Takeshi Obata
The "Death Note" concept derived from a rather general concept involving Shinigami and "specific rules". Author Tsugumi Ohba wanted to create a suspense series because the genre had few suspense series available to the public. After publication of the pilot chapter, the series was not expected to receive approval as a serialized comic. Learning that "Death Note" had in fact received approval and that Takeshi Obata would create the artwork, Ohba said, he "couldn't even believe it". Due to positive reactions, "Death Note" became a serialized manga series.