Yabako Sandrovich is a Japanese manga original creator known for his work on martial arts series, most notably Kengan Ashura and How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?. His career began in an unconventional manner; he was originally a company employee who later worked in archaeological site excavation. After being given an early release from his corporate job at the age of twenty-four, he began drawing and uploading his own manga to his personal website daily. It was through this self-published work, a series titled Gudo no Kobushi, that he caught the attention of a professional editor who reached out to him and launched his career as a professional manga author.

Sandrovich was born on November 1, 1984, in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. His background includes extensive martial arts training, which heavily informs his creative work. He began with kendo in middle school, later studying Shorinji Kenpo, and then spent the longest period training in karate, earning a black belt in four years. He subsequently studied mixed martial arts and grappling, driven by a desire for strength. He has since stated that he no longer practices martial arts but continues to do weight training.

His professional debut as a manga author came with the serialization of Kengan Ashura, illustrated by Daromeon, which ran from 2012 to 2018. The series became a significant success and was later adapted into a Netflix anime series. Following this, he began collaborating with illustrator MAAM on How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? in 2016, a series that combines fitness instruction with comedy. He is also the author of the sequel, Kengan Omega, which began in 2019 with Daromeon returning as illustrator, as well as other works such as ST✰R: Strike it Rich and the earlier series Gudou no Kobushi.

Sandrovich’s creative approach is defined by a philosophy he describes as eliminating unnecessary elements. To expedite the creation process and allow the illustrators creative freedom, he intentionally simplifies his character drafts and uses red text to specify details, avoiding overly detailed drawings that might constrain the artist. He notes that he enjoys seeing how his stories are ultimately transformed by the illustrators, sharing in the experience of the reader when viewing the final artwork. He draws inspiration instinctively, often receiving sudden ideas during everyday situations, and emphasizes the importance of adhering to deadlines and maintaining personal health.

Regarding his role in anime adaptations, he was credited for the original plan cooperation for the crossover anime movie Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura, a Netflix production that brought together characters from his series with those from Keisuke Itagaki’s Baki franchise. He has expressed a trust in the anime production teams and has noted a personal connection with the director of the Kengan Ashura anime, with whom he sometimes does weight training. His work has established him as a significant creator in the modern martial arts manga genre, recognized for series that explore underground fighting tournaments and corporate conflict within a framework of diverse martial arts styles.