Akira Hiramoto (平本アキラ) is a Japanese manga artist best known for creating Prison School and Me and the Devil Blues. His works often feature a mix of comedy, drama, and unique storytelling elements. He made his debut in 1995 with Sono Tomodachi ni Gimon Ari in Weekly Young Magazine.
Career
Hiramoto gained widespread recognition with Prison School (2011–2017), a comedic yet intense manga series set in a strict all-girls school with a newly admitted group of male students. The series won the General Manga Category at the 37th Kodansha Manga Awards in 2013.
Before Prison School, he worked on Me and the Devil Blues (2004–2008, 2015–present), a fictional retelling of blues musician Robert Johnson’s life. The series was critically acclaimed and won the Best Reprint Publication Award at the 2009 Glyph Comics Awards.
Hiramoto’s works are known for their distinct art style, intricate character development, and unconventional narratives, spanning multiple genres, including historical fiction, psychological drama, and action comedy.
Works
- Sono Tomodachi ni Gimon Ari (1995) – Debut work
- Yarisugi Companion to Atashi Monogatari (1997–2009) – Writer, artist
- Me and the Devil Blues (2004–2008, 2015–present) – Writer, artist
- Akumetsu (2007–2008) – Writer, artist
- Grateful Dead (2011) – Writer, artist
- Prison School (2011–2017) – Writer, artist
- Raw Hero (2018–2020) – Writer, artist
- Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari (2022–present) – Writer, artist
- The Booty Royale: Never Go Down Without a Fight! (2022–present) – Artist (written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro)
Awards
- 37th Kodansha Manga Awards (2013) – Prison School (General Manga Category)
- Glyph Comics Awards (2009) – Me and the Devil Blues (Best Reprint Publication)