Tsugumi Ohba (Japanese:大場 つぐみ,Hepburn:Ōba Tsugumi) is thepen name of a Japanesemanga writer, best known for authoring theDeath Notemanga series with illustratorTakeshi Obata from 2003 to 2006, which has 30 million collected volumes in circulation.[2] The duo's second series,Bakuman (2008–2012), was also successful with 15 million in circulation.[3] In 2014, Ohba collaborated withMy Little Monster creatorRobico for theone-shot "Skip! Yamada-kun".[4] Another series with Obata,Platinum End, was serialized in the monthlyJump SQ from November 4, 2015, to January 4, 2021.[5][6]
Ohba's real identity is a closely guarded secret.[7][8] Ohba said they never thought of becoming a manga creator, expecting theDeath Note pilot to be passed on byWeekly Shōnen Jump.[9] They have since citedShotaro Ishinomori,Fujiko Fujio, andFujio Akatsuka as manga creators by whom they are heavily inspired.[10] Despite being an author, Ohba does not read much, instead they watch a lot of movies, being especially fond of those byAkira Kurosawa andCharlie Chaplin. They cited comedy as their favorite genre, and prefer Japanese films to American ones.[9] The author described themselves as a "clean freak" and usually cleans once a day.[9] Ohba is fond of artlithographs,[9] collectsteacups, and develops manga plots while holding their knees on a chair,[11] the last being similar to a habit ofL, one of the main characters ofDeath Note.
There is speculation that Tsugumi Ohba is a pen name of manga artistHiroshi Gamo, notably byToshio Okada.[12][13] Among other supposed hidden clues in Ohba's works, supporters of the theory point out that inBakuman the main character's uncle was aone-hit wonder manga artist who worked on a gag superhero manga, similar to Gamo andTottemo! Luckyman, and also that the storyboards drawn by Ohba resembleTottemo! Luckyman in style.[12]
Centers on high school studentLight Yagami, who discovers asupernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing the victim's name (and knowing their face). The plot follows his attempt to create and lead a world "cleansed of evil" which he will rule as "God" using the notebook, and the conflicts between himself and anyone he sees as an obstacle, from law enforcement to the mafia to the greatest detective in the world: "L".
Revolves around two high school students who team up to try to create a successful manga, so it will be made into an anime in order for the artist of the group, Moritaka Mashiro, to fulfill the promise he made to a girl named Miho Azuki, whose dream is to become a voice actress for anime, as well as the dream of Akito Takagi, the writer of the duo.
^Bakuman, Volume 2. Inside cover profiles, Ohba's gender was previously unknown to the general public. Bakuman, volume 3- "His current series is Bakuman, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump
