Hiro Kawahara has been an illustrator and art director for over 30 years, with a focus on children's and stylized illustration. Their work spans the advertising and publishing industries, as well as serving as an art director and lead 2D artist for games and animation.

They began their career as a comic book author 11 years ago and have since published seven books. Parzifal, released in 2017, received the UNESCO-PUC Chair Award for Best Young Adult Literature. The Mermaid of the Forest won the 18th Japan International Manga Award in 2025—one of the world’s most prestigious comic book awards—competing against 715 entries from 95 countries.

Twelve years ago, they also began teaching drawing. Their courses explore a variety of themes—including drawing fluidity, symbolism for illustrators, and monster anatomy—and are all designed for professional illustrators and storytellers.