Hiromu Arakawa (荒川弘, Arakawa Hiromu?, born May 8, 1973) is a female Japanese manga artist from Hokkaidō. Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美, Arakawa Hiromi?). Her renowned manga, Fullmetal Alchemist, became a hit, and was later adapted into a television anime.

Her self-portrait is usually that of a bespectacled cow, as she was born and raised in a dairy farm with five sisters.

Arakawa started out as Etō Hiroyuki's assistant writer for Mahōjin Guru Guru and a friend of Shakugan no Shana author Yashichiro Takahashi.

Arakawa's career started with a work titled Stray Dog, but she is best known for creating the Fullmetal Alchemist world and manga. During the making of the anime she was present in meetings to give the Bones staff insight in the world of Fullmetal Alchemist, though she didn't actively take part in any writing for the TV series.

Source: Wikipedia