Fumi Yoshinaga is the creator of the manga series 'Antique Bakery,' a slice-of-life narrative centered on the four male employees of a pâtisserie named Antique. The series, which ran from 1999 to 2001, explores the daily lives, workplace dynamics, and personal entanglements of the staff within the unique setting of a shop housed in a former antique store. 'Antique Bakery' gained significant recognition and was adapted into various media, including a live-action television drama, an audio drama, and an anime series. It also inspired international adaptations in South Korea and Thailand. The manga itself was awarded a Kodansha Manga Award, and its Japanese live-action adaptation garnered multiple accolades, highlighting its critical and commercial success.

Fumi Yoshinaga is a celebrated manga artist recognized for her work in both mainstream and independent circles. Before achieving widespread recognition with 'Antique Bakery,' Yoshinaga was primarily known for her contributions to the boys' love (BL) genre and for self-published dōjinshi works. 'Antique Bakery,' serialized between 1999 and 2001, marked a significant commercial breakthrough for the artist. The series was later collected into four volumes and published by Shinshokan. In addition to the main series, Yoshinaga created 'Antique Afterwards,' a spin-off dōjinshi that delves more explicitly into themes and scenarios influenced by the yaoi genre, featuring sexually explicit content and exploring same-sex relationships among the characters.

'Antique Bakery' has been adapted into multiple forms of media, demonstrating its broad appeal. A live-action television drama aired in Japan in 2001, followed by an audio drama released between 2002 and 2003. A television anime adaptation was produced and broadcast in 2008. The series' influence extended internationally with a South Korean live-action film in 2008 and a Thai live-action television series in 2021. The original manga received critical acclaim, earning a Kodansha Manga Award for best shōjo manga. The Japanese television drama also achieved significant recognition, winning awards such as the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix and multiple Television Drama Academy Awards.

The core of 'Antique Bakery' revolves around the lives of four men working at a pâtisserie called Antique. The setting itself, a former antique shop utilizing vintage tableware and furniture, adds a unique ambiance to the narrative. The story primarily follows a slice-of-life format, focusing on comedic and dramatic workplace scenarios, the art of pastry-making, and interpersonal romantic dynamics. While lacking a strong overarching plot for much of its run, a recurring storyline involves the owner, Keiichirō Tachibana, searching for the individual who kidnapped him as a child. This subplot culminates with Tachibana assisting the police in apprehending a child kidnapper, providing a thematic resolution to his personal quest.