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List of Death Note characters
List of Death Note characters
from Wikipedia
The main characters of Death Note. From right to left: Misa Amane, Light Yagami, Ryuk, and L.
The main characters of Death Note. From left to right: Misa Amane, Light Yagami, Ryuk, and L

The manga series Death Note features an extensive cast of fictional characters designed by Takeshi Obata with their storylines created by Tsugumi Ohba.[1] The story follows the character named Light Yagami, who chances upon a supernatural notebook which grants him the ability to cause the death of anyone he writes in it. Light uses the notebook he finds in order to cleanse the world of humans he has deemed unfit for society. A team of professional investigators set out to find out the mysterious killer and arrest him, and thus many other characters are introduced until Light is eventually caught.

In the fictional stories featured in the Death Note universe, Tsugumi Ohba, the story writer, created characters that lived in a world featuring a notebook in which names written on it would lead to the ones named to die, typically the cause of death being a heart attack when otherwise not specified. Ohba chose names for his characters in a way that, as he described, "seemed real but could not exist in the real world", due to the fact that most of the characters were criminals or victims.[1] Some character details differ between the manga and its anime, live-action film and drama adaptations.

Main characters

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Light Yagami

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Light Yagami (夜神 月, Yagami Raito) is the main protagonist of the series. After discovering the Death Note and its ability to kill after writing a person's name with their face in mind, he decides to use it to rid the world of criminals. Though starting with noble intentions, his ego and hubris elevates to the point where he believes he has been chosen to serve as the "God of the New World" and is the only one fit to rule society. His killings are noticed by the public at large, and they begin to call him "Kira"; this subsequently draws the attention of enigmatic detective L, who dedicates his life to bringing Kira to justice.

After Light defeats L, he takes on L's title and intensifies his killings, whilst increasing his public approval to the point where cults worldwide have risen to worship Kira. However, the combined efforts of L's successors, Mello and Near, lead to Light's eventual capture, his subsequent death, and the end of his rule.

L

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L Lawliet (L・ローライト, Eru Rōraito), known solely as L, is the world's greatest detective. He takes on the task of tracking down and arresting Kira. His most noticeable characteristic is the fact that he rarely wears shoes. His disheveled appearance and lack of social etiquette causes people to doubt his position as L. He lives in solitude, and only his manager Watari is able to contact him directly. L suspects that Light is Kira almost from the beginning, but is unable to confirm his suspicions to others after his death.

Ryuk

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Ryuk (リューク, Ryūku) is a bored Shinigami that drops a Death Note, the notebook that allows the one in its possession to kill anyone simply by knowing their name and face, into the human world in order to have fun. It is picked up by Light Yagami, a young genius who uses it in an attempt to create and rule a world "cleansed of evil" as "God". He has an affinity for apples.

Misa Amane

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Misa Amane (弥 海砂, Amane Misa), also known as "Misa-Misa", is a popular Japanese idol, who is known for her Gothic-style of dress, hyperactive personality and devotion to Light, falling in love with him after he kills Misa's parents' murderer. As a Death Note owner and the second Kira, she has the eyes of a Shinigami, which allow her to see nearly everyone's name and lifespan. However, she cannot see the lifespans of Death Note owners. As part of her career as an idol, she performs numerous jobs such as acting, singing and modeling.

Near

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Voiced by: Noriko Hidaka (Japanese); Cathy Weseluck (English)

Near (ニア, Nia), whose real name is Nate River, is the young detective who succeeds L after his death, He is the head of an organization created to catch Kira, the SPK (Special Provision for Kira). A placid, pragmatic character with a sharp tongue, he has white hair and wears pale clothes. He constantly plays with toys, building towers of dice and playing cards, and illustrating his exposition with small finger puppets. He is seen completing blank puzzles, which emphasizes his problem-solving skills. He was the person who succeeded in identifying and capturing Light as Kira.

Mello

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Mello (メロ, Mero), real name is Mihael Keehl, grows up in competition with Near to succeed L. After L's death, however, he concedes the position to Near and leaves to hunt Kira through criminal means, eventually joining the American Mafia. His obsession with surpassing Near serves as the primary motivation for many of his actions. He has blond hair, dresses extravagantly, and is rarely seen without a bar of chocolate.[2][3]

Teru Mikami

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Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze (Japanese); Kirby Morrow (English)

Teru Mikami (魅上 照, Mikami Teru) is a criminal prosecutor and fanatical worshipper of Kira. When Light needs a new proxy to hide his identity, Light uses his intuition alone to select Mikami to become the fourth Kira.[4] Since childhood, Mikami has had a strong sense of justice, but his views have become warped due to years of bullying and trauma.[5] As an example of this, Mikami wishes to punish those he considers to be evil, which, to Light's dismay, includes unproductive people and reformed criminals. Mikami mutters the word "delete" (削除, sakujo) repeatedly whenever he uses the Death Note to commit his executions.

During the climax of manga's final arc, Mikami is captured by Near's team after unintentionally implicating Light and exposing the latter as Kira. Whereas Mikami dies in prison after going insane in the manga, he commits suicide by stabbing himself with his pen in the anime. Matsuda theorizes that Near wrote in the Death Note to manipulate Mikami's actions in order to lead Light to his defeat.[6] In the second Death Note Rewrite special, Mikami is the one to kill the majority of SPK, Near's team of investigators, differing from the manga, in which Mello and the mafia are responsible for the SPK's deaths.

In the live action drama, his role is expanded upon. Portrayed by Shugo Oshinari, Mikami is introduced as the prosecutor handling the case of Kyu Nishida, the murderer of Misa's parents. He eventually deduces Misa's identity as the second Kira after accumulating information from Kira-related news. After stealing Misa's notebook to become Kira in her place, Mikami collaborates with Light to kill L. Mikami continues to work with Light until they are both caught by Near and the police in the Yellow Box warehouse. Mikami accidentally kills Light after he sets the warehouse on fire in an attempt to escape.

Mikami makes a cameo appearance in Death Note: Light Up the New World serving as the guardian to Light's young son.[note 1] Mikami murders the boy in order to steal the boy's notebook but is in turn killed by police officer Tsukuru Mishima. He is portrayed by Kensei Mikami in the film.[7]

Minoru Tanaka

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Minoru Tanaka (田中実, Tanaka Minoru) is the new possessor of the Death Note and the main protagonist of the one-shot sequel chapter The a-Kira Story (also titled Death Note: Special One Shot), where he decides to auction off the Death Note instead of using it. Having Ryuk go out to send his instructions to Sakura TV, he creates a hashtag to auction off the Death Note, ultimately leading to world governments bidding on the Death Note, ultimately getting the United States to bid ten trillion dollars for it, while various law enforcement agencies are out to catch Minoru, whom Near names "A-Kira". During that time though, the Shinigami King is infuriated by the idea of the Note itself being for sale, and creates a new rule to the Note. After the Note is paid for by depositing the money equally into the savings account of every Japanese person 60 or below, the new rule is revealed to be that anyone involved in the buying or selling of the Death Note will be killed upon fulfillment of the deal. The US president[note 2] balks at this, and secretly refuses to take ownership of the note (though mentioning he will publicly bluff about having it), and Minoru dies immediately after trying to cash out his payment.

Supporting characters

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Kira Investigation Team

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Soichiro Yagami

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Soichiro Yagami as portrayed in the anime
Voiced by: Naoya Uchida (Japanese); Christopher Britton (English)

Soichiro Yagami (夜神 総一郎, Yagami Sōichirō) is Light's father and detective superintendent of Japan's National Police Agency. He initially leads the Kira investigation team that later joins with L. When L begins to suspect Light of being Kira, Soichiro is unwilling to believe his son would be capable of such a thing. After L's death, he is sent to retrieve the Death Note stolen by Mello by obtaining Shinigami Eyes and infiltrating Mello's hideout, though Light had planned for Matsuda to fill the role.[9] He retrieves the note and learns Mello's real name but is unable to kill him and is instead fatally wounded. In the original manga and anime, Because Light has given up his Death Note, making his lifespan visible above his head, Soichiro dies believing that Light is not Kira.

In the film series, Takeshi Kaga portrays Soichiro.[10] The second film has Soichiro confront Light about his plans, and in that version, Light dies in his father's arms.

Touta Matsuda

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Touta Matsuda as portrayed in the anime.
Voiced by: Ryō Naitō (Japanese); Vincent Tong (English)

Touta Matsuda (松田 桃太, Matsuda Tōta; (romanized as Tota Matsuda in Japanese media[11])) is the youngest member of the Kira investigation team. His alias is Taro Matsui (松井 太郎, Matsui Tarō). Matsuda has the drive to match the other members of the team, but his lack of experience sometimes hinders the investigation. He becomes quite fond of Light throughout the series. He is also shown to be a massive fan of Misa, becoming quite upset when his death is faked and he can no longer work as her manager. It is hinted that Matsuda has an inferiority complex regarding his detective ability, and many of his coworkers feel annoyed by his behavior.[12] Matsuda's "risky moves" sometimes place him in danger, and his "quick thinking" sometimes aids the investigation, such as his actions in the Yotsuba case that lead to Higuchi's detainment. Matsuda initially befriends Light and believes that he is not Kira, but at the end of the series, during the final showdown, he shoots Light to prevent him from killing Near.[12]

Shuichi Aizawa

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Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara (Japanese); Trevor Devall (English)

Shuichi Aizawa (相沢 周市, Aizawa Shūichi) is a member of the Kira investigation team that leaves the team under the guise of needing to support his family because the Japanese police cut their funding (it is only after he leaves that it is revealed that L would have supported them had he stayed). Aizawa uses the alias Aihara (相原) to protect his identity. Aizawa returns shortly before L's death, after which he is one of the first to suspect Light of being Kira (although he continues to act compassionately towards Light until he is cornered and goes mad) and helps contribute to his eventual defeat. He becomes the leader of the investigation team afterward.

Kanzo Mogi

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Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai (Japanese); John Murphy (English)

Kanzo Mogi (模木 完造, Mogi Kanzō) is one of the most dedicated members of the Kira investigation team, but also one of the most reserved. Mogi rarely speaks, even when someone presents an opinion he agrees with. Despite this, he has shown himself to be a particularly good detective. He is also an excellent actor, becoming an excited and cheery manager for Misa on demand and seemingly contradictory to his usual demeanor. He appears to be fond of Misa, as she nicknames him 'Motchi'. Mogi uses the alias Kanichi Moji (模地 幹一, Moji Kan'ichi) to protect his identity.

Hideki Ide

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Voiced by: Hideo Ishikawa (Japanese); Brian Dobson (English)

Hideki Ide (伊出 英基, Ide Hideki) is one of the few police officers who remain with Soichiro during the Kira Investigation. He initially leaves when he disagrees with L's methods. Ide later returns and plays a relatively minor role in the Kira investigative team. He helps coordinate their efforts and performs actions such as organizing a blockade of police cars to trap Higuchi. Later, after L's death, he rejoins the investigation, though he states that he only did so to be with Aizawa. Ide trusts Light more than any of the other Task Force members, except for Light's father.

