Hiroki Yagami is a Japanese manga artist known for creating the long-running basketball series Dear Boys, which was adapted into the anime Hoop Days. Born on July 5, 1967, in Niigata Prefecture, Yagami began his professional career after winning the 37th Kodansha Newcomer Award in 1986. He made his debut in 1987 with the series Futari ni Omakase!, serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Magazine.

Yagami is best recognized as the sole author of Dear Boys, a manga he has written and illustrated since 1989. The series follows the Mizuho High School basketball team and has been published in several parts: the original Dear Boys, Dear Boys Act II, Dear Boys Act III, and the ongoing Dear Boys Act IV, in addition to various side stories. The franchise has sold over 40 million copies and received the 2007 Kodansha Manga Award for the shōnen category for Dear Boys Act II.

The Dear Boys manga was adapted into a 26-episode anime television series that aired from April to September 2003. Produced by the animation studio A.C.G.T and directed by Susumu Kudo, the anime was released under the title Hoop Days in North America. Yagami’s work on the series solely pertains to his role as the original manga creator.

Beyond his sports manga, Yagami has created works in other genres. He is noted for the adult-oriented series G-taste, which was serialized from 1996 to 2004 and later received original video animation adaptations. His artistic style is characterized as refined and meticulously hand-drawn, with a recognized ability in character design, particularly for female characters. His career is significant for the longevity of the Dear Boys series, which stands as one of the longest-running basketball manga, and his concurrent work across different genres within the industry.