Ōta Sukeaki served as a bushō during the Sengoku period.  He was also known as Suketoki and held the titles of Sakyō-no-suke, or Assistant Master of the Eastern Capital Office, and Shinano-no-kami, or Governor of Shinano.  He later adopted the Buddhist name of Zenkan.

Sukeaki was born as the eldest son of Ōta Sukeyori.  Together with his father, Sukeyori, and his younger brother, Ōta Sukemasa, Sukeaki served the Ōgigayatsu-Uesugi clan.  In 1533, following the retirement of Sukeyori, Sukeaki inherited the headship of the clan.  As the authority of the Ōgigayatsu-Uesugi waned, Sukeaki gradually developed stronger relations with the Gohōjō clan. 

In the third month of 1546, each day he put his effort into the Hōjō clan and attempted to collude with Ōta Kagesuke (the illegitimate older brother of Ōta Yasusuke) who had just earlier entered into service for the Hōjō clan but he did not participate in an attack against Sukeaki’s lord, Uesugi Tomosada, at Kawagoe Castle.

In the fourth month, in the Siege of Kawagoe Castle, Uesugi Tomosada was killed in battle by Hōjō Ujiyasu so Sukeaki formally became a retainer of the Gohōjō.  He was also an ardent follower of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.

Sukeaki died on 10/9 of Tenbun 16 (1547).  Although his age at death is uncertain, he had grandchildren at the time.  He did not have a son so he was succeeded by his younger brother, Ōta Sukemasa.