Hirokazu Ukita

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Voiced by: Hidenobu Kiuchi (Japanese); Jeremy From (English)

Hirokazu Ukita (宇生田 広数, Ukita Hirokazu) is a member of the Kira investigation team that is led by L. He is characterized as a brave young man who is also a chronic smoker.[13] When Misa has Sakura TV (さくらTV) broadcast a message from her as Kira, Ukita rushes to the station to stop the broadcast without any prompting by the rest of the team. Since Misa has the Shinigami Eyes, she kills Ukita as soon as he approaches the door.

Watari

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Watari
Voiced by: Kiyoshi Kobayashi (Japanese); French Tickner, Ron Halder (English)

Watari (ワタリ) is L's assistant, providing logistics to the investigation team. Before the team is formed, he is the only person who has seen L, and the only one capable of contacting L directly. Like L, he represents himself with an Old English "W" on computer screens. He is also a fatherly figure to L. On the surface, he is Quillsh Wammy (キルシュ・ワイミー, Kirushu Waimī), a famous inventor and founder of Wammy's House, an orphanage for gifted children in Winchester, England. Watari is well trained in espionage and marksmanship. Rem kills Watari, along with L, in order to protect Misa. At the end of the manga, Roger Ruvie, the manager of Wammy House, becomes the new Watari for the third L, Near.

In the film, he is played by Shunji Fujimura, who felt that Watari's presence would "come alive" if he projected "the mood of this mysterious old gentleman without the air of livelihood."[14]

Matt

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Voiced by: Tomohiro Nishimura (Japanese); Drew Nelson (English)

Matt (マット, Matto), real name is Mail Jeevas (マイル・ジーヴァス, Mairu Jīvasu), is a cohort of Mello's. Matt was also a former resident of Wammy's orphanage, being one of its most talented despite his laziness.[15] He is a chain smoker with a fondness for video games. Matt is Mello's helper[15] as he performs espionage work and acts as an accomplice in Takada's kidnapping, which results in his death when he is shot by Takada's bodyguards.

Roger Ruvie

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Voiced by: Hiroshi Ōtake (Japanese); Ron Halder (English)

Roger Ruvie (ロジャー・ラヴィー, Rojā Ruvī) acts as the manager of Wammy's House. He is aware of L and Watari's detective work. Despite his work with children, he detests them. At the end of the series, he becomes the new Watari for Near.

Beyond Birthday

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Beyond Birthday (ビヨンド・バースデイ, Biyondo Bāsudei), nicknamed BB, is a character exclusive to the prequel novel, Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases. He is a serial murderer bent on surpassing L - not by being the world's greatest detective, but by being the world's greatest criminal. The novel takes place in August 2002, a year before Light became Kira. The only thing known about his past before going to Wammy's House is that his father was beaten to death by a thug and his mother died in a train crash. Like L, Mello, Matt and Near, he lived in Wammy's House and was known as B, which stood for "Backup." Beyond was born with the Shinigami Eyes, so he could see when humans would die and their names. Using his Shinigami Eyes, he would intentionally kill people on their destined day of death.

To fool Naomi Misora, he acted a bit strange during Naomi and L's investigation, calling himself Rue Ryuzaki (竜崎 ルエ, Ryūzaki Rue), with "Rue" being an anagram of the Japanese pronunciation of L (エル, Eru), and Ryuzaki being a nickname L later adopts. He was always in heavy makeup when with Naomi, so his true appearance is unknown. He killed 3 victims, Backyard Bottomslash, Quarter Queen, and Believe Bridesmaid, while leaving clues at each murder scene for Naomi Misora to "solve." In reality, he himself led her to each conclusion she made.

He attempts to commit suicide at the end of the novel, by setting himself on fire, to look like the final victim. He feels that L would never be able to solve the case if he, the murderer, were "murdered", meaning he would have outwitted L. Naomi Misora, however, figures out his plan at the last moment, saving Beyond Birthday's life while at the same time putting him under arrest for his murders. At the very end of the novel, the narrator, Mello, states that Beyond Birthday died of a mysterious heart attack several years later in prison. He was killed by Kira using the Death Note.

A

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A is a former resident of Wammy's House and the original successor to L who is mentioned in Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases. He is said to have taken his own life years earlier due to the pressure of living up to L.

C-Kira

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C-Kira is a character of unknown identity, gender and age featured in the one-shot chapter The C-Kira Story, who receives a Death Note from the Shinigami Midora three years after Light's death and is known to have made the Shinigami eye deal with her. This person only uses the notebook to euthanize elderly people in Japan that wish to die and is dubbed "C-Kira", short for "Cheap Kira", by Near. After Near (as L) announces he is not interested in the case and condemns this Kira as an "abominable murderer", C-Kira commits suicide by writing their own name in the Death Note.

Associates of L Lawliet

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Aiber

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Voiced by: Takuya Kirimoto (Japanese); David Orth (English)

Aiber (アイバー, Aibā), real name Thierry Morello (ティエリ・モレロ, Tieri Morero), is a professional con man in the employ of L. He plays the role of Eraldo Coil (エラルド・コイル, Erarudo Koiru), one of L's detective aliases, during the investigation of the Yotsuba Group. Aiber uses his initial "A", just like L, when communicating through computers. Aiber speaks many languages and uses many false identities. He also has a talent for using his good looks to convince women to pass information to him. Aiber enjoys living life on the edge and his biggest thrill comes from conning people.[16][17]

After L's death, Light kills him using the Death Note. In the manga, Aiber dies from liver cancer at a hospital in Paris, France with his family at his bedside.[18][19] In the anime, he dies of a heart attack in front of his wife and son. He, like Wedy, is referenced to, but does not appear in, Death Note: Another Note.[20]

Wedy

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Voiced by: Miki Nagasawa (Japanese); Venus Terzo (English)

Wedy (ウエディ, Uedi), real name Mary Kenwood (メリー・ケンウッド, Merī Ken'uddo; (romanized as Merrie Kenwood in Japanese media)), is a professional burglar in the employ of L. She installs bugs in the Yotsuba Group's meeting room to secretly observe the group's weekly meetings. She does the same for Higuchi's car, allowing the team to watch his desperate attempts to kill Matsuda.[17]

Wedy uses her initial in computer communication; to avoid confusion with Watari ("W"), she deliberately uses the lowercase form, "w". After L's death, Light kills her using his Death Note; Wedy dies in a motorcycle accident[16] in Colorado. She, like Aiber, is referenced to, but does not appear in, Death Note: Another Note.[20]

Associates of Kira

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Kiyomi Takada

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Kiyomi Takada (高田 清美, Takada Kiyomi) first appears for a short period as Light Yagami's classmate and girlfriend; Light appeared with Takada in public to disguise the fact that he also conversed with Misa. She returns five years later in the story as an announcer of NHN chosen by Teru Mikami to be Kira's spokesperson to the world. Light realizes that he can use this connection with Takada to his advantage and sets up a meeting with her, presumably for the benefit of the investigation. While the two meet, Takada receives a call from Mikami and Light reveals himself to Mikami as Kira. They create a ploy to force the Kira Investigation Team to remove all bugs from the room, after which Light tells Takada that he wants her to be his goddess in the new world.

Hitoshi Demegawa

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Voiced by: Chafurin (Japanese); Ward Perry (English)

Hitoshi Demegawa (出目川 仁, Demegawa Hitoshi) is a publicity hound and director of Sakura TV (さくらTV). He initially appears when Misa Amane sends four videotapes to Sakura TV in order to gain attention from the real Kira, and approves of broadcasting the tapes on live TV. However, he is forced to hand the tapes over to Soichiro, who crashes a police wagon into the studio and threatens him at gunpoint. He later helps the investigation force to lure out Higuchi by running a television program. Demegawa reappears after L's death, serving as Kira's spokesman for a while and even creating new programs in "honor" of Kira. Demegawa also leads the raid on Near's headquarters with Kira's supporters, but like all the other rioters, is distracted by the money that Near throws down. Later, when he takes matters into his own hands and builds a chapel to greet Kira, asking for donations, which would give Kira a bad image, Mikami kills him for being greedy, and he is replaced by Takada.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation agrees to assist L since some people believed that Kira killed some American criminals. After Kira kills 12 agents, the FBI withdraws its assistance.[21]

Raye Penber

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Raye Penber as portrayed in the anime
Voiced by: Hideo Ishikawa (Japanese); Michael Adamthwaite (English)

Raye Penber (レイ・ペンバー, Rei Penbā) is an American investigator from the FBI, sent to Japan with eleven other agents to aid in tracking down Kira early in the story. Described by How to Read It as a "talented" agent,[22] Raye is assigned to investigate the Yagami family for any suspicious behavior; but he eventually stops suspecting Light after he appears to be one of the victims of a bus-jacking. However, Light staged the event to get Raye's name so he could kill him. He has a fiancée, retired FBI agent Naomi Misora, whom he tells not to involve herself in the investigation for her own safety. Light manages to track him down and use him "as a pawn"[22] to kill the other eleven members of his team (he unknowingly used a page of Light's notebook to kill them). Light kills Raye soon after. Before Raye dies, he sees Light, realizing that he is indeed Kira.

He is known in the film series as Raye Iwamatsu (レイ・イワマツ, Rei Iwamatsu) and is portrayed by Shigeki Hosokawa.

Shogen portrays the version of Raye Penber in the TV drama.[23]

Obata said that as Raye was of mixed American and Japanese descent, Obata "struggled over his design" and tried to make Penbar look more non-Japanese. Obata said that he wishes that he could have "drawn him a bit better."[24] Hosokawa said that when he portrayed Raye he built Raye's strength, tenderness and the "feeling of mortification."[14]

Naomi Misora

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Naomi Misora as portrayed in the anime
Voiced by: Naoko Matsui (Japanese); Tabitha St. Germain (English)

Naomi Misora (南空 ナオミ, Misora Naomi) is Raye Penber's fiancée. A former first rate FBI agent,[22] Naomi left the Bureau in October 2003[25] for the sake of starting a family in the United States.[26] After the sudden death of her fiancé which she blames Kira for, Naomi decides to take part in the Kira case herself, and theorizes that Kira has other methods of killing besides heart attack.[22] In her attempts to contact the Kira investigation team, she comes across Light Yagami. Cautious at first, she uses the false name Shoko Maki (間木 照子, Maki Shōko) in order to protect herself until she can reach L. However, Light manages to manipulate her into revealing her real name to him, resulting in her death by suicide. Her body is never found due to the specifications made by Light in the Death Note.

Naomi is one of the central characters in the spin-off novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases by author Nisio Isin.[27] The story is set several years prior to the start of the series and focuses on a series of murder cases investigated by L with Naomi as his operative. The resulting capture of the murderer helped launch Naomi's reputation within the FBI.[28]

She is also a key character in the 2006 film Death Note.

Steve Mason

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Voiced by: Mitsuru Ogata (Japanese); John Novak (English)

Steve Mason (スティーブ・メイスン, Sutību Meisun; romanized Steeve Maison in Japanese media[29]) is the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He assists L in investigating the Japanese police and withdraws FBI involvement after the FBI agents in Japan die. At a later point, he helps Near create the SPK. Mason dies due to the Death Note.

Yotsuba Group

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The Yotsuba Group (ヨツバグループ, Yotsuba Gurūpu) is a group of eight members of the Yotsuba Corporation. On Light's instruction, Rem delivers the Death Note to one of them. They meet weekly to discuss the killing of key individuals from competing companies to maintain dominance in the business industry. While they realize that one of them is Kira, they do not know which one.

