Though Gotouge’s schedule has not been shared before, the daily work routines of manga authors are reputed to be rigorous. “But through hard work and perseverance, they were able to grow considerably as a mangaka.” “I have known Gotouge sensei since the start of their career, and they were not necessarily without fault at the beginning,” Kohei Ohnishi, an Editor-in-Chief of Weekly Shonen Jump who edits Demon Slayer, tells TIME. Despite not much about Demon Slayer’s author being known to the public, those who collaborate closely with Gotouge are familiar with their work ethic. The mangaka, or manga creator, has not publicly revealed their identity, and instead uses the pen name Gotouge and appears as an avatar of an alligator in glasses when making announcements about the series. Koyoharu Gotouge (recently featured as a part of the 2021 TIME 100 Next) wrote and illustrated Demon Slayer. The story follows him as he joins this underground organization of skilled fighters who dedicate their lives to protecting humans from the vicious creatures. Determined to avenge their deaths and find a cure that would transform Nezuko back into a human, Tanjiro sets out on a journey to train for the Demon Slayer Corps. 13-year-old Tanjiro Kamado’s world is turned upside down when he returns home one morning to find his entire family murdered save for his sister Nezuko-who has turned into a demon. In this fictional world set in early 20th century Taishō-era Japan, man-eating demons roam the land each night.