Noriaki Kotoba is a Japanese manga artist and doujinka, or independent circle creator, known to be a member of the circle Den Sawa Cyan. Kotoba is best recognized as the original creator of the fantasy romance manga series The Barbarian's Bride, which is also known under the title The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King. The series began serialization in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine on January 9, 2021. The first tankoubon volume was published by Kodansha on June 9, 2021, and as of April 9, 2025, nine volumes have been released in Japan. The manga is published in English digitally by Kodansha on its K Manga service, and Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the series for print and digital release in North America under the title The Barbarian's Bride. The manga is also licensed in French by Pika Édition under the title The Warrior Princess and the Barbaric King and in traditional Chinese by Tong Li Publishing.

The story of The Barbarian's Bride follows Serafina de Lavillant, the strongest female knight of the West, who is captured by the barbarian tribes of the East after her mission fails. Rather than facing torture, she is instead asked to marry the tribe's leader, Veor. The narrative explores her adaptation to a new culture and the developing relationship between the former enemies. The series is characterized by a blend of dark fantasy, action, and romantic comedy, with the creator noted for balancing a serious, elaborately constructed fantasy world with lighter, humorous moments. The title and initial premise carry a strong gimmick element, but the core of the story is a detailed and sincere fantasy narrative. The work features its own unique magic system based on a concept called "willpower" (意力), which governs the physical laws of its world.

In October 2024, it was announced that The Barbarian's Bride would receive a television anime adaptation. The anime is produced by the studio Jumondou and is scheduled to premiere in 2026, having been delayed from its initial planned release window in 2025. The announcement of the anime adaptation was accompanied by a commemorative illustration drawn by Kotoba. By September 2022, the manga had over 200,000 copies in circulation, indicating a notable level of commercial success and reader interest. Kotoba's primary and most significant credited work to date remains The Barbarian's Bride, which has established Kotoba as a creator within the fantasy romance genre in the Japanese manga industry.