Kyosuke Higuchi

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Voiced by: Issei Futamata (Japanese); Andrew Kavadas (English)

Kyosuke Higuchi (火口 卿介, Higuchi Kyōsuke) is the third "Kira", receiving the Death Note from Rem, who was instructed to give it to a "greedy, forceful, and selfish" individual who would use the Death Note to attain a higher status that was out of his reach.[30][31] He was the head of Technology Development at the Yotsuba Corporation, and is part of the Yotsuba Group, eight members of the Yotsuba Corporation that use the Death Note to kill individuals from competing companies to dominate the business industry. Due to his brash attitude and ineptitude, the other members eventually figured out that he is Kira.

When he receives the Death Note, he is instructed by Rem to carry out routine killings of criminals, then do whatever he pleases with the Note outside of the killings. He then meets weekly with the rest of the Yotsuba Group to discuss the killing of key individuals from competing companies to maintain dominance in the business industry. While they realize that one of them is Kira, they initially do not know it is Higuchi. During L's probe on the group, Higuchi kills Hatori after Hatori produced a "careless outburst."[32] Rem aids the capture of Higuchi by revealing his identity to Misa. Misa reveals her admiration of Kira and uses her status as the second Kira to get him to propose to her and admit to being Kira on tape.

He is then betrayed by his fellow Yotsuba Group members, which involves Matsuda appearing on Sakura TV to reveal that Higuchi is Kira. This leads to him acquiring the Shinigami Eyes, and he uses them to evade the police for a short time on his way to Sakura TV. He is eventually thwarted by a masked police blockade set up by L's task force. He attempts to kill himself to avoid capture, but Watari uses his expert marksmanship to shoot the gun out of his hand. He then reveals to everyone the existence of Death Notes. Light touches the Death Note while inspecting it, thereby regaining his memories of being the real Kira. Light then uses a Death Note scrap hidden in his watch to kill Higuchi.[33]

Other members of the Yotsuba Group

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Shingo Mido (三堂 芯吾, Midō Shingo)
Voiced by: Eiji Hanawa (Japanese); Trevor Devall (English)

Shingo Mido, the Vice President of Corporate Strategy and the Director of Financial Planning, feels reservations regarding the Yotsuba Kira and ponders leaving the other board members. Mido appears to have a sense of appreciation for Yotsuba.[34] Misa Amane acknowledges that Mido bears a resemblance to Light Yagami.

Reiji Namikawa (奈南川 零司, Namikawa Reiji)
Voiced by: Hirofumi Nojima (Japanese); Ted Cole (English)

Reiji Namikawa is the Vice President of Sales, and the youngest member of the eight. He initially encourages the Yotsuba Kira. After receiving a telephone call from Light he ceases participation and observes the scenario. He is described as the most talented of the board members who has the potential to make it to the top without Kira, and that he detests useless subordinates.[30] He has a talent in shogi at the professional 4-dan level.[35]

Eiichi Takahashi (鷹橋 鋭一, Takahashi Eiichi)
Voiced by: Rintarō Nishi (Japanese); David Orth (English)

Eiichi Takahashi is the Vice President of Yotsuba Material Planning Division and Yotsuba Homes. Despite his position, he is stated to not have what it takes to be a true leader and that he was selected to attend the meetings to make Higuchi look good. The other members view Takahashi as foolish because he does not seem to put much thought into his comments.[34]

Suguru Shimura (紙村 英, Shimura Suguru)
Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yokoo (Japanese); Brian Drummond (English)

Suguru Shimura is the Head of Personnel. He is described as paranoid and always keep a close eye on others. Shimura's ability to pay attention to small details allowed him to join the meetings; he noticed subtle changes in poker-faced Namikawa's face.[32]

Masahiko Kida (樹多 正彦, Kida Masahiko)
Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa (Japanese); Martin Sims (English)

The Vice President of Rights and Planning, Masahiko Kida controls the finances of the committee and contacts "Eraldo Coil." Despite being calm and collected, he is not able to deal with surprises, leading him to panic when "Eraldo Coil" asks for more money.[32]

Takeshi Ooi (尾々井 剛, Ooi Takeshi)
Voiced by: Kiyoyuki Yanada (Japanese); Michael Kopsa (English)

Takeshi Ooi is the Vice President of VT Enterprises. He is the eldest and most influential member and he appears to control the conferences. He individually contacts the members of the committee. He is described as a tough guy who doesn't sweat the details.[34]

Arayoshi Hatori (葉鳥 新義, Hatori Arayoshi)
Voiced by: Yukitoshi Tokumoto (Japanese); Simon Hayama (English)

The Vice President of Marketing, Arayoshi Hatori is the illegitimate son of the company president and uses this fact to benefit himself. He has been shown to appear to be unable to handle the pressures of the meetings. After Hatori makes a careless outburst the Yotsuba Kira kills him.[32]

After L dies, Light writes the names of the remaining six, killing them by way of a heart attack. Rumors of Kira's responsibility in the deaths causes Yotsuba's share prices to drop sharply. In the director's cut of Death Note, Mido dies by falling from a tall building, Shimura dies by being run over by a train, and Namikawa dies in a car accident.

SPK

[edit]

The Special Provision for Kira, usually abbreviated "SPK", is a group of anti-Kira formed by members of Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation members headed by Near. Membership of the group remains small to preserve secrecy and the group decides to work separately from the Japanese task force.[36] Many of the SPK are later killed with the Death Note by the mafia due to leaked information.

Anthony Rester

[edit]
Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa (Japanese); Michael Adamthwaite (English)

Commander Anthony Rester (アンソニー・レスター, Ansonī Resutā), real name Anthony Carter (アンソニー・カーター, Ansonī Kātā), is the second-in-command and the lead crime scene investigator. Rester follows Near except in emergency situations. Near trusts Rester and sometimes reveals certain information solely to Rester. Rester's quiet personality and physical capabilities serve useful functions in the SPK, although he is far below Near in terms of intellectual prowess.[37]

Halle Lidner

[edit]
Voiced by: Akeno Watanabe (Japanese); Lisa Ann Beley (English)

Halle Lidner (ハル・リドナー, Haru Ridonā), real name Halle Bullook (ハル・ブロック, Haru Burokku), works for Near as part of his investigation team. Halle is a former CIA agent who leaks information to Mello in order to increase the chances of Kira being caught.

Stephen Gevanni

[edit]
Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese); Sam Vincent (English)

Stephen Gevanni (ステファン・ジェバンニ, Sutefan Jebannī), real name is Stephen Loud (ステファン・ラウド, Sutefan Raudo), works for Near as part of his investigation team. Gevanni is assigned to follow Mikami for much of the case, and it is his meticulous analysis of Mikami's personal habits which allow him to find Mikami's Death Note and swap it with a fake. Gevanni skillfully follows and monitors suspects and has abilities such as the skill of picking locks.[37]

Mafia

[edit]

The Mafia, being used by Mello, increases its influence and intends to possess the Death Note and gain power.[21] In the Death Note Rewrite 2 special, the mafia plot is omitted.

Rod Ross

[edit]
Voiced by: Masaki Aizawa (Japanese); Brian Dobson (English)

Rod Ross (ロッド・ロス, Roddo Rosu; romanized Rodd Los in Japanese media[38]), real name Dwhite Gordon (ドワイト・ゴードン, Dowaito Gōdon), is the head of the mafia. Ross follows Mello's orders. As his name is easily known, Light kills him. His name is also mentioned in L: Change the WorLd as the leader of an arms syndicate who deals with the mafia.

Jack Neylon

[edit]
Voiced by: Takashi Matsuyama (Japanese); Ted Cole (English)

Jack Neylon (ジャック・ネイロン, Jakku Neiron), real name Kal Snydar (カル・スナイダー, Karu Sunaidā), is a member of Mello's gang. He is the holder of Sidoh's Death Note after it is given to the gang by the Kira investigation team. Before Mello joined, he was involved in drug trafficking and illegal weapons sales; neither charge stuck due to lack of evidence, despite four separate arrests. After Sidoh tracks down his Death Note, Jack was forced by Mello and Ross to perform the eye trade with the Shinigami. Light uses the Death Note to have him mail the address of Mello's hideout. Jack has been shown to harbor a strong dislike for Mello.

Shinigami

[edit]

Rem

[edit]
Voiced by: Kimiko Saitō (Japanese); Colleen Wheeler (English)

Rem (レム, Remu) is the Shinigami who gives Misa her Death Note. Like Ryuk, Rem possesses two Death Notes; however, Rem did not get hers through trickery. The Shinigami Gelus, who had fallen in love with Misa, intentionally killed someone who was going to murder Misa. Since he had knowingly used his Death Note to extend a human life (a violation of Shinigami law), he was reduced to ash, leaving only his Death Note. Touched by this act, Rem delivered Gelus's Death Note to Misa, since it was her life that he saved. Her appearance is quite skeletal, with long, spinal cord-like arms and bone-like skin.

While Ryuk takes amusement in everything in the human world, Rem is almost the exact opposite. She views most humans with contempt, seeing Shinigami as the more evolved race. Also, while Ryuk is ambivalent to Light's success or failure, Rem actively assists Misa, having inherited Gelus's love for her. She is even willing to sacrifice her life to defend Misa, as evidenced by her threat to kill Light should Misa die before her time. For Misa's sake, however, she still assists Light in his schemes, although she despises Kyosuke Higuchi, the human she gave the Death Note to and calls the Yotsuba Group "disgusting creatures" due to them using the Death Note for personal gain. Amusingly, Rem experiences difficulty while writing the Japanese language. Light manages to force Rem to work for him by presenting a situation in which harm would come to Misa otherwise. As such, she dies when she writes L's name.

Gelus

[edit]
Voiced by: Kenichi Matsuyama (Japanese); Michael Dobson (English)

Gelus (ジェラス, Jerasu) appears in a flashback when Rem explains how to kill a Shinigami. He is a small, doll-like Shinigami who appears to be patched together out of mismatched fabric. He only has one eye, despite having two eye sockets. In the flashback, Rem recalls Gelus watching over a younger Misa Amane in the human world, which he spends most of his time doing. Knowing that it was Misa's final day, he watches with her, interested in how she will die. Having fallen in love with Misa, Gelus uses his Death Note to kill Misa's destined murderer, a crazed stalker, against Rem's protests. Gelus is reduced to a pile of "something that was not sand nor dust," as punishment for extending a human life, leaving behind only his Death Note. His remaining years are added to Misa's lifespan. Rem delivers his Death Note to Misa because it was she whom he saved. In the film, she simply drops it and it lands near Misa.

Sidoh

[edit]
Voiced by: Kazuki Yao (Japanese); Sam Vincent (English)

Sidoh (シドウ, Shidō) is the Shinigami whose Death Note was stolen by Ryuk. By the time he realizes this, however, the note has already changed hands several times, ending up in the hands of Jack Neylon, a member of Mello's gang. After repeatedly hounding Ryuk for its return, he tracks down the gang to get it back. He discovers his notebook is in Los Angeles, California and upon arrival takes the notebook out of Mello's hands (making it look as if it just floated in mid-air) and touches it to the notebook's current owner, Kal Snyder (Jack Neylon's real name). After Snyder freaks out, he gets Mello and the others to touch the notebook. To regain his Note, Sidoh agrees to help Mello's gang against Near's SPK and the Kira investigation team. Snyder is forced to make the eye trade with Sidoh, who exposes the fake 13-day rule.

