Sou Hamayumiba is a Japanese manga artist born in 1986 in Hyogo Prefecture. He began his professional career under the pen name Sou, with early works including Sorairo Square serialized from 2009 to 2011. Around the time of his series Hanayamata, which began in 2011, he transitioned to his current pen name, Hamayumiba Sou. He is primarily known for creating original manga series published by Houbunsha, many of which have been adapted into anime. His most prominent works include Hanayamata, a story centered on the traditional Japanese dance Yosakoi, which was serialized in Manga Time Kirara Forward from 2011 to 2018 and received a twelve-episode anime adaptation by studio Madhouse that aired in 2014. He is also the creator of Dropout Idol Fruit Tart, a four-panel manga that began as a guest series in Manga Time Kirara Carat in late 2014 before becoming a full serialization in 2015. This series received a twelve-episode anime television adaptation by studio Feel, which was originally scheduled for July 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately airing from October to December 2020. Beyond these titles, his body of work includes your diary, a manga adaptation of the visual novel of the same name, as well as Little Nozomi and Big Yume, published by Kodansha. He has also worked as an illustrator for light novels and contributed ending cards for various anime series. His artistic identity is characterized by a style that, particularly from Dropout Idol Fruit Tart onward, has been noted for its expressive and sometimes bewitching character designs, with a recurring emphasis on depicting characters in a manner that reviewers and sources have identified as incorporating elements of fanservice and yuri undertones. Thematically, his works often center on groups of girls pursuing creative or entertainment careers, such as idols or dancers, blending comedy and slice-of-life elements. With two of his original manga series adapted into television anime, Hamayumiba has established a significant presence in the industry, particularly within the niche of seinen manga focused on cute girls doing cute things, as published in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazines.