Hajime Kōmoto is a Japanese manga artist best known as the creator of the popular series Mashle: Magic and Muscles. He began his career by submitting short works to Shueisha under different pseudonyms. In 2018, using the name Koichi Kashiwazaki, he created the short manga Explosive Interview, which earned an honorable mention in the 89th Akatsuka Awards. He continued publishing short works in Jump Giga, including Liberal Ethics Committee Member Yamada Taro under the same pseudonym, and later the short manga God of Destruction Shivasaki under the name Kōichirō.

Kōmoto made his serialization debut with Mashle: Magic and Muscles, which ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from January 2020 to July 2023. The series was collected in 18 tankōbon volumes and became a significant success, achieving over 10 million copies in circulation worldwide. His earlier one-shots, particularly God of Destruction Shivasaki, featured a protagonist with a similar appearance to Mash Burnedead, showcasing the comedic and high-energy style that would define his major work.

In terms of artistic identity, Kōmoto has stated that he focuses on creating overall compositions that clarify character relationships and devises action scenes with tight perspective that draws the reader into the foreground. He has expressed a preference for yabai (dangerous or extreme) characters and frequently uses that concept to describe his creations. He cites One-Punch Man and Demon Slayer as influences, noting that adding distinctive items or motifs to character designs helps make them iconic.

The adaptation history of his work includes an anime television series produced by A-1 Pictures, which premiered in April 2023. A second season aired from January to March 2024, and a third season has been announced for 2027. The series has also spawned novel adaptations, a stage play, and a mobile puzzle game. Kōmoto’s success with Mashle established him as a notable creator within Weekly Shōnen Jump, with the series receiving recognition including a nomination for the 67th Shogakukan Manga Award and placing in several major manga rankings such as the Next Manga Awards and the Nationwide Bookstore Employees’ Recommended Comics.