How Ohba is portrayed in Death Note
Born in Tokyo, Tsugumi Ohba (大場 つぐみ, Ōba Tsugumi?) is a writer best known for the manga Death Note. Ohba's real identity (and gender) is a closely guarded secret. Some fans believe that Tsugumi Ohba is just a pen-name for Hiroshi Gamō. 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.
Works Both of Ohba's works have been or are currently published in Weekly Shōnen Jump, illustrated by Takeshi Obata.
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 notebook, and the complex conflict between himself and his antagonists. Bakuman centers around two high school students who team up to try and create a successful manga so it can be made into an anime. The plot follows their dream to create manga and the complex relationship with them and people around them.
Not much is known about Ohba except that he/she was born in Tokyo, collects tea cups and develops manga plots whilst holding his/her legs on a chair, similar to L from Death Note. Also, Ohba's gender and identity is kept a secret from the public and it is a fan rumour that Tsugumi Ohba is actually a pen-name for gag manga author, Hiroshi Gamou. However there is no evidence supporting this, with the only 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 (eg. L (L. Lawliet), Near (Nate River), Mello (Mihael Keehl), Matt (Mail Jeevas), SPK members, mafia members from Death Note.)