Yokō Tarō is a Japanese video game director and scenario writer, born in Nagoya, Aichi, on June 6, 1970. He studied at Kobe Design University, graduating in March 1994. His career began as a 3D CGI designer at Namco, followed by a role at the Sony-owned Sugar & Rockets Inc., before joining the developer Cavia in 2001. It was at Cavia that he first gained prominence as the director and scenario writer for the 2003 action role-playing game Drakengard, a project that established the foundation for his later work. Following Cavia’s absorption into AQ Interactive, he left to work as a freelancer before eventually establishing his own company, Bukkoro.

His creative identity is characterized by a distinctive writing method he describes as backwards scriptwriting, which involves outlining the conclusion of a story first and constructing the narrative backward from that point. His work frequently explores the darker aspects of human nature and motivation, often through a philosophical lens. He is known for his unconventional approach to game design and storytelling, as well as for his public appearances while wearing a mask to maintain anonymity.

Among his most notable original works are the Drakengard series, the critically acclaimed Nier and its sequel Nier Automata, which have become widely recognized for their complex narratives and emotional depth. Beyond the realm of video games, he has contributed to anime and manga as the creator of the original work on which adaptations are based. He is credited as the creative director for the mobile role-playing game SINoALICE, which was released in Japan in June 2017 and worldwide in July 2020. This game served as the source material for the anime film SINoALICE Ichiban Saigo no Monogatari, which premiered in February 2024. In the context of this adaptation, his role is that of the original creator, with his work on the game forming the basis for the film's story and characters. Additionally, he co-wrote the script for the 2023 anime television series Nier Automata Ver1.1a, which is an adaptation of the video game he directed. His influence in the industry is marked by a consistent thematic identity across both interactive and animated media, with his narrative style remaining a central element of the projects with which he is associated.