Tsugumi Ohba

Tsugumi Ohba (大場 つぐみ, Ōba Tsugumi, born in Tokyo, Japan) is a gensakusha (writer). He is 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.^[1] The duo's second series Bakuman. (2008–2012), was also successful with 15 million in circulation.^[2] In 2014, he collaborated with My Little Monster creator Robico for the one-shot "Skip! Yamada-kun".^[3] Another series with Obata called Platinum End began in the December 2015 issue of Jump SQ on November 4, 2015.^[4]

His real identity is a closely guarded secret.^[5] He has cited Shotaro Ishinomori, Fujiko Fujio, and Fujio Akatsuka as manga creators by whom he is heavily inspired.^[6] As stated by the profile placed at the beginning of each Death Note manga, Ohba collects teacups and develops manga plots while holding his knees on a chair, similar to a habit of L, one of the main characters of the series.^[7] There is speculation that Tsugumi Ohba is a pen name of Hiroshi Gamō,^[8][9] pointing out that in Bakuman the main character's uncle was a one-hit wonder manga artist who worked on a gag super-hero manga, very similar to Gamō and Tottemo! Luckyman in all aspects, and also that the storyboards drawn by Ohba greatly resemble Tottemo! Luckyman in style.

Works

• Death Note with Takeshi Obata (2003–2006)

Centers around high school student Light Yagami, who discovers a supernatural 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.

• Bakuman (バクマン。) with Takeshi Obata (2008–2012)

Centers 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.

• Skip! Yamada-kun (スキップ！山田くん) with Robico (2014)
• Platinum End (プラチナエンド) with Takeshi Obata (2015)

Awards and nominations

• 2007 Nominated - Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Grand Prize for Death Note^[10]
• 2008 Nominated - Angoulême International Comics Festival Official Selection for Death Note^[11]
• 2008 Eagle Award for Favourite Manga for Death Note^[12]
• 2010 Nominated - Manga Taishō for Bakuman.^[13]

See also

References

External links

• Tsugumi Ohba at Anime News Network's encyclopedia