Sidoh wears heavy clothing, obscuring most of his features, and his head is wrapped in bandages. He shares Mello's great liking for chocolate, similar to Ryuk's liking of apples. Sidoh is fairly timid; Mello frightens Sidoh, despite the fact that Mello is a human. Sidoh is shown to be unintelligent and forgetful, rarely remembering the names of other Shinigami.[11] After Light regains the Death Note from Mello, he returns it to Sidoh to keep him from interfering.

Armonia Justin Beyondormason

[edit]
Voiced by: Hideyuki Umezu (Japanese); Michael Dobson (English)

Armonia Justin Beyondormason (アラモニア=ジャスティン=ビヨンドルメーソン, Aramonia-Jasutin-Biyondorumēson), is a briefly featured Shinigami who informs Sidoh that his Death Note was stolen by the Shinigami Ryuk and gives him the rules for different situations. As his names suggests, Justin's appearance is that of a skeleton adorned with all manner of jewellery. Justin is the right-hand man of the Shinigami King and sits on a throne. Highly intelligent, Justin knows everything there is to know about the Death Note, and Shinigami often go to him in trouble.[13] Justin provides Sidoh with several scrolls describing the various rules that Shinigami have for interacting with humans, which Sidoh uses to guide his interactions with Mello in the human world. The scrolls are not mentioned in the anime.

Midora

[edit]

Midora (ミードラ, Mīdora) is a large, salamander-like Shinigami with stubby limbs. Unlike most Shinigami, she does not wear any clothing or accessories. She enjoys moist weather but loathes dry seasons. Her enormous size gives her a dominating presence.[13] While Midora is a background character in the main series, The C-Kira Story focuses on her. In the chapter, Ryuk's actions have made apples a commodity among the Shinigami. Midora uses this to bribe the Shinigami King into giving her a second Death Note, which she gives to a human in an attempt to replicate Ryuk's experience with Light. When this Kira is brushed off by Near as "cheap" and kills themselves as a result, Midora tells Ryuk about this, and he relates Light's claim that someone must have great spiritual strength and conviction to use the Death Note; Midora simply picked a "weakling". She admits that Ryuk is better at judging such things, then gives the extra Death Note to him. Midora also has a liking for bananas, similar to Ryuk's fondness for apples.[18]

Shinigami King

[edit]

The Shinigami King (死神大王, Shinigami Daiō), also known as the King of Death, is the ruler of the Shinigami. An unseen character in the main series, the Shinigami King governs the Shinigami and controls distribution of the Death Notes. It is not made clear if he creates them or just has a certain supply, as he is unwilling to replace lost ones. He appears to at least write the rules for the Death Notes, but whether or not he enforces them himself is unclear. The Shinigami King is regarded as a sort of father figure by lesser Shinigami, and is said to be almost immortal. Physically, the King is a large mass suspended in the air with chains. He has a skull for a head, which is surrounded by a larger, skull-like formation. He has four tentacle-like arms, each with only three fingers on the hands, which hang from his body.[21]

One of the eyecatch rules given in the series states that extra Death Notes found by Shinigami are generally expected to be returned to the King, though Shinigami are not obliged to do this immediately. Likewise, lost notebooks must also be reported to him.[22] Little information is given about the character himself, aside from Rem's assertion that the King is not easy to trick, which Ryuk successfully did. In contrast, he is quite easily bribed, as Midora was able to trade thirteen apples for a second Death Note after getting them from the human world.[21]

Sachiko Yagami

[edit]
Voiced by: Ai Satō (Japanese); Saffron Henderson (English)

Sachiko Yagami is the wife of Soichiro Yagami and the mother of Light. Like her daughter Sayu, she is unaware of Light ever being Kira even after his death.

Sayu Yagami

[edit]
Voiced by: Haruka Kudō (Japanese); Kelly Metzger, Kristie Marsden (English)

Sayu Yagami (夜神 粧裕, Yagami Sayu) is Light's kindhearted younger sister. Like her mother she never learns of Light's possession of the Death Note or his identity as Kira. In the manga and anime, after Takimura's death, Mello's gang kidnaps her in exchange for the Death Note possessed by the investigation team. Although being returned unharmed, Sayu falls into a state of shock, eventually becoming unresponsive to the presence of others.

David Hoope

[edit]

David Hoope (デイビット・ホープ, Deibitto Hōpu) is the President of the United States of America in the storyline. He assists in the formation of Near's SPK, and provides information and funding to Mello under threats of the Death Note. He turns to Light, despite knowing that he is not the real L, who manipulates him into providing assistance and attacking Mello's hideout. When the attack fails, President Hoope commits suicide to prevent Mello from writing his name and making him launch a nuclear strike.[39] In the second Rewrite special, the mafia plot is omitted, with Light instead blackmailing him to leak information about the SPK. Light in turn forwards this information to Takada and Mikami, and they kill the SPK. In the anime, the character was merged with that of George Sairas.

George Sairas

[edit]
Voiced by: Aruno Tahara (Japanese); Michael Dobson (English)

George Sairas (ジョージ・サイラス, Jōji Sairasu; George Psyeruth[29] in Japanese media) is the Vice President of the United States. When Hoope dies Sairas becomes the President. He capitulates to Kira and officially announces support for him. In addition, Sairas leaks secret information about the SPK. Sairas Is described as weak-willed and lacking as a leader.[39] In the anime, Sairas is US president from the start.

Koreyoshi Kitamura

[edit]
Voiced by: Masaru Ikeda (Japanese); Howard Siegal (English)

Koreyoshi Kitamura (北村 是良, Kitamura Koreyoshi) is the deputy director of the NPA and Soichiro's superior. He feels weighted by Yotsuba's pressure.[13]

Kanichi Takimura

[edit]

Kanichi Takimura is the head director of the NPA. He is kidnapped by Mello in order to be used as a hostage in exchange for the Death Note. He is later controlled to commit suicide by Light Yagami.

Yamamoto

[edit]

Yamamoto (山本, Yamamoto) is the newest member of the NPA who only appears in the final chapter.[40] He works as Matsuda's junior, and was seen troubled by Matsuda bothering him with going to a bar. In the special one-shot chapter set three years later, he can be seen in the same room with the rest of the team, albeit not belonging to them, as noted by Matsuda.[41]

Criminals and initial victims

[edit]

Kurou Otoharada

[edit]

An unemployed 42-year-old man, Kurou Otoharada (音原田 九郎, Otoharada Kurō) is the first criminal that Light kills. Otoharada's name is announced on television as he holds eight hostages in a nursery school. As this incident was reported only on local television, it helped L narrow down Kira's whereabouts.

Takuo Shibuimaru

[edit]
Voiced by: Tomohiro Nishimura (Japanese); Lee Tockar (English)

Takuo Shibuimaru (渋井丸 拓男, Shibuimaru Takuo), nicknamed "Shibutaku" (シブタク; "Cool Taku"), is the second person that Light kills. Shibuimaru rides a motorcycle and travels with a group of bikers. After Light sees him harassing and chasing a woman (in the anime, he was about to rape the woman), Light writes his name down with a death by traffic accident. A truck slams into Shibuimaru's motorcycle, killing him. It was this death that fully convinces Light that the Death Note does work. In the manga Light feels some guilt since Shibuimaru is not a criminal.

Lind L. Tailor

[edit]
Voiced by: Yukitoshi Tokumoto (Japanese); John Murphy, Matt Lagan (English)

Lind L. Tailor (リンド・L・テイラー, Rindo Eru Teirā) is a convicted criminal waiting on death row for an unspecified capital offence; this information was kept secretly away from the public. L places Tailor as his decoy on television in exchange for being pardoned by the government. The television states that the broadcast is worldwide and that Tailor's statements are being translated into Japanese. After Tailor states that he is "L", he reads a declaration stating that Kira is evil. Light, in a rage, kills Tailor with a heart attack. The real L announces that Tailor was a decoy, a criminal on death row, and discovers that Kira cannot kill the real L without having seen his face, and that Kira is in Kanto, as that was the only area that the appearance was actually broadcast in.

Kiichiro Osoreda

[edit]
Voiced by: Katsuhisa Hōki (Japanese); Brian Dobson (English)

Kiichiro Osoreda (恐田 奇一郎, Osoreda Kiichirō) is a drug addict and criminal used by Light to trick Raye into revealing his FBI badge to Light. Osoreda had failed in an attempt to rob a bank, shooting a teller and two customers as he escaped. Light writes Osoreda's name in the Death Note, dictating his actions. Osoreda boards a bus and holds a gun to the driver's head. Osoreda threatens Light as he unwittingly picks up a piece of the Death Note. Due to this, Ryuk appears solely to Osoreda, frightening the criminal. Osoreda empties his ammunition into Ryuk, who does not die. Osoreda forces the driver to stop the bus and then runs into the street, where an automobile hits Osoreda's head, killing him; the authorities mistakenly believe that Osoreda's vision of Ryuk was a drug-induced hallucination.[42]

Film-only characters

[edit]

Sanami

[edit]

Sanami (佐波) is a character exclusive to the Death Note film series. She is a member of the Task Force. She is portrayed by Miyuki Komatsu. She is the only female member of the Task Force, which differs from the all-male team in the manga and anime. In Death Note: The Last Name, she tends to Misa Amane during her captivity and is more critical of the methods used by the investigation team, often calling them cruel.

In the Matsuda spinoff short film, Sanami tries to help Touta Matsuda and passes him a note from Soichiro Yagami. The note tells Matsuda to visit Ryuzaki to help Matsuda find closure with the case.

Ryotaro Sakajo

[edit]

Ryotaro Sakajo (坂城 良太郎, Sakajō Ryōtarō) is a character exclusive to the Death Note film series. He is the assistant director during the filming of Misa Amane's "Misa-Misa's Happy Sweets" video. He is obsessed with Misa, collecting a used tissue of hers after she throws it in the trash. In a sequence bridged between the two films, Sakajo corners Misa and brandishes a knife, stating that he wishes to die with her. Gelus, a shinigami watching from the Shinigami realm, kills him to save Misa's life. In doing so, Gelus dies and Rem, who was watching, finds it only fitting to grant possession of his notebook to the human that he loved. Since Rem was the first Shinigami to touch the dead Gelus's notebook, she gained possession of that one.

Shiori Akino

[edit]

Shiori Akino (秋野 詩織, Akino Shiori) is portrayed by Yuu Kashii. She is Light's girlfriend, classmate at To-Oh University (東応大学, Tōō Daigaku),[43] and childhood friend. Shiori dreams of working in law enforcement and feels some envy stemming from Light's abilities. Shiori disagrees with Kira's methods, stating that she does not like the terror they incite; she believes that the law should judge criminals. Shiori argues with the "pro-Kira" Light, unaware of the fact that Light is Kira.[44] Light writes Shiori's name and the name of Naomi Misora in the Death Note, arranging the scenario to make it look like Naomi killed Shiori in a botched kidnapping scenario trying to expose Kira.

