View source for Hiromu Arakawa

{{Short description|Japanese manga artist (born 1973)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| name_nonEN    = 荒川 弘
| birth_name = <!--Editor note: Unless there is a reliable source, do not put the name "Hiromi" as it has not been confirmed.-->
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|5|8}}<ref name=natalie/>
| birth_place = [[Makubetsu, Hokkaido|Makubetsu]], [[Tokachi Subprefecture]], [[Hokkaido]], Japan
| nationality = Japanese
| area = [[Manga artist]]
| alias =
| notable works = {{ubl|''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''|''[[Silver Spoon (manga)|Silver Spoon]]''|''[[The Heroic Legend of Arslan (manga)|The Heroic Legend of Arslan]]''}}
| awards = 
| manga = yes}}
{{Nihongo|'''Hiromu Arakawa'''|荒川 弘|Arakawa Hiromu|born May 8, 1973}}<ref name=natalie>{{cite web|title=荒川弘 - コミックナタリー|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/artist/1939|website=[[Natalie (website)|Comic Natalie]]|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=February 19, 2019|language=ja|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024191150/https://natalie.mu/comic/artist/1939|url-status=live}}</ref> is a Japanese [[manga artist]]. She is best known for the [[manga]] series ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' (2001–2010), which became a hit both domestically and internationally, and was adapted into two [[anime]] television series. She is also known for ''[[Silver Spoon (manga)|Silver Spoon]]'' (2011–2019) and the [[The Heroic Legend of Arslan (manga)|manga adaptation]] of ''[[The Heroic Legend of Arslan]]'' novels.

==Biography==
Born on May 8, 1973, in [[Tokachi Subprefecture|Tokachi]], [[Hokkaidō]], Japan, Arakawa was born and raised on a dairy farm with three elder sisters and a younger brother. Arakawa thought about being a [[manga artist]] ever "since [she] was little" and during her school years, she would often draw on textbooks. After graduating high school, she took [[oil painting]] classes once a month for seven years while working on her family's farm. During this time, she also created [[dōjinshi]] manga with her friends and drew [[yonkoma]] for a magazine.<ref name="YahooBooks">{{cite web|url=http://books.yahoo.co.jp/interview/detail/08249604/01.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071209123210/http://books.yahoo.co.jp/interview/detail/08249604/01.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 9, 2007|script-title=ja:インタビュー - 荒川弘|publisher=[[Yahoo.com]]|access-date=April 6, 2008|language=ja }}</ref><ref name="EquivalentExchange">{{Cite journal|last=Wong|first=Amos|title=Equivalent Exchange|journal=[[Newtype USA]]|publisher=[[A.D. Vision]]|volume=5|issue=1| date=January 2006|issn=1541-4817 }} {{Page needed|date=April 2011}}</ref>

Arakawa moved to [[Tokyo]] in the summer of 1999.<ref>Hyakushou Kizoku (2008)</ref> She began her career in the manga world as a Square Enix employee and assistant to Hiroyuki Etō, author of ''[[Mahōjin Guru Guru]]''.<ref name="ProfileBookInterview">{{cite book|last=Arakawa|first=Hiromu|title=Fullmetal Alchemist Profiles|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|date=June 2006|pages=100–105|isbn=978-1-4215-0768-2}}</ref> Her own career began with the publication of ''Stray Dog'' in [[Square Enix]]'s ''[[Monthly Shōnen Gangan]]'' in 1999.<ref name="EquivalentExchange"/> ''Stray Dog'' won the ninth 21st Century "Shōnen Gangan" Award.<ref name="YahooBooks"/> She published one chapter of ''Shanghai Yōmakikai'' in ''Monthly Shōnen Gangan'' in 2000.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Arakawa|first=Hiromu|date=March 2000|title=Shanghai Yōmakikai|journal=Monthly Shōnen Gangan|publisher=[[Square Enix]]|language=ja}}</ref>

