursed by any of the vengeful spirits (mononoke) of the Zodiac, Akito has been revealed (Volume 11) as playing the role of the Jade Emperor (God) from the stories about the origins of the Chinese Zodiac.

A possible part of Akito's curse was that Akito would only live to be 30 years old. Obsessive and somewhat mad. At a certain point in the Zodiac's life, Akito wishes to force them to live within the Sohma compound with him for the rest of their lives in a never-ending "banquet". He even describes himself as the "Master of Their (the Zodiac) Souls". He also has a definite hatred for Kyo Sohma, the Cat, who he believes should be isolated for the rest of his life.

It is only after assurance from Shigure that Tohru can be trusted with the family secret that she is allowed to stay. Akito has no choice but to order Tohru's memory erased should she fail to uphold her end of the bargain. Most of the Sohma family is afraid of Akito and will follow his orders no matter what their personal feelings may be.

Akito is a cruel person who doesn't care for anyone else. He gets sick very often and is watched over by Hatori Sohma, who is a doctor for the family. The cause of his sickness comes from the fact that he won't live past the age of thirty. He is the head of the house is the person who takes the whole weight of the family. In effect, it puts a lot of pressure on him. He does not turn into any animals.

In the manga, it is eventually revealed that Akito is actually female.