Shusuke Kaneko, director of the film, said that he created Shiori after reading the original Death Note manga.[44] In an interview printed in Weekly Shonen Jump, the creators of the film stated that Shiori was added to the story to highlight Light's negative aspects. Kaneko said that he needed Shiori to "deliver Light's badness to the audience."[44]

In the production notes Kashii said that she felt excited to portray Shiori and wondered if the audience could accept her character.[44] Kitty Sensei of OtakuZone had her opinions of the film portrayal of Shiori published in The Star, a Malaysian newspaper. In it Kitty Sensei said that she felt concern about what the addition of Shiori "would affect our dear, megalomaniac Light. Will he be a softer version of the Light from the manga?" Kitty Sensei said that after watching the film she felt that Shiori "only strengthens the portrayal of Light" and that she "provides one of the gasp-worthy moments of the movie."[45]

Maki Nikaido

[edit]
Portrayed by: Mayuko Fukuda

Maki Nikaido (二階堂 真希, Nikaido Maki) is a 10-year-old schoolgirl and the daughter of Dr Kimihiko Nikaido. Her mother was presumably deceased prior to the events of the film. She shared a close bond with her father's assistant Dr Kimiko Kujo (also known as K) before the murder of her father. Maki appeared as a pretty girl with chin-length black hair with her bangs covering her eyebrows, and wherever she goes, she was always seen carrying a teddy bear that contains a recording of her mother's voice. She was also shown to be sensible, calm and kind and caring towards her kin, though she can be quite ruthless towards those whom she hated (notably Kujo for killing her father).

After witnessing her father's death at the hands of Kujo, who was in fact, the leader of the bioterrorist group who created the virus that destroyed a Thai village, Maki fled the laboratory with the virus sample and antidote formula her father inexplicitly entrusted to her to pass to Watari, and eventually she reached L's headquarters and sought refuge from him. Soon after, Kujo and her associates reached L's headquarters, having traced Maki's whereabouts and there, Maki faces them alone in a corridor. Filled with hatred towards Kujo for causing her father's death, Maki injected herself with the virus and was about to kill Kujo (and herself was going to get shot too) when L rescued her, taking her and Near out of the headquarters and managed to flee from the terrorists with the help of FBI agent Hideaki Sugura. Somehow, Maki did not show any symptoms even after she had injected herself with the virus; this led to the terrorists to speculate that Maki may have the antidote injected inside her (later on, when L met Dr Nikaido's lab partner Koichi Matsudo, Matsudo tested Maki and reasoned that Maki's apparent immunity to the virus was due to her low blood sugar, and this made the virus to not have sufficient energy from infecting her).

While they were travelling on the train to locate Dr Nikaido's lab partner, a television broadcast by Kujo (as part of her strategy to capture Maki) announced to the public that Maki was a patient infected with a lethal virus who escaped the hospital and her photo of herself in her school attire was presented on-screen. This led to widespread panic, especially to some train passengers who recognized Maki from her face and school uniform shown on the news. As such, L had Maki changed into a red dress (to prevent anyone from recognizing her) and they both, together with Near, had to stop using public transport to travel and used bicycles instead. During the time Maki spent with L and Near, while she bonded with both L and Near, she seemingly developed some signs of romantic feelings for the eccentric detective. Despite this possible affection, L generally views Maki as a younger sister and treats her like one.

After they met Dr Nikaido's lab partner Matsudo and ask for his help to create the antidote, Matsudo, who was initially reluctant due to a past incident of an accidental death as a result of his creations, finally relented and agreed to do the job after hearing L's persuasion. After several failed attempts, with the help of Near, the antidote was made. But by then, Maki sneaked off, intending to murder Kujo but was captured instead before L, having discovered her disappearance, could arrive on time to save her. L could only find her bag and teddy bear left abandoned at the harbor where Maki told Kujo to come meet her before her capture.

Maki was later brought onto a plane bound for the United States, where the terrorists intend to use the virus in her to cause infection on the plane and spread it in the US (in turn, the whole world). With the timely intervention from L, the antidote is administered to Maki and the infected passengers, as well as the surviving infected terrorists (including Kujo herself), thereby stopped the crisis. After being injected with the antidote, Maki saw an unconscious Kujo and once again attempting to murder Kujo, but stopped after L persuaded her from doing so. As she did so, Maki began to cry as L approached to console and hug her. Soon, the police arrived to arrest Kujo and her surviving associates.

Later on, together with the infected passengers, Maki was brought to hospital. It was the last time Maki would see L again before his death. Before the end of the movie, a fully-cured Maki awaken to find her teddy bear, with a new recording from L telling Maki to have a good day tomorrow. After hearing it, Maki looked up sideways at nowhere, saying L's name, presumably wondering where he is currently.

Kimiko Kujo

[edit]
Portrayed by: Youki Kudoh

The main antagonist of the film L: Change the World, Dr. Kimiko Kujo (久條 希実子, Kujo Kimiko) is a scientist who leads a bioterrorist group that strives to use a virus to wipe out most of the mankind to create a new world, believing that the world is corrupt due to humanity's countless acts of undoing. Going by the alias K, Kujo was a former student of Watari, and was known to L. It is mentioned by L that Watari used to be proud of her, possibly due to her intelligence and academic achievements, for which this also implied that her extreme methods and disregard for humanity had led to Watari putting a possible end to their relationship, as hinted by some parts of the movie. In the movie, prior to the murder of Dr Nikaido, Kujo had a close relationship with Maki, Dr Nikaido's daughter.

Kujo, having collaborated with corrupt businessman Daisuke Matoba, initiates her group to infiltrate the facility she works in, and in the process, she allows her accomplices to kill all her colleagues in the facility before surrounding Dr Nikaido, with an attempt to force him to hand over the antidote, which Nikaido made to cure the virus; that virus is the same virus Kujo had earlier used to destroy a Thai village in the beginning of the film. Nikaido destroys the antidote instead of handing it to Kujo, claiming that he also destroyed the antidote formula beforehand, before proceeding to inject himself with the virus. Seeing Dr Nikaido succumbing to the virus, Kujo incinerates the laboratory which Nikaido was in, leaving him to die in the room. Unbeknownst to her, Maki had witnessed her murdering Nikaido, which gives birth to hatred in the heart of the 10-year-old, who quickly escapes the facility with grief for her father's death.

After correctly deducing that Maki could have the antidote formula and sought refuge from Watari, K contacts L, pretending to ask L to meet her the next day afternoon regarding the virus (she lies to L that her laboratory received the virus from the Thai village and is seeking his help). Afterwards, she and her terrorist group goes to L's location with attempt to capture Maki for the antidote formula. Filled with hatred towards Kujo for causing her father's death, Maki injects herself with the virus and is about to kill Kujo (and herself is going to get shot too) when L rescues her, taking her and Near out of the headquarters, and manages to flee from the terrorists with the help of FBI agent Hideaki Sugura. Somehow, Maki does not show any symptoms even after she had injected herself with the virus; this leads to the terrorists to speculate that Maki may have the antidote injected inside her.

As part of her next strategy to catch Maki, a television broadcast by Kujo announces to the public that Maki is a patient infected with a lethal virus who escaped the hospital and her photo of herself in her school attire is presented on-screen. Widespread panic ensues and many ambulances and police cars are set on patrol to look out for any signs of Maki. Meanwhile, after arriving at Dr Nikaido's lab partner's house to seek help to create the antidote, Maki sneaks off without L and the others noticing. Maki then contacts Kujo to meet her alone at the harbour where she plans to murder Kujo to avenge her father's death. However, Kujo and her associates manage to capture Maki upon reaching the harbour.

Maki is later brought onto a plane bound for the United States, where Kujo and the terrorists intend to use the virus in her to cause infection on the plane and spread it in the US (in turn, the whole world). With the timely intervention from L, the antidote is administered to Maki and the infected passengers, as well as the surviving infected terrorists (including Kujo herself), thereby stopping the crisis. Kujo refused to relent to L when confronted with the antidote, claiming that humanity should be destroyed, and that L is too late to stop it. L, in turn, states that Kujo is wrong and asks her if the destruction is what Watari would have wanted (implying it would not). After stating that he created a device that would make the plane crash into the sea and the virus would become harmless, which effectively makes it useless for Kujo to initiate the plan, L convinces her that humanity is still good at nature and would learn from their mistakes before injecting her with the antidote, choosing not to leave her to succumb to the infection with intent to let her pay for what she did by the law. L even convinces Maki to not be overcome by revenge before she can successfully murder Kujo.

After the police arrive, Kujo and her surviving associates are arrested.

Death Note: Light Up the New World

[edit]

Tsukuru Mishima

[edit]
Portrayed by: Masahiro Higashide[46]

Tsukuru Mishima (三島 創, Mishima Tsukuru) is recruited by Soichiro Yagami to serve as leader of the Death Note task force that is created in response to a surge of killings by new Death Note users. In 2015, Mishima kills Mikami in order to claim the notebook Light entrusted to his son. From then on, Mishima acts as the new Kira, intending to surpass Light and establish world peace. In order to hide his identity, he passes the notebook to cyber-terrorist Yuki Shien and loses his memories of being Kira. When Mishima meets Shien in 2016, he touches the notebook he gave to Shien and regains his memories. After being imprisoned for his crimes, Mishima is freed from confinement by a dying Ryuzaki, who appoints a remorseful Mishima as his successor. His real name is Ryo Nakagami (中上 亮, Nakagami Ryō).

Ryuzaki

[edit]
Portrayed by: Sosuke Ikematsu[46]

Ryuzaki (竜崎, Ryūzaki) is a biological clone of L and serves as his successor after his death. He serves as a private investigator and assists in the Death Note investigation on the new Death Note users. Ryuzaki is handed a notebook by the shinigami Arma, but refuses to use the notebook in honor of L. Before passing his notebook to Shien, Mishima writes Ryuzaki's name into the Death Note and sets the time of death several days in advance. After being exposed as the new Kira, Ryuzaki pardons Mishima and appoints him as his successor before his death. Ryuzaki's birthname was Masayuki Arai (新井正幸, Arai Masayuki)

Yuki Shien

[edit]
Portrayed by: Masaki Suda[46]

Yuki Shien (紫苑 優輝, Shien Yūki) is an expert hacker who begins to worship Kira after Light kills the murderer of Shien's parents. He receives Mishima's notebook from the shinigami Ryuk and begins a crusade to collect all 6 Death Notes that have been dropped all over the world by other shinigami. Shien attempts to kill both Mishima and Ryuzaki when the three men all meet in an abandoned building, but police officers ambush the building and shoot Shien to death.

Arma

[edit]
Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro

Arma (アーマ, Āma) is a white female shinigami who becomes romantically involved with Ryuzaki after he finds her notebook. When Ryuzaki and Mishima are ambushed by police, Arma sacrifices herself to save their lives. She was designed based on the shinigami Sidoh.[47]

Beppo

[edit]
Voiced by: Tori Matsuzaka

Beppo (ベポ, Bepo) is a gold-colored shinigami whose notebook is found by serial killer Sakura Aoi. Aoi is killed by Shien, leading the notebook to fall into the hands of Mishima's Death Note task force.

