Takashi Yano is a novelist who shot to fame in 2008 when he won a New Writing competition for Snake Herd. He has since written several more books, including spin-off novels for the Tekken gaming franchise and Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings. Artist Kenji Oiwa is also a well-known name, having previously worked on Welcome to the NHK, Arata-naru Sekai and Cat-eared Dad.