Yoshinobu Nishizaki co-created Uchuu Senkan Yamato, the franchise that defined his career. He studied at the Nihon University Art Department.

The latter half of his life was marked by serious troubles. In 1994, Nishizaki designed Yamato 2520, which led to a copyright lawsuit from Leiji Matsumoto. He declared bankruptcy three years later. Things got worse in 1999 when he was arrested on gun and drug charges, including possession of 30 howitzer shells.

Nishizaki died on November 7, 2010, at age 75, in a drowning accident. He fell from a research vessel—ironically also named Yamato—into the sea near Chichijima island.