In July 2001, Arakawa published the first chapter of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' in ''Monthly Shōnen Gangan''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?&series_id=315&section=profiles|archive-url=https://archive.today/20061017161750/http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?&series_id=315&section=profiles|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2006|title=Hiromu Arakawa|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|access-date=May 3, 2009 }}</ref> The series spanned 108 chapters, with the last one published in July 2010, and the series was collected in twenty-seven volumes.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-08/fma/b-ends-july-4-sengoku-basara-2-starts-july-11| title=FMA: B Ends July 4; Sengoku Basara 2 Starts July 11| work=[[Anime News Network]]| date=June 8, 2010| access-date=June 10, 2010| archive-date=July 2, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702053323/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-08/fma/b-ends-july-4-sengoku-basara-2-starts-july-11| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JapaneseVolume27">{{cite book|script-title=ja:鋼の錬金術師 27巻|language=ja|id= {{ASIN|4757530544|country=jp}}}}</ref> Some reviewers say that the combination of Arakawa's art style and the writing in ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' contribute to its dark thematic elements.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Gallacher|first=Lesley-Anne|date=May 12, 2011|title=(Fullmetal) alchemy: the monstrosity of reading words and pictures in shonen manga|journal=Cultural Geographies|volume=18|issue=4|pages=457–473|doi=10.1177/1474474010397639|bibcode=2011CuGeo..18..457G|s2cid=191476902|issn=1474-4740|url=http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/16596/3/Fullmetal_alchemy.pdf|access-date=August 16, 2019|archive-date=August 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829220030/http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/16596/3/Fullmetal_alchemy.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' has been adapted into two [[anime]] series by [[Bones (studio)|Bones]]. When they were creating the [[Fullmetal Alchemist (TV series)|first]], Arakawa assisted them in its early development.<ref name="guide2">{{cite book| last=Arakawa| first=Hiromu| title=鋼の錬金術師 パーフェクトガイドブック 2| year=2005| publisher=Square Enix|pages=168–172| isbn=978-4-7575-1426-3 }}</ref> However, she was not involved in the making of the script, so the anime has a different ending from the manga, which she developed further.<ref name="EquivalentExchange" /> The series won the 49th [[Shogakukan Manga Award]] in the ''shōnen'' category in 2004.<ref name="ShogakukanAward" /> When the [[Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood|second]] anime adaptation was reaching its ending, Arakawa showed director [[Yasuhiro Irie]] her plans for the manga's ending, making both end in near dates.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-08/fma/b-ends-july-4-sengoku-basara-2-starts-july-11|title=News FMA: B Ends July 4; Sengoku Basara 2 Starts July 11|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=June 8, 2010|access-date=May 24, 2011|archive-date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702053323/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-08/fma/b-ends-july-4-sengoku-basara-2-starts-july-11|url-status=live}}</ref> Most reviewers distinguish between the manga and anime, which they attribute to differences in style and subject matter.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gallacher|first=Lesley-Anne|date=May 12, 2011|title=(Fullmetal) alchemy: the monstrosity of reading words and pictures in shonen manga|journal=Cultural Geographies|volume=18|issue=4|pages=457–473|doi=10.1177/1474474010397639|bibcode=2011CuGeo..18..457G|s2cid=191476902|issn=1474-4740|url=http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/16596/3/Fullmetal_alchemy.pdf|access-date=August 16, 2019|archive-date=August 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829220030/http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/16596/3/Fullmetal_alchemy.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Sementelli|first=Arthur|date=November 14, 2016|title=Applying Existential Philosophy and Popular Culture Images to Ethics: The Case for Fullmetal Alchemist|journal=Public Voices|volume=14|issue=1|pages=28|doi=10.22140/pv.42|issn=1072-5660}}</ref> One review explains that the manga is more "emotional," whereas the anime is more whimsical.<ref name=":1" /> Arakawa's simple, dark style and plot choices contrast with the anime's "cartoony," colorful rendering.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Reviews in general tend to ascribe the anime to children and the manga to teens and adults.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Arakawa is married with three children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://websunday.net/backstage/arakawa/010.html|title=Webサンデー｜まんが家Backstage|access-date=May 1, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127062105/https://websunday.net/backstage/arakawa/010.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She gave birth to a daughter in 2007 and had her third child in January 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fullmetal Alchemist/Silver Spoon's Hiromu Arakawa Has Her 3rd Baby|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-12/fullmetal-alchemist/silver-spoon-hiromu-arakawa-has-her-3rd-baby|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=February 12, 2014|access-date=February 12, 2020|archive-date=February 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213164037/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-12/fullmetal-alchemist/silver-spoon-hiromu-arakawa-has-her-3rd-baby|url-status=live}}</ref>

