Asato Asato is a Japanese novelist best known as the original creator of the science fiction series 86—Eighty-Six—. The author is a woman, born in 1985, who began writing novels while in middle school. Her pen name, Asato Asato, is derived from a combination of her real name, Toru Asakura, and the number eighty-eight.

Asato Asato’s professional career began with the 86—Eighty-Six—series. She initially submitted her work to contests for other publishers, but after a manuscript advanced to the third round of the 21st Dengeki Novel Prize in 2014, she focused on crafting a story suited for the Dengeki Bunko imprint. This effort culminated in her winning the Grand Prize in the 23rd Dengeki Novel Prize in 2016 for what would become the first volume of 86—Eighty-Six—. The winning manuscript was published as a light novel by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint on February 10, 2017, featuring illustrations by Shirabii.

The 86—Eighty-Six—series is Asato Asato’s primary and most notable work. The main light novel series has been published continuously since 2017, with its storyline structured into multiple arcs. As of 2025, the series comprises 14 main volumes and has sold millions of copies worldwide. The author has also written spin-off light novel volumes, such as the Alter collections, which compile side stories and alternate-universe scenarios. One such spinoff is the Magical Girl Regina Lena novella series, which reimagines characters in a magical girl setting and was later compiled into a volume.

The success of the original light novels led to multiple adaptations across different media. Asato Asato is credited as the original author for several manga series. These include the main manga adaptation of 86—EIGHTY-SIX—, illustrated by Motoki Yoshihara, which was serialized in Square Enix’s Young Gangan magazine from 2018 to 2021. Another notable manga is the spin-off 86: Operation High School, illustrated by Suzume Somemiya, which was serialized in Media Factory’s Monthly Comic Alive from June 2020 to August 2021. This series presents an alternate universe story where the characters live a peaceful, ordinary high school life. Other manga spin-offs, such as 86: Fragmental Neoteny and 86: Mahō Shōjo Regina Lena, have also been published. An anime television series adaptation of the original story, produced by A-1 Pictures, aired in two cours from April 2021 to March 2022. Asato Asato was involved in the anime’s production, attending script meetings and approving character designs to ensure fidelity to her work.

Thematically, Asato Asato’s writing is recognized for its exploration of war, systemic discrimination, and human resilience, often framed within a science fiction and military context. Her narrative style frequently employs multiple character perspectives to highlight the psychological distance and contrasting experiences between different groups, such as military handlers and frontline soldiers. Her interest in military and mecha题材 is noted to have been influenced by her grandfather, who experienced the Pacific War. The core narrative of 86—Eighty-Six—, which depicts the dehumanization of a marginalized group forced to pilot drones in a conflict their government claims is unmanned, reflects her engagement with these themes.

Asato Asato’s debut work has garnered significant industry recognition and acclaim. Beyond winning the Grand Prize at the Dengeki Novel Awards, the 86—Eighty-Six—series topped the New Works category and placed second in the bunkobon category in the 2018 edition of the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook. The sustained popularity of the series across light novels, manga, and anime has established her as a prominent and influential creator in contemporary Japanese light novel literature.