Tsugumi Ohba (Japanese: 大場 つぐみ, Hepburn: Ōba Tsugumi) is the pen name of a Japanese manga writer, best known for authoring the Death Note manga series with illustrator Takeshi 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 with My Little Monster creator Robico for the one-shot "Skip! Yamada-kun".[4] Another series with Obata, Platinum End, was serialized in the monthly Jump SQ from November 4, 2015, to January 4, 2021.[5][6]
Tsugumi Ohba
大場 つぐみ
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Born | Tokyo, Japan[1] |
Area(s) | Manga writer |
Notable works | Death Note Bakuman Platinum End |
Collaborators | Takeshi Obata |
Awards | Eagle Award for Favourite Manga for Death Note |
Ohba's real identity is a closely guarded secret.[7][8] Ohba said they never thought of becoming a manga creator, expecting the Death Note pilot to be passed on by Weekly Shōnen Jump.[9] They have since cited Shotaro Ishinomori, Fujiko Fujio, and Fujio 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 by Akira Kurosawa and Charlie 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 art lithographs,[9] collects teacups, and develops manga plots while holding their knees on a chair,[11] the last being similar to a habit of L, one of the main characters of Death Note.
There is speculation that Tsugumi Ohba is a pen name of manga artist Hiroshi Gamo, notably by Toshio Okada.[12][13] Among other supposed hidden clues in Ohba's works, supporters of the theory point out that in Bakuman the main character's uncle was a one-hit wonder manga artist who worked on a gag superhero manga, similar to Gamo and Tottemo! Luckyman, and also that the storyboards drawn by Ohba resemble Tottemo! Luckyman in style.[12]