Death Note (American film)

[edit]

Antony Skomal

[edit]
Portrayed by: Artin John

Antony Skomal is the criminal who murdered Light's mother. He is a felon who managed to be acquitted of all his crimes (including the one of Light's mother murder) using his wealth and power, Skomal's multiple crimes without conviction lead to the media nicknaming him "the Teflon Criminal". When Light discovers the Death Note, feeling enraged by the lack of punishment for his mother's murderer, he kills Skomal by making him impale himself on a steak knife during a dinner out.

Kenny Doyle

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Portrayed by: Jack Ettlinger

Kenny Doyle is a bully from Light's high school and his first victim. When Ryuk first appears to Light, Kenny and his friend are roughing up another student outside the classroom. Ryuk convinces Light to take action by writing down Doyle's name and his manner of death. Light specifies "decapitation", and a series of events lead to a truck swerving in the road, causing a ladder to slide off the truck and striking Doyle's head with enough force to sever it from his body.

Mia Sutton

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Portrayed by: Margaret Qualley

Mia Sutton is Light's classmate and girlfriend, who assists him in his worldwide massacre of criminals as the god-like vigilante: Kira, eventually seeking to kill those who seek to stop them and becoming dangerously obsessed with the book's power, secretly working with Ryuk to supplant Light as the primary Kira. In an interview with io9, director Adam Wingard revealed that rather than being an adaptation of the manga character Misa Amane as originally reported, Sutton was in-fact based on the sociopathic qualities of Light Yagami, with Light Turner having been based on the sympathetic amnesiac Light.[48]

Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The list of Death Note characters encompasses the fictional individuals featured in the Japanese series Death Note and its various adaptations, written by and illustrated by , which was serialized in Shueisha's magazine from December 1, 2003, to May 15, 2006, spanning 12 volumes. The series revolves around themes of , , and power, centering on protagonist , a brilliant high school student who discovers the titular —a dropped into the human world by the Ryuk, that kills anyone whose name is written in it while the writer visualizes their face, causing a heart attack within 40 seconds unless a different cause of death is specified within that time frame—provided the death occurs within 40 seconds. Light uses the notebook to execute criminals worldwide, dubbing himself Kira in a bid to create a crime-free , but his actions draw the attention of the world's top detective, known only as , sparking a high-stakes intellectual battle. Key characters include the cunning , the eccentric and brilliant (real name L Lawliet), the mischievous Ryuk, and supporting figures such as —a and second Kira who possesses her own —and successors Near and Mello, who continue the investigation after L's involvement concludes. The cast also features members of the Japanese , other like Rem, and numerous minor human and entities, with comprehensive profiles and statistics detailed in the official companion volume 13: How to Read, published by .

Main characters

Light Yagami

Light Yagami (夜神月, Yagami Raito) is the central protagonist and antagonist of the manga series, written by and illustrated by . A 17-year-old high school senior at the story's outset, Light is depicted as an exceptionally intelligent and academically gifted student with top national exam scores, hailing from a prominent family; his father, Soichiro Yagami, serves as a high-ranking officer in the Japanese National Police Agency, instilling in him a strong sense of justice from a young age. Physically, Light is tall at 179 cm (5'10"), weighs 54 kg (119 lbs), and has light-brown hair and brown eyes, often presenting a polished, handsome appearance that enhances his charismatic public image. Light's life changes irrevocably when he discovers the Death Note, a supernatural notebook dropped into the human world by the Shinigami Ryuk, which allows its user to kill anyone by writing their name while visualizing their face. Initially viewing the world as corrupt and irredeemable, Light decides to use the notebook to execute criminals broadcast on television, aiming to create a "new world" free of crime where he envisions himself as a god-like figure, adopting the alias "Kira" to inspire fear and reverence. His philosophy evolves from targeted vigilantism against felons to broader eliminations, including law enforcement officials investigating him and even innocent individuals who pose potential threats, reflecting a growing megalomania and god complex that prioritizes his vision of justice above all ethical boundaries. Among Light's pivotal maneuvers is the manipulation of a televised international broadcast where Lind L. Tailor, a death row convict acting as L's proxy, publicly denounces Kira; enraged, Light uses the Death Note to induce Tailor's fatal heart attack on air, inadvertently revealing Kira's location in the Kanto region of Japan to his rival detective L. In another calculated scheme, Light orchestrates a fake bus hijacking by writing instructions in the Death Note to compel a criminal to take hostages, allowing him to learn the identity of an FBI agent tailing him and subsequently eliminate several investigators. Later, to evade suspicion, Light infiltrates the Yotsuba Group, a conglomerate secretly using a Death Note for corporate murders, by posing as a student and subtly guiding the investigation toward their exposure while concealing his own role. Light's personality is marked by extraordinary , strategic foresight, and manipulative , enabling him to maintain a facade of normalcy—excelling in , studies, and social interactions—while orchestrating his schemes; however, his arrogance and detachment from empathy intensify over time, leading to ruthless decisions that alienate even his closest allies. In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by in Japanese, whose performance captures Light's shift from composed idealist to unhinged , and by in the English dub, emphasizing his calculated menace. As the story culminates, Light's identity as Kira is exposed during a confrontation at a ; shot multiple times by his former colleague Touta Matsuda, he desperately begs Ryuk for , but the honors their agreement by writing Light's name in the , causing a fatal heart attack. Light's arc drives the entire narrative, transforming from a disillusioned into a symbol of unchecked power's corruption, ultimately underscoring themes of , , and in Ohba's vision of a world reshaped by divine intervention.

L Lawliet

L Lawliet, more commonly known by his mononym , is the primary to the vigilante killer Kira in the series , created by writer and illustrator . As the world's foremost detective, L operates in secrecy, employing unparalleled deductive skills—rated at 8/10 on a subjective scale for creative, deductive, and strategic intelligence in the official guidebook Death Note 13: How to Read—to investigate inexplicable deaths linked to Kira's supernatural notebook. His remains concealed from the public, and he communicates through intermediaries to maintain anonymity. L's background as an orphan raised at Wammy's House, an institution for exceptionally intelligent children founded by Quillish Wammy (who serves as his handler Watari), shapes his isolated yet brilliant existence; his age is undisclosed but approximated in his mid-20s, with an official birthday of October 31. L's unconventional appearance underscores his eccentric nature: he has messy , wide dark eyes, pale skin from minimal exposure, and a habitual slouch that gives him a childlike demeanor despite his sharp intellect. His personality is marked by extreme analytical precision, social awkwardness, and a blunt demeanor that alienates others, though he forms tentative alliances when necessary. harbors a notorious to , consuming sweets like , cakes, and fruits in vast quantities to sustain his mind, often stacking them absentmindedly while pondering cases. In his investigative methods, relies on proxies such as Watari for fieldwork and adopts multiple aliases—including Ryuzaki and Ryuga—to infiltrate suspects' circles without revealing himself. He excels in , , and psychological manipulation, exemplified by his bold broadcast using a death row inmate named Lind L. Tailor as a proxy to geographically pinpoint Kira's . Throughout the investigation, establishes the Japanese Kira , integrating law enforcement while covertly leading operations from hidden headquarters. His suspicions increasingly center on , prompting innovative tactics like enrolling at To-Oh University under disguise and staging Light's arrest to test reactions. This intellectual rivalry culminates in L's demise, orchestrated through the exploitation of the Death Note's "heart attack" rule by a ally of Kira. L's legacy endures through his handpicked successors from Wammy's House—Near and Mello—who inherit his mission to apprehend Kira, reflecting his foresight in cultivating protégés to continue his work. In the anime adaptation produced by , L is voiced by in Japanese, capturing his quirky monotone delivery, and by in the English dub, emphasizing his deadpan wit.

Misa Amane

Misa Amane (弥 海砂, Amane Misa) is a central supporting character in the manga series , written by and illustrated by . A 19-year-old , model, and actress known professionally as Misa-Misa, she gains possession of a second Death Note from the Rem and becomes the devoted second Kira, using its power to aid in his quest to create a new world order by eliminating criminals. Her backstory is marked by tragedy: at age 17, a burglar murdered her parents during a , but Kira later killed the perpetrator via heart attack, inspiring Misa's fervent support for Kira's vigilante justice and motivating her to seek out the supernatural notebook to join the cause. This personal loss shapes her unyielding loyalty to the Kira ideology, transforming her from a glamorous celebrity into a willing accomplice in mass killings. Physically, Misa is depicted as a petite young woman, standing at 152 cm (5 feet) tall with a slender build and measurements of 82-55-83 cm; she has long, straight golden-blonde hair often tied into pigtails with black hair ties, large blue eyes, and favors a style featuring dark clothing, striped stockings, and platform shoes that enhance her doll-like appearance. Her personality is bubbly, energetic, and outwardly childish, often speaking in third person and displaying an airheaded demeanor, but she possesses sharp and when pursuing her goals. Obsessively in love with after seeing his face during a Kira investigation broadcast, Misa stalks him and confesses her feelings, entering a one-sided romantic relationship where manipulates her devotion for his benefit, viewing her primarily as a tool despite occasional displays of possessiveness. Willing to sacrifice half her remaining lifespan twice to obtain the Shinigami Eyes—granting her the ability to instantly see a person's name and lifespan upon viewing their face—Misa demonstrates extreme selflessness in her pursuit of aiding , even as it shortens her life dramatically. Among her key actions, Misa broadcasts televised messages as Kira's spokesperson, announcing her allegiance and killing corrupt officials and investigators to protect the operation, which draws L's suspicion and leads to a tense encounter at a where she briefly meets the . During the Yotsuba arc, she secures a position as a commercial spokesperson for the Group, using her celebrity status to surveil the corporate executives suspected of being Kira and relay vital information to , significantly advancing the investigation against them. To evade capture, Misa confesses her role as the second Kira to L's , resulting in her imprisonment at ; orchestrates memory wipes using a piece of the , causing her to forget her actions and the notebook's existence, after which she is released with and resumes her idol career, unaware of her past crimes. In the anime adaptation produced by , Misa is voiced by in Japanese, whose performance captures her high-pitched, playful tone shifting to intense determination, while provides the English dub voice, emphasizing Misa's quirky charm and emotional depth.