She is currently living in Tokyo and has published more works, including ''[[Raiden-18]]'', ''Sōten no Kōmori'' (also known as ''Bat in Blue Sky''), and ''[[Hero Tales]]''.<ref name="EquivalentExchange"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://websunday.net/gx/sakuhin/arakawa.html|title=Raiden 18|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|language=ja|access-date=May 3, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414162343/http://websunday.net/gx/sakuhin/arakawa.html|archive-date=April 14, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://comipress.com/news/2006/09/29/806|title=New Manga Magazine from Square-Enix|date=September 29, 2006|publisher=Comipress.com|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=May 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531145244/http://comipress.com/news/2006/09/29/806|url-status=live}}</ref> Arakawa has collaborated with the creation of ''Hero Tales'' with Studio Flag under the name of Huang Jin Zhou. In the anime adaptation of the series, Arakawa was responsible for the character designs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-06-22/hero-tales-anime-staff-first-manga-compilation-announced|title=Hero Tales Anime Staff, First Manga Compilation Announced|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=June 22, 2007|access-date=July 26, 2009|archive-date=July 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723105458/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-06-22/hero-tales-anime-staff-first-manga-compilation-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> She has also drawn the cover from the Japanese edition of the novel ''[[The Demon's Lexicon]]'' authored by [[Sarah Rees Brennan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-28/fullmetal-alchemist-arakawa-draws-cover-for-irish-novelist|title=Fullmetal Alchemist's Arakawa Draws Cover for Irish Novelist|date=April 28, 2009|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 17, 2009|archive-date=June 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613032025/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-28/fullmetal-alchemist-arakawa-draws-cover-for-irish-novelist|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2011, Arakawa began a series called ''[[Silver Spoon (manga)|Silver Spoon]]'' in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Weekly Shōnen Sunday]]''. Rather than writing another fantasy series like ''Fullmetal Alchemist'', Arakawa wanted to challenge herself by trying a more realistic story with ''Silver Spoon''.<ref name="animeland">{{cite journal|title=Interview: Hiromu Arakawa|issue=189|url=http://www.animeland.com/news/voir/4928/Interview-Hiromu-ARAKAWA|date=January 2013|journal=Animeland|publisher=Asuka Editions|language=fr|access-date=September 14, 2013|archive-date=October 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022231126/http://www.animeland.com/news/voir/4928/Interview-Hiromu-ARAKAWA|url-status=dead}}</ref> It quickly rose among Shogakukan's best-selling titles and an anime series by [[A-1 Pictures]] began airing in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/03/fullmetal-alchemist-authors-new-series-is-called-silver-spoon/|title="Fullmetal Alchemist" author's new series is called "Silver Spoon"|date=March 30, 2011|publisher=[[Tokyohive]]|access-date=March 30, 2011|archive-date=August 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821141746/http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/03/fullmetal-alchemist-authors-new-series-is-called-silver-spoon/|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in July 2013 she began [[The Heroic Legend of Arslan (manga)|her manga adaptation]] of [[Yoshiki Tanaka]]'s ''[[The Heroic Legend of Arslan]]'' series of novels in [[Kodansha]]'s ''[[Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-07/fullmetal-alchemist-arakawa-to-adapt-tanaka-arslan-fantasy|title=Fullmetal Alchemist's Arakawa to Adapt Tanaka's Arslan Fantasy|date=May 7, 2013|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=July 26, 2013|archive-date=June 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629123620/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-07/fullmetal-alchemist-arakawa-to-adapt-tanaka-arslan-fantasy|url-status=live}}</ref>

Arakawa started the manga series ''[[Daemons of the Shadow Realm]]'' in ''Monthly Shōnen Gangan'' on December 10, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Fullmetal Alchemist's Hiromu Arakawa Launches Yomi no Tsugai Manga on December 10|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-11/fullmetal-alchemist-hiromu-arakawa-launches-yomi-no-tsugai-manga-on-december-10/.179421|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=November 11, 2021|date=November 11, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510123357/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-11/fullmetal-alchemist-hiromu-arakawa-launches-yomi-no-tsugai-manga-on-december-10/.179421|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Influences==
Arakawa states that [[Suihō Tagawa]], the author of ''[[Norakuro]]'', is the "root of [her] style as an artist". She also learned [[Composition (visual arts)|composition]] and drawing during her time as assistant of {{ill|Hiroyuki Etō|ja|衛藤 ヒロユキ}}. She also cites [[Rumiko Takahashi]], [[Shigeru Mizuki]], and ''[[Kinnikuman]]'' by [[Yudetamago]] as influences and is a fan of [[Mike Mignola]]'s work.<ref name="EquivalentExchange"/><ref name="ProfileBookInterview"/> Reviewers consider ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' to have [[steampunk]] influences.<ref name=":1" />

