Ryūzōji Akikane served as a bushi from the Sengoku to early Edo periods.  He was a retainer of the Ryūzōji clan.

In 1542, Akikane was born as the second son of Ryūzōji Iekado.  He received one of the characters in his name from Ōtomo Yoshiaki, and one of the characters from the name of his uncle, Ryūzōji Iekane, and adopted the name of Akikane.

In the ninth month of 1551, Akikane was backed by forces including Tsuchibashi Hidemasu, Takagi Akifusa, Baba Akichika, Yae Muneteru, Kumashiro Katsutoshi, and Oda Masamitsu opposed to the succession to the headship of the clan by Ryūzōji Takanobu (the great-grandson of Iekane and son of Akikane’s cousin) and contested the headship with Takanobu.  For a while, Takanobu was ousted from his castle.  Then, in the seventh month of 1553, Takanobu, with the support of the Kamachi clan, recovered his residence and expelled the opposition elements including Akikane.

During these events, however, Akikane served only as a young puppet head of the clan so he was later pardoned of his crimes and entered into service for Takanobu.

Akikane died in 1607.  His scions prospered as members of the Isahaya-Nabeshima family.  (In the era of Akikane’s grandchildren, the surname changed from Ryūzōji to Isahaya).