He was born in Fukuoka Prefecture and graduated from La Salle Junior and Senior High School in Kagoshima.
Yoshida was known primarily for "light novels," a category in Japanese publishing that includes youth-oriented stories, often featuring anime-style cover illustrations.
[1] In 1997, Yoshida was awarded the Sneaker Taisho literary prize for his debut novel, Genocide Angel.
[2] Two years after Yoshida's death, from January to October 2006, his home village of Ashiyamachi, Fukuoka, in conjunction with publishers Kadokawa Shoten, Gonzo and Broccoli, held a "Sunao Exhibit" to memorialize his achievements.
[citation needed] Gainax's scheduled project Neppu Kairiku Bushi Road was indefinitely delayed after his death, as he was supposed to be its world designer.