Kazami Sawatari is a Japanese author known primarily for writing light novel series, several of which have received manga adaptations and one of which is slated for a television anime adaptation. Sawatari is most recognized for creating the romantic comedy light novel series Shiotaio no Sato-san ga Ore ni Dake Amai, known in English as The Salty Koharu Has a Soft Spot for Me. This series began publication on the user-generated novel website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in June 2019 and is also published in print in Japan by Shogakukan under their Gagaga Bunko imprint, with twelve volumes released to date. The story follows Sōta Oshio, a high school student who works at a family café, and his classmate Koharu Sato, who is known for her cold and cutting demeanor. After helping her through a difficult situation, he discovers that her harsh personality is a facade hiding a shy and awkward nature, leading to a developing relationship. An anime television adaptation of The Salty Koharu Has a Soft Spot for Me has been announced and is scheduled to air in 2026. The anime is being produced by Tezuka Productions, with direction by Fumihiro Yoshimura and scripts by Takashi Aoshima. The series has also inspired a manga adaptation illustrated by Kaya Tetsuyama, which has reached its tenth volume. Beyond this flagship series, Sawatari is also the author of the light novel series Chū Boss-san Level 99. In addition to original works, Sawatari has worked on licensed properties, serving as the writer for the manga spinoff Detroit: Become Human - Tokyo Stories, based on the video game Detroit: Become Human, with art by Moto Sumida. This spinoff, which launched in July 2022, is set in Tokyo and centers on an android idol named Reina. In an interview, Sawatari has stated that the inspiration for The Salty Koharu Has a Soft Spot for Me came from reading shōjo manga for the first time and being struck by its focus on the evolution of human relationships through romance. Sawatari aimed to repackage this approach for a male-oriented audience while avoiding leaning too heavily into a single-gender perspective, creating a narrative where the viewpoints of the male and female leads alternate to depict romance from both sides. Sawatari has described the series as being a part of their life for seven years, including its prototype, and has expressed a deep affection for all of the characters.