Born into a lower-ranking samurai family of Matsuyama domain, Iyo Province, Akiyama Yoshifuru was the older brother of naval operations officer Akiyama Saneyuki. After training at the Nagoya Army Instruction Corps, he studied in France at the Saint-Cyr Military Academy for two years, learning cavalry tactics. After returning to Japan, he devoted himself entirely to modernizing the army's cavalry and was called the "Father of Japanese Cavalry." He gained combat experience commanding the 1st Cavalry Battalion in the Sino-Japanese War. In the Russo-Japanese War he led the Akiyama Detachment against the Russian Cossack cavalry divisions, reputed to be the world's strongest. At the Battle of Heigoutai he defended the center in an isolated situation and contributed to the Japanese victory at Mukden. After retirement he returned to his hometown of Matsuyama and served as a school principal. Known as a warrior who loved sake and preferred a simple life, he is widely known alongside his brother Saneyuki as a protagonist of Shiba Ryotaro's novel "Clouds Above the Hill," remembered as an embodiment of the Meiji spirit. His life — marked by an almost stubborn sincerity and a lifelong passion for cavalry — continues to move many hearts today.

Bold, magnanimous, and unpretentious by nature. His creed was: "A man need accomplish but one great thing in his lifetime." In contrast to his brother Saneyuki, he was unassuming—known for wearing plain clothes and drinking sake with locals even after retirement.

Elevated Japanese cavalry to world standards and contributed to victory in the Russo-Japanese War. Widely known as one of the protagonists of Shiba Ryotaro's "Clouds Above the Hill," he is an iconic figure in Matsuyama's history.