Waka Hirako

Waka Hirako is a Japanese manga artist known for her emotionally raw and psychologically complex storytelling. She gained international recognition with her critically acclaimed work "My Broken Mariko" (マイ・ブロークン・マリコ), a powerful one-shot manga exploring grief, friendship, and trauma. The story follows Shiino as she processes the suicide of her best friend Mariko, embarking on a cathartic journey to scatter her ashes. Hirako's distinctive art style and unflinching approach to difficult subjects have earned her praise for bringing depth and authenticity to topics often stigmatized in society. Her work resonates with readers seeking honest portrayals of mental health and human connection.