Tomohito Oda is a Japanese manga artist born on March 10, 1991, in Gamagōri, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from the Tokyo Polytechnic University Faculty of Arts with a degree in manga studies. Oda began his professional career in 2012 when his one-shot story World Worst One won the grand prize in the 70th Shogakukan New Comic Artist Awards. His official debut followed later that year with the publication of another one-shot, Universe Convenience Store Business Log, in Weekly Shōnen Sunday. Early in his career, he worked under his given name, Tomohito Oda, but later adopted the pen name in katakana as Tomohito Oda.

Before achieving widespread recognition, Oda created his first serialized work, Digicon, which ran in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 2014 to 2015. The series was published in three collected volumes. He then published a one-shot version of Komi Can’t Communicate in the same magazine in 2015, which served as the prototype for his most significant work. The full serialization of Komi Can’t Communicate began in Weekly Shōnen Sunday in May 2016 and concluded in January 2025, spanning 37 tankōbon volumes. The series achieved substantial commercial success, with over 16 million copies in circulation by the time it ended. It also earned critical recognition, winning the 67th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category in 2022.

The success of the manga led to multiple adaptations. A 24-episode anime television series produced by OLM aired in two seasons from October 2021 to June 2022, with Netflix handling worldwide streaming rights. An eight-episode live-action television drama also aired on NHK General TV from September to November 2021. Oda is credited as the original creator for these adaptations, while the production staff for the anime and drama handled the direction, writing, and music.

Oda’s artistic identity is characterized by a focus on character-driven slice-of-life narratives that explore themes of communication, social anxiety, and interpersonal connection. Following his early work in action-oriented genres, his style shifted toward depicting everyday situations with humor and emotional sincerity. His artwork in Komi Can’t Communicate is noted for its expressive character designs and effective use of visual storytelling to convey the internal states of characters who struggle with verbal expression. Reviews of his work have highlighted his ability to treat the subject of social anxiety with respect while maintaining a lighthearted tone.

In the manga industry, Oda is recognized as a prominent creator whose work achieved both critical and popular success. His wife is the manga artist Ruka Kohachi, known for the series Hana ni Arashi.