Akehi joined the animation studio Toei Doga in early 1960s. He soon started directing various anime TV series. His first feature-length anime film was Cyborg 009 gekijô ban: chô ginga densetsu (1980). He also directed anime films Sen-nen joô (Queen Millenia, 1982), based on the manga and TV series with the same title, and Saint Seiya: Saishûseisen no senshitachi (Warriors of the Final Holy Battle, 1989), fourth from the Saint Seiya series of films.