Kouhei Kadono was born on December 12, 1968, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, and is a graduate of Hosei University. He made his debut as a novelist in 1998 when his light novel Boogiepop and Others won the fourth Dengeki Novel Prize. This work marked the beginning of the Boogiepop series, which remains his most internationally recognized creation. The series has since expanded to include numerous novel sequels and spin-offs, such as Boogiepop Returns, Boogiepop at Dawn, and Boogiepop Overdrive.

As the original creator, Kadono's work has been adapted into multiple formats. The Boogiepop series inspired a manga adaptation illustrated by Kouji Ogata, a live-action film, and two separate anime television productions. The first anime, Boogiepop Phantom, was produced by Madhouse and aired in 2000. A second anime adaptation, also by Madhouse, simply titled Boogiepop and Others, premiered in 2019 and adapts story arcs from the original light novels.

Kadono is recognized as a highly influential figure in the light novel industry, credited with helping to establish many of the genre's conventions. His debut is often cited as a turning point that popularized the now-common formula of combining supernatural or battle elements with a contemporary high school setting. His narrative style is notable for its structural complexity, frequently employing non-chronological storytelling and shifting perspectives to reveal a complete picture. Recurring themes in his writing include societal pressure, anxiety, mental health, and the nature of evil.

A distinctive feature of Kadono's bibliography is that the vast majority of his works exist within a single, shared fictional universe, which fans have nicknamed the Kadono World. This universe connects not only the Boogiepop novels but also other series such as the Shizuru-san series and Beat's Discipline. Beyond the Boogiepop franchise, he has authored numerous other series, including Night Watch, Soul Drop, and the Shizuru-san novels. He has also contributed to established franchises, writing spin-off novels for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, such as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Purple Haze Feedback. His work has directly influenced a generation of later authors, including Nisio Isin, Kinoko Nasu, and Yuya Sato. In 2019, he was also responsible for the original concept and world setting for the Zenonzard digital card game.