Ken Akamatsu  

LEVEL-X, Mizuno Awa

Ken Akamatsu is a renowned Japanese mangaka known for creating popular series such as A.I. Love You and Love Hina. He was previously married to his wife "Kanon" Akamatsu, who had been an idol before becoming his spouse. In his teenage years, Akamatsu failed the entrance exams to Tokyo University and opted for Film Study instead. This decision may have influenced his later work in manga illustration. He gained recognition as an artist at Comiket and used the pen name Awa Mizuno. During college, he won several awards including twice from Weekly Shonen Magazine and the 50th Shonen Magazine Newcomers Award for his series A Kids Game for One Summer. His success continued with Love Hina, which received critical acclaim and was awarded the Kodansha Manga Award for shounen in 2001. Akamatsu incorporated elements of his own life experiences into the story, making it unique and relatable to readers from different backgrounds.