Near

Near, whose real name is Nate River (ネイト・リヴァー, Neito Ribā), is a pivotal character in the manga series Death Note, serving as the successor to the detective L in the investigation against Kira. Introduced in the story's second half following L's death, Near leads the effort to unmask and defeat , employing meticulous logic and strategic to unravel Kira's operations. As an raised at Wammy's , Watari's elite orphanage for prodigies in , , Near emerges as L's chosen heir among a select group of gifted children, demonstrating exceptional deductive skills from a young age. At the outset of his involvement, Near is approximately 13 years old, though he matures to around 18 by the series' climax in 2010, with his birthday listed as August 24, 1991. Physically, he is portrayed as a slender, fair-skinned youth of petite build, standing about 155 cm (5'1") tall and weighing roughly 40 kg (88 lbs), with shaggy platinum blonde (often depicted as white) hair, gray eyes, and a preference for formal white suits. His childlike demeanor is evident in habits like sitting cross-legged on the floor while manipulating toys—such as stacking dice, building with blocks, or fiddling with finger puppets—to aid his concentration and puzzle-solving, a trait that underscores his prodigious yet quirky intellect. In the official guidebook Death Note 13: How to Read by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Near's intelligence is rated 9/10 on a subjective scale for creative, deductive, and strategic abilities. Near's personality contrasts with L's eccentricity; he is composed, analytical, and detached, prioritizing and probability over or risk-taking. He avoids unnecessary movement, often remaining seated during discussions, and communicates in a monotone, focusing on facts to dissect complex scenarios. This logical approach defines his leadership of the Special Provision for Kira (SPK), a covert team he assembles post-L's death, including operatives like Anthony Rester, Halle Lidner, and Stephen Gevanni, to independently pursue Kira from a concealed New York warehouse. Near shares a competitive rivalry with fellow Wammy's successor Mello, whose more impulsive methods complement Near's methodical style in pressuring Kira. Central to Near's strategy is his use of a decoy Death Note, a notebook planted to observe the movements of Kira's proxy, Teru Mikami, thereby verifying the Death Note's rules and exposing patterns in Kira's killings without direct confrontation. He further infiltrates the network by manipulating , coercing her into using the Death Note under hidden surveillance to trace connections back to . In a pivotal ploy, Near stages a fake arrest of Mikami to draw into overconfidence, culminating in the warehouse standoff where Near reveals the decoy's swapped pages, proving 's identity as Kira and orchestrating his downfall through irrefutable evidence. In the anime adaptation produced by , Near is voiced by in the original Japanese version and by in the English dub.

Mello

Mello, whose real name is Mihael Keehl, is one of L's two chosen successors raised as an orphan at Wammy's House, an institution for gifted children. At approximately 14 to 15 years old during the main events, he ranks second only to Near in intelligence among the candidates, showcasing exceptional deductive skills but often overshadowed by his rival. Mello is depicted as having a notable to , frequently consuming it as a stress-relief mechanism amid his intense pursuits. Known for his hot-tempered and ambitious personality, Mello exhibits a more impulsive and action-oriented approach compared to Near's methodical style, preferring high-risk strategies that bypass official channels. His appearance features chin-length blond hair, blue eyes, and an average build, but he sustains a prominent across his face after surviving a during a confrontation. Supported briefly by his accomplice Matt, Mello's aggressive tactics drive his quest to surpass and capture Kira independently. In his pursuit of Kira, Mello abandons Wammy's House to ally with the Mafia, leveraging their resources to investigate the Death Note's existence. He orchestrates the kidnapping of Sayu Yagami, Light's sister, to force the handover of a Death Note, though this ultimately fails. Later, he steals a Death Note page from Teru Mikami, enabling him to deduce key connections in the Kira case. These actions culminate in Takada killing Mello using a hidden Death Note fragment during the kidnapping attempt, which inadvertently provides Near with crucial evidence of the Death Note's involvement, before Takada's own death orchestrated by Light's proxy using the Death Note. In the anime adaptation, Mello is voiced by in Japanese and David Hurwitz in the English dub, with Sasaki's portrayal emphasizing his volatile energy and Hurwitz delivering a gritty, intense tone that highlights his unhinged determination.

Ryuk

Ryuk is a , or death god, originating from the Shinigami Realm, a monotonous domain that bores him to the point of seeking in the human world. Out of this boredom, he drops his Death Note—a notebook that allows its user to kill anyone by writing their name while visualizing their face—into the human realm, initiating the central conflict of the story. Physically, Ryuk appears as a tall, lanky figure with light-gray, almost bluish skin, spiky , sharp teeth revealed in a perpetual grin, and large black wings that enable flight; he has a particular fondness for apples, often consuming them voraciously as a quirk that underscores his otherworldly yet whimsical nature. Upon finding the Death Note, Ryuk attaches himself to its first human user, , serving as an observer and informal guide without directly intervening in human affairs, as per prohibitions. He explains the notebook's basic mechanics to Light, including the requirement to specify a (defaulting to a heart attack if omitted) and the 40-second window to visualize the victim's face, along with rules barring from extending human lifespans or aiding in non-Death Note matters. Throughout the narrative, Ryuk remains neutral and entertained by the ensuing chaos, deriving amusement from Light's cunning manipulations and the moral decay they provoke, while passively watching the killings and indulging in apples dropped by Light as "payment" for his presence. His personality is detached and mischievous, viewing humans as sources of diversion rather than objects of loyalty or malice, and he only actively uses the Death Note at the story's conclusion by writing Light's name, fulfilling his initial agreement to end Light's life if it becomes inconvenient. In the manga, illustrated by Takeshi Obata, Ryuk's grinning, skeletal design emphasizes his eerie yet comedic role as a catalyst for destruction. The anime adaptation by Madhouse portrays him similarly, with dynamic animation highlighting his flight and apple-eating habits. Ryuk is voiced by Shidō Nakamura in the Japanese version, delivering a raspy, echoing tone that captures his alien amusement, and by Brian Drummond in the English dub, who infuses the character with a gravelly, sardonic laugh.

Rem

Rem (レム, Remu) is a in the series written by and illustrated by , serving as the protector of after inheriting a Death Note previously owned by another . Unlike the more mischievous Ryuk, Rem enters the human world specifically to deliver the notebook to Misa following the prior owner's sacrifice in saving Misa's mother from a robber. Rem's appearance features a pale, skeletal form with a light blue hue, long spinal cord-like arms, bone-like skin, and markings on her face; in the adaptation, she appears whitish with accents. Her personality is marked by logical pragmatism, deep loyalty and care toward Misa—whom she views as deserving protection—and a general distrust and contempt for most humans, including , whom she perceives as manipulative and dangerous to Misa's well-being. This protective instinct drives her key actions, such as facilitating Misa's deal for Shinigami Eyes to see lifespans and names, issuing a stern warning to Light about exploiting Misa, and ultimately writing the names of L Lawliet and Watari in her to thwart Light's scheme that would lead to Misa's death. Rem's intervention adheres to Shinigami rules prohibiting the extension of human lifespans but allows for sacrifice; by using her to kill L and Watari, she shortens her own lifespan, resulting in her immediate death and return to the Realm as dust. In the adaptation, Rem is voiced by in Japanese and Colleen Wheeler in English.

Teru Mikami

Teru Mikami (魅上 照, Mikami Teru) is a in the manga series , written by and illustrated by . Introduced in the final arc, he serves as a and Light Yagami's handpicked successor as the primary of Kira's judgments, embodying a fanatical devotion to eradicating evil. At 32 years old during the story's events, Mikami's stems from a traumatic childhood that shaped his into one of absolute , viewing Kira as a god-like figure worthy of . Mikami's early life was defined by strict upbringing and . Raised by a single mother who prioritized and survival over , he exhibited an unusually acute sense of right and wrong from a young age, frequently reporting classmates for minor rule-breaking, which led to severe and . Witnessing deaths among peers and societal injustices reinforced his belief that evil must be "deleted" entirely rather than ignored, fostering a radical, god-worshipping that carried into adulthood. As a , Mikami earned a reputation for meticulous efficiency in pursuing criminals, idolizing Kira's vigilante killings upon their emergence as the fulfillment of his ideals. Light Yagami recruits Mikami after identifying his fervor through legal records, tasking Misa Amane with delivering Gelus's Death Note to him, which Mikami claims ownership of and begins using to execute criminals. Adopting the alias X-Kira, he publicly kills high-profile wrongdoers by writing their names in the notebook, often muttering "delete" as a ritualistic affirmation of justice, while coordinating with Light as a devoted proxy. Mikami independently selected Kiyomi Takada as Kira's new spokesperson after observing her intelligence and agreement with Kira's ideals on television, particularly her on-air opinions that led him to infer her connection to Kira. Mikami and Takada never met in person; their initial contact occurred when Mikami called Takada via cell phone during one of her private meetings with Light Yagami, after which he instructed her to hand the phone to Kira (Light), who then communicated with Mikami indirectly through Takada by passing notes with instructions. As part of Light's deception plan against Near, Mikami sent clippings of real Death Note pages to Takada via secure methods, enabling her to execute certain killings while Mikami used a fake notebook publicly. His fanatical personality—characterized by precision, unwavering loyalty, and a black-and-white moral code—makes him an ideal instrument for Light's plans, though his autonomy in "deleting" threats occasionally strains their alliance. In the series' climax, Light directs Mikami to retrieve a Death Note from Near's SPK headquarters and eliminate the task force. Unbeknownst to Mikami, Near substitutes the real with a containing fabricated pages; following his habitual schedule, Mikami writes the victims' names in the fake at the police station but arrives prematurely at the confrontation site, exposing the switch and inadvertently confirming Light's guilt to all present. Physically, Mikami is portrayed as a tall (180 cm), slender man with short black hair, rectangular glasses, and a formal demeanor befitting his . In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by in Japanese and in English.

Kiyomi Takada

Kiyomi Takada is a in the and series , created by and . She is introduced as a 23-year-old student at To-Oh University and a former classmate of , with whom she briefly dated as a cover for his activities. Known as "Miss To-Oh" for her elegance and popularity, Takada later becomes a news anchor for NHN (National Health Network) and emerges as a conservative supporter of Kira's ideology, viewing it as a means to establish a purified, orderly society. Takada's personality is marked by ambition, poise, and a refined demeanor, often described as intellectual and capable of precise communication under pressure. Beneath her composed exterior, she harbors a secret affection for , which influences her willingness to align with his goals. Confident and somewhat vain, she takes pride in her accomplishments, but her arrogance grows after assuming a prominent role in Kira's operations. In the story's later arcs, Teru Mikami selects Kiyomi Takada to serve as Kira's media spokesperson after observing her television appearances in which she expressed support for Kira's ideology, following the death of Hitoshi Demegawa. Light Yagami directly recruits her, leveraging their prior acquaintance from To-Oh University, to act as an intermediary between himself and Mikami. Mikami and Takada never meet face-to-face in the canon story; all communications and interactions are indirect, facilitated by Light Yagami through phone calls, relayed instructions, and secure transfers of Death Note pages. Mikami provides pages from the to Takada via secure methods, enabling her to broadcast Kira's demands and judgments on NHN while maintaining anonymity through proxies like Soichiro Yagami. Her role escalates when Mello kidnaps her in a bid to disrupt Kira's network; using the Death Note fragment hidden in her clothing, Takada writes Mello's name, causing his death by a heart attack and securing her escape. This action, however, draws Near's suspicion and accelerates the investigation against Kira. Takada meets her end during the confrontation at the , where Mikami writes her name in the to eliminate evidence and prevent capture. Following the specifications written for her death, she sets fire to her surroundings, igniting the hidden piece and burning herself to death in the to avoid interrogation. Unaware she has been discarded like a pawn, her demise underscores Light's ruthless control over his allies. In the anime adaptation, Takada is voiced by Masumi Okamura in her initial appearances and thereafter in Japanese, while provides the English dub voice.

