Asaino Sōzui was a wealthy merchant and publisher during the latter part of the Muromachi period. He lived from Bunmei 5 (1473) to 5/19 of Tenbun 1 (1532). His Buddhist name was Yukitei Sōzui Koji. The family operated under the name of Noto House or Tōno House.
Sōzui was born to a well-known family in Sakai in Izumi Province. He enjoyed literary studies, and, although not a doctor, became knowledgeable in regard to the practice of medicine and specialized in obstetrics. He became a devout follower of Dairin Sōtō, a priest at the Daitoku Temple affiliated with the Rinzai sect.
Sōzui invested his own funds to reprint a complete medical works (of herbal medicine) authored by a scholar in Ming China who combined Confucian and medical concepts. The re-printed version was published in 1528. This was the first medical book published in Japan.