Her real name is Hiromi Arakawa (荒川弘美)

Her self-portrait is usually that of a bespectacled cow, as she was born and raised on a dairy farm in Hokkaido with three older sisters and a younger brother. She worked as a farmer for 8 years before moving to Tokyo.

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

Arakawa's career started with a work titled STRAY DOG, but she is best known for creating the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Friends with Segami Akira.

Arakawa-san gave birth to a son in 2007.

Aiya Kyu was an assistant of hers. Inariya Fusanosuke was possibly another assistant of her who became a BL mangaka on 2002.

She received the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award (New Artist Prize) 2011 for Fullmetal Alchemist.

The Shinsei Prize was also awarded to Arakawa.