Who Is Hajime Komoto, the Creator of "Mashle: Magic and Muscles"? A Profile and Career Overview

"Mashle: Magic and Muscles" is a battle manga set in a magical world, serialized by Hajime Komoto in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha). Despite being a magic fantasy story, its unique setting where the protagonist solves all problems with muscle power has gained much acclaim, and total worldwide sales have surpassed 10 million copies. The first season of the anime aired starting in April 2023, and the second season began broadcasting in January 2024.

This article introduces Hajime Komoto, the author of "Mashle: Magic and Muscles."

What Is the Unique "Mashle: Magic and Muscles," Combining Muscles and Magic?

"Mashle: Magic and Muscles" is set in a magical world and tells the story of Mash Burnedead, a boy who has relentlessly trained his body to unlock a path forward using only his muscles. The story takes place in a "magic realm" where everyone is expected to use magic, and magical prowess defines absolute worth. In this world, those unable to use magic are deemed inferior and weeded out. Mash, born without the ability to use magic, lives quietly in the deep woods with his adoptive father, training his muscles so his secret isn't discovered.

Thanks to his persistent and vigorous strength training, Mash develops a body capable of delivering physical attacks almost indistinguishable from magic. However, due to certain circumstances, Mash ends up attending a magic school despite having no magical powers. Relying solely on his muscles, Mash confronts numerous difficult challenges head-on.

Who Is Hajime Komoto, the Creator of "Mashle: Magic and Muscles"?

Hajime Komoto, author of "Mashle: Magic and Muscles," is a manga artist who made his debut in 2019 after receiving an Honorable Mention in the 89th Akatsuka Prize. "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" is his first serialized work.

His profile is not widely disclosed, but when the Akatsuka Prize winners were announced in 2018, he was described as "23 years old, from Shiga Prefecture." As of March 2024, this would make him 28 years old. According to an interview section in "Jump GIGA" 2019 WINTER vol.1, his birthday is June 25.

On Shueisha's Shonen Jump Manga Award Portal Site, Komoto’s methods for creating manga and the works that influenced him are introduced.

In a column discussing readability in manga, he cites the web version of "One Punch Man" as a favorite, saying it has greatly influenced him. In another piece about creating dialogue, he says, "Since I personally like weird people, I try to draw manga characters who are, as a rule, weird!"

A List of Works by Hajime Komoto

Komoto has released a total of four works so far, including the Akatsuka Prize-winning manga, one-shots, and "Mashle: Magic and Muscles." Below is a list of his works.

List of Works by Hajime Komoto
・2018: "Bakuretsu Mensetsu Shiken" (as Koichi Kashiwazaki / Honorable Mention, Akatsuka Prize)
・2019: "Liberal Fuuki Iin Yamada Taro" (as Koichi Kashiwazaki)
Published in "Jump GIGA" 2019 WINTER vol.1
・2019: "Hakaishin Shivazaki-kun" (as Koichiro)
Published in "Jump GIGA" 2019 SUMMER vol.1
・2020: "Mashle: Magic and Muscles"
Serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" from Issue 9, 2020

Both "Liberal Fuuki Iin Yamada Taro" and "Hakaishin Shivazaki-kun" are comedies set in a school environment. Even at this early stage, the high-energy gags and quick tempo familiar to "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" readers are apparent. Incidentally, the protagonist of "Hakaishin Shivazaki-kun" has an appearance very similar to Mash from "Mashle: Magic and Muscles," which has become a topic of discussion online.

Is Hajime Komoto, Creator of "Mashle: Magic and Muscles," Male or Female?

At present, Komoto’s gender has not been officially disclosed.

However, in the author's comment section found in the volumes, he refers to himself as "boku" (a masculine first-person pronoun in Japanese). Additionally, in an interview for the publication of "Liberal Fuuki Iin Yamada Taro" in "Jump GIGA" 2019 WINTER vol.1, he commented, "Honestly, I wanted a life where I could go to Disney in matching outfits with my girlfriend..." From this information, it seems likely that Komoto is male.

Does Hajime Komoto, Creator of "Mashle: Magic and Muscles," Use Twitter?

No personal Twitter (now X) account for Komoto has been confirmed as of yet.

The official "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" Twitter account has been active since June 2020. It posts a variety of information, including anime news, voice actor interviews, and giveaway campaigns. Be sure to check it out.

Hajime Komoto’s Comment

The anime "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" began airing on April 7, 2023. The series faithfully adapts the worldview of the original manga into animation.

The adaptation is produced by A-1 Pictures, known for works such as the film "Kagami no Kojo" and the TV anime "Lycoris Recoil." The main cast includes Chiaki Kobayashi as Mash Burnedead, Reiji Kawashima as Finn Ames, Kaito Ishikawa as Lance Crown, among other notable voice actors.

When the anime adaptation was announced in July 2022, Komoto commented on the official "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" Twitter, expressing both surprise and joy, saying, "I never dreamed it would become an anime..."

Summary

Hajime Komoto, the creator of the manga "Mashle: Magic and Muscles," is a manga artist who received an Honorable Mention in the Akatsuka Prize in 2018 and debuted in 2019. "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" is his first serialized work and has become a hugely popular title, with more than 10 million copies in circulation worldwide.

While the first season of the anime began airing in April 2023, the manga concluded in July 2023. Both the anime and manga offer their own unique appeal, so why not enjoy both?

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