Tsugumi Ohba

Born in Tokyo, Ōba Tsugumi is a writer best known for the manga Death Note. Ohba's real identity (and gender) is a closely guarded secret.

It is stated by the profile placed at the beginning of each Death Note manga, Ohba collects teacups and develops manga plots while holding his/her knees on a chair, similar to a habit of L, one of the main characters of the series.

Works
Both of Ohba's works have been or are currently published in the Weekly Shōnen Jump.


 * Death Note centers around a high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing the victim's name and picturing his or her face. The plot follows his attempt to create and lead a world cleansed of evil using the book, and the complex conflict between himself and his antagonists.
 * Bakuman follows two boys in 9th grade who wish to be mangaka, or manga artists.

Speculation
There is speculation that Tsugumi Ohba is a pen name and that he is really Hiroshi Gamō. Pointing out that in Bakuman the main character's uncle was a one-hit wonder mangaka who worked on a gag super hero manga, very similar to Gamō and Tottemo! Luckyman in all aspects. Also that the storyboards drawn by Ohba greatly resemble Tottemo! Luckyman in style.

There is also a trace being from Death Note, where the protagonist, Light Yagami, attends school and a sign saying 'Gamou Seminar' can be seen. There are many stories in which the name 'Gamou' is mentioned shedding a fan-rumour light on it. Nevertheless, whatever Ohba's identity may be, he/she remains mysterious like many of Ohba-sensei's characters who go by aliases (e.g. L (L. Lawliet), Near (Nate River), Mello (Mihael Keehl), Matt (Mail Jeevas), SPK members, mafia members from Death Note.)