==Works==
* ''Stray Dog'' (1999)
* {{Nihongo|''Shanghai Yōmakikai''|上海妖魔鬼怪||{{lit.|Ghost Demons of Shanghai}}}} (2000)
* {{Nihongo|''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''|鋼の錬金術師|Hagane no Renkinjutsushi|{{lit.|Alchemist of Steel}}}} (2001–2010)
* ''[[Raiden-18]]'' (2005–2021)
* {{Nihongo|''Sōten no Kōmori''|蒼天の蝙蝠||{{lit.|A Bat In Blue Sky}}}} (2006)
* {{Nihongo|''[[Hero Tales]]''|獣神演武|Jūshin Enbu}} (2006–2010)
* {{Nihongo|''[[Hyakushō Kizoku]]''|百姓貴族||{{lit.|The Noble Farmer}}}} (2006–present)
* {{Nihongo|''[[Silver Spoon (manga)|Silver Spoon]]''|銀の匙|Gin no Saji}} (2011–2019)
* {{Nihongo|''[[The Heroic Legend of Arslan (manga)|The Heroic Legend of Arslan]]''|アルスラーン戦記|Arusurān Senki|{{lit.|Arslan War Records}}}} (2013–present)
* {{Nihongo|''[[Daemons of the Shadow Realm]]''|黄泉のツガイ|Yomi no Tsugai|{{lit.|The Hinge of the Underworld}}}} (2021–present)

==Awards==
* 1999: 9th 21st Century Enix Award for ''Stray Dog''<ref name="YahooBooks"/>
* 2003: 49th [[Shogakukan Manga Award]], Shōnen category for ''Fullmetal Alchemist''<ref name="ShogakukanAward">{{cite web|url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|script-title=ja:小学館漫画賞: 歴代受賞者|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|language=ja|access-date=August 19, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805112042/http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/rist.html|archive-date=August 5, 2015 }}</ref>
* 2011: 15th [[Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize]], "New Artist Prize" category.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-02/15th-tezuka-osamu-cultural-prize-winners-announced| title=News: 15th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Winners Announced| work=[[Anime News Network]]| date=May 2, 2011| access-date=May 2, 2011| archive-date=June 15, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615020650/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-02/15th-tezuka-osamu-cultural-prize-winners-announced| url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2011: 42nd [[Seiun Award]], "Best Science Fiction Comic" category for ''Fullmetal Alchemist''<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sf-fan.gr.jp/awards/list.html| title=日本SFファングループ連合会議: 星雲賞リスト| access-date=October 20, 2012| language=ja| archive-date=October 10, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010165758/http://www.sf-fan.gr.jp/awards/list.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2012: 5th [[Manga Taishō]] Award for ''Silver Spoon''<ref>{{cite web| title=Hiromu Arakawa's Silver Spoon Wins 5th Manga Taisho Award| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-23/hiromu-arakawa-silver-spoon-wins-5th-manga-taisho-award| work=[[Anime News Network]]| date=March 23, 2012| access-date=March 23, 2012| archive-date=December 16, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216223016/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-23/hiromu-arakawa-silver-spoon-wins-5th-manga-taisho-award| url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2012: 58th [[Shogakukan Manga Award]], Shōnen category for ''Silver Spoon''<ref name="ShogakukanAward2">{{cite web| url=http://comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/| script-title=ja:第58回小学館漫画賞発表：小学館| publisher=[[Shogakukan]]| language=ja| access-date=March 10, 2013| archive-date=September 23, 2004| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040923163531/http://www.comics.shogakukan.co.jp/mangasho/| url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Anime and manga}}
* {{Portal-inline|Biography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Anime News Network|name|17621}}
* [http://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/arakawa_hiromu "Arakawa Hiromu"] (''[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]'' entry by [[Jonathan Clements]])

{{Hiromu Arakawa}}
{{Manga Taishō}}
{{Shogakukan Manga Award - Shōnen}}
{{Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arakawa, Hiromu}}
[[Category:Hiromu Arakawa| ]]
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese women writers]]
[[Category:Japanese female comics artists]]
[[Category:Japanese female comics writers]]
[[Category:Japanese women artists]]
[[Category:Women manga artists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Manga Taishō]]
[[Category:Manga artists from Hokkaido]]
[[Category:Winner of Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize (New Artist Prize)]]
[[Category:Pseudonymous artists]]
[[Category:20th-century pseudonymous writers]]
[[Category:21st-century pseudonymous writers]]
[[Category:Women science fiction and fantasy writers]]
[[Category:Japanese speculative fiction artists]]
[[Category:Japanese speculative fiction writers]]