Kenshi Hirokane is a Japanese manga artist born on September 9, 1947, in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. He graduated from the law faculty of Waseda University, where he was a member of a manga research society. Following his graduation in 1970, he joined the electronics company Matsushita Electric, working in its advertising department for approximately four years. In 1973, he left the company to pursue a career as a manga artist, making his professional debut in 1974 with the work Kaze Kaoru. He is married to the manga artist Fumi Saimon, known for creating the series Tokyo Love Story.

Hirokane is widely recognized as the creator of the long-running Kōsaku Shima series, which began with Kachō Kōsaku Shima in 1983. This series follows the career progression of a salaryman through various corporate roles, including buchō (division chief), torishimariyaku (director), and eventually shachō (president) and kaichō (chairman). The series is noted for its detailed depiction of Japanese business culture and has been adapted into live-action films and television dramas. Another significant work is the manga Human Crossing, which he illustrated based on original stories by Masao Yajima; it won the 1985 Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga and was later adapted into a 13-episode anime television series in 2003. His other notable manga include Hello Harinezumi, also known as Domain of Murder, which was adapted as an original video animation, and Tasogare Ryūseigun, a long-running series about the lives and romances of older adults that won an Excellence Prize at the 2000 Japan Media Arts Festival.

In the context of anime, Hirokane is credited as the original creator for the television series Weekly Shimakō, which premiered in 2011. The series was produced by the animation studio DLE and directed by FROGMAN. This adaptation represents one of several instances where his manga works have been adapted into animated formats, alongside the Human Crossing television anime.

The central themes in Hirokane’s work often revolve around the realities of contemporary adult life in Japan, with a focus on social issues, corporate politics, and human relationships. His stories frequently feature protagonists navigating the complexities of their professional and personal lives, drawing on his own experience as a corporate employee. His artistic identity is characterized by a commitment to realism, which he has stated in interviews is a primary focus of his work. His career has been marked by significant industry recognition, including the 1991 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga for Kachō Kōsaku Shima. In 2007, he was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal of Honor by the Japanese government for his artistic contributions. Beyond manga, he is also known for his expertise in wine, having authored several books on the subject.