Shinigami

Gelus

Gelus is a in the Death Note manga series, notable for his rare act of compassion toward a human, which ultimately leads to his demise and indirectly influences the story's progression through another Shinigami. Gelus appears as a tall, hooded figure with a ragged, doll-like form, suggesting he was crudely assembled from mismatched fabrics and patches of fabric in varying colors, including areas of blue skin that give him a , protective aesthetic. His design emphasizes a quiet, unassuming presence among the more grotesque , reflecting his kinder nature. This visual portrayal underscores his role as an outlier in the Shinigami realm, where most inhabitants are indifferent to human affairs. In his backstory, Gelus spends years observing the human world and develops romantic feelings for a young , watching over her from the Realm. On the day Misa is fated to die, a stalker attacks and attempts to kill her; in a desperate bid to save her, Gelus writes the attacker's name in his , causing the attacker's immediate death via a heart attack and thereby extending Misa's lifespan in violation of rules that prohibit such interventions. As a direct consequence of this rule-breaking act, Gelus disintegrates into a pile of sand-like particles, marking the first known instance of a sacrificing their existence for a human. His , now ownerless, is recovered by the nearby Rem, who, moved by Gelus's selfless gesture, later delivers it to Misa to continue his protective intent. Rem briefly inherits the duty of observing Misa as Gelus's successor, ensuring the notebook reaches her at a pivotal moment. In the anime adaptation, Gelus is voiced by in Japanese and Michael Dobson in the English dub.

Sidoh

Sidoh (シドウ, Shidō) is a in the Death Note series, characterized by his timid and cowardly personality, often displaying nervousness and a strict adherence to the rules of the Shinigami Realm. He is depicted as a tall, emaciated figure with a skeletal frame, elongated limbs, a diminutive head featuring a prominent, beak-like , disheveled gathered into a ponytail, and baggy white pants adorned with black vertical stripes. Sidoh's Death Note is the original notebook that Ryuk steals from him due to his carelessness, subsequently dropping it into the human world where it is found by and later passes through various hands, including those of Kyosuke Higuchi and Teru Mikami. Realizing the loss only after the notebook has circulated extensively, Sidoh descends to the human world in a panic to recover it, initially trailing it to the possession of Mello's group in , where Jack Neylon holds it as a bargaining tool. Overwhelmed by the chaos, he reluctantly cooperates with the Japanese Kira Investigation Team by revealing key rules—such as the existence of multiple Death Notes—to authenticate the notebook's origins and aid in its retrieval, providing crucial context for the investigators' strategies. Throughout his arc, Sidoh serves as a source of through his incessant whining, particularly his repeated pleas of "Give me back my notebook!" delivered in a high-pitched, frantic tone, contrasting the series' darker themes with his hapless, rule-bound demeanor. He shares a fondness for , mirroring Ryuk's preference for apples, which underscores his more innocuous traits amid the high-stakes conflict. Following the resolution of the central conflict, Sidoh reclaims his Death Note and returns to the Realm. In the anime adaptation, Sidoh is voiced by in Japanese and in the English dub, with Yao's portrayal emphasizing his jittery anxiety and Vincent capturing the whiny desperation for humorous effect.

Armonia Justin Beyondormason

Armonia Justin Beyondormason is a high-ranking in the series, serving as the right-hand advisor to the Shinigami King and playing a key role in administering the Shinigami Realm's rules and distribution. His position involves enforcing regulations on interactions with the human world and overseeing the allocation of Death Notes to prevent misuse or loss. Visually, Armonia appears as a tall, imposing golden skeleton figure, elaborately adorned with jewelry across his form, which emphasizes his authoritative status. He is typically depicted seated upon an ornate throne constructed from skulls, further underscoring his bureaucratic and commanding presence in the hierarchy. This design choice by artist highlights Armonia's conceited personality, portraying him as self-important and rigidly adherent to protocol. In terms of actions, Armonia investigates anomalies in the human realm, such as the unauthorized distribution of s, by reviewing reports from subordinate like Ryuk. For instance, he directly addresses Sidoh regarding the theft of his by Ryuk, providing detailed scrolls outlining laws to guide recovery efforts and restore order. These interactions demonstrate his role in maintaining realm stability and ensuring compliance with established rules. Additionally, Armonia relays messages and directives from higher authority, facilitating communication between the Shinigami King and other entities. Armonia's stern and bureaucratic personality manifests in his formal, no-nonsense approach to rule enforcement, often prioritizing administrative precision over leniency. He appears primarily in the manga's extra content within Volume 12 and is further detailed in the official guidebook 13: How to Read, where his advisory functions and interactions are elaborated.

Midora

Midora is a Shinigami introduced in the one-shot chapters "The C-Kira Story" and "The a-Kira Story," depicted as a gluttonous entity obsessed with deriving entertainment from human affairs via the Death Note. She possesses a distinctive salamander-like physique, featuring light green skin adorned with dark spots on her head, sharp dark yellow eyes, a prominent crooked smile, and a lengthy tail; her notably obese form underscores her indulgent and greedy disposition. This appearance aligns with her voracious appetite for human fruits, particularly apples, which she hoards and consumes excessively, mirroring the realm's economy where such items serve as a rare luxury. Motivated by profound boredom akin to Ryuk's, Midora's backstory involves pilfering thirteen apples from the Shinigami King's human-world orchard, using them to bribe the King for an additional beyond the standard allotment. This act of minor rule-bending stems from her fascination with Ryuk's tales of chaos wrought by , prompting her to deliberately drop the extra notebook into the human world to incite thrilling disturbances and alleviate her ennui. In terms of personality, Midora embodies selfishness and hedonism, prioritizing personal amusement and sensory pleasures over Shinigami norms; she passively observes the ensuing human turmoil with detached glee, intervening only to sustain her supply of indulgences. Her actions in the side stories highlight this: in "The C-Kira Story," set two years after the main series, her dropped is acquired by an anonymous Japanese student who, as C-Kira, performs mercy killings on elderly individuals seeking death, leading to psychological strain that culminates in the user's —events Midora witnesses with ironic satisfaction while munching on bananas. Subsequently, in "The a-Kira Story," she deploys a second (procured similarly through bribery), which a high school student named Minoru Tanaka auctions online for vast wealth, further amplifying global intrigue before Near intervenes. Through these narratives, Midora exemplifies the capricious allure of the as a tool for Shinigami .

Shinigami King

The Shinigami King, also known as the King of Death (死神大王, Shinigami Daiō), serves as the supreme ruler of the Realm, overseeing all and dictating the fundamental policies and rules for s. He possesses absolute authority, including the creation and distribution of s to newly formed , ensuring that these supernatural tools are used solely to prolong the 's own lifespans by killing humans whose names are written in them. This governance maintains a strict neutrality among , prohibiting direct intervention in human affairs except for self-preservation, with violations met by severe punishment, such as the disintegration of the offending into sand—as occurred when Gelus used his to save a human life, an act deemed a breach of realm laws. Visually, the Shinigami King is portrayed as an enormous, shadowy figure enthroned in the heart of the Realm, his form obscured by darkness and crowned with a jagged, regal headpiece that emphasizes his imposing stature; artist expressed reluctance to fully render this design, citing an overwhelming sense of intimidation in capturing such a powerful entity. His personality manifests as capricious and authoritarian, wielding power arbitrarily to alter rules in response to unusual events, such as when he granted additional Death Notes to a via a deceptive involving rare apples from the human world, only to later impose a new prohibition against selling the notebooks to prevent further exploitation. This intervention highlights the King's role in preserving the realm's isolation and the inherent neutrality of , who are forbidden from favoring humans without personal gain, thereby underscoring the precarious balance between the supernatural and mortal worlds. Aided by his right-hand subordinate, Armonia Justin Beyondormason, the Shinigami King monitors the realm's activities and enforces compliance, ensuring that no disrupts the established order without consequence. His overarching influence extends to pivotal moments where human ingenuity challenges Death Note mechanics, prompting reactive measures that reinforce the tools' original purpose as instruments of detached mortality rather than instruments of ambition.

Other Shinigami

are a race of death gods residing in the Shinigami Realm, a barren, rocky wasteland characterized by perpetual monotony and desolation. To extend their lifespan, they must write the names of humans in their Death Note, claiming half of the victim's remaining years in the process, as this is the primary mechanism for their survival in an otherwise unchanging existence. The realm's society revolves around idle pursuits, with often engaging in gambling or passive observation of the human world to combat profound boredom, a condition that drives some, like Ryuk, to venture into the human realm for entertainment. Apples serve as a for , sustaining them in their realm where the fruit grows in abundance but is of inferior quality compared to those from the world; this dependency is highlighted by instances where trade or bribe with apples, underscoring their allure as a rare luxury. Unnamed frequently appear in background scenes of the , such as in the opening chapter where several are depicted with skulls as makeshift dice atop a desolate mountain, illustrating the species' typical lethargic and repetitive daily life. The Shinigami hierarchy is rigidly structured, with the Shinigami King at its apex overseeing the distribution of Death Notes and enforcing rules upon creation, while lower-tier exist in a loose marked by and occasional mischief. Manga extras, including production notes, reveal cultural nuances like the capacity for limited emotions tied to their prolonged boredom, which motivates unauthorized drops of Death Notes into the human world as acts of rebellion against their monotonous routine.

Kira Task Force

Soichiro Yagami

Soichiro Yagami serves as the director of Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) and leads the Japanese in the investigation against the enigmatic killer Kira. At the outset of the series, he is depicted as a 45-year-old career police officer, deeply committed to upholding justice through legal means. As Light Yagami's father, he briefly grapples with suspicions about his son during the probe, yet maintains trust in Light's innocence amid L's theories. His leadership fosters a team dynamic rooted in duty and collaboration, though he often clashes with L over methods. A devoted family man, Soichiro prioritizes the safety of his wife Sachiko and children and Sayu, even risking his position to rescue Sayu from kidnappers in the later stages of the investigation. Initially, he vehemently opposes Kira, denouncing the killings as "the direct result of evil" and the Death Note's power as a that brings no true happiness, regardless of intent. However, the relentless stress of the case—coupled with observable drops in global crime rates—leads to profound moral conflicts, where he acknowledges Kira's unintended societal benefits while insisting that such vigilante justice must be stopped to preserve the . Key events underscore his resilience and sacrifices: he endures a severe heart attack induced by the investigation's pressures, collapsing during a critical moment but recovering to continue the fight. In a tense raid on criminal Mello's hideout, Soichiro survives being shot, though the wounds contribute to his eventual death. He also participates in L's ploy to test Light's guilt by aiming a blank-loaded at him, a paternal act fraught with emotional turmoil that reaffirms his dedication to truth over family ties. Soichiro's personality exemplifies and dutiful , as he refuses to bend rules or justify illegal actions, even under duress, declaring his intent to see the case through without succumbing to evil. In the adaptation, he is voiced by in Japanese and Chris Britton in English.

Touta Matsuda

Touta Matsuda (松田 桃太, Matsuda Tōta) is a fictional character in the manga series , created by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. As the youngest member of the Japanese investigating the serial killer Kira, Matsuda is depicted as a 25-year-old at the story's outset, serving under Superintendent Soichiro Yagami. He is characterized by his cheerful and optimistic demeanor, often providing amid the intense investigation, though his impulsiveness and relative inexperience lead to occasional mistakes. Despite these traits, Matsuda demonstrates proficiency in technology, such as handling surveillance equipment, and exceptional marksmanship, making him a valuable asset to the team. Throughout the series, Matsuda plays a key role in the Task Force's operations, including early efforts to monitor criminal activities and set up a televised broadcast that exposes the Yotsuba Group's connection to Kira, leading to the arrest of Kyosuke Higuchi. Motivated by the death of fellow Task Force member Hirokazu Ukita, he remains dedicated to the cause, showing growth from a naive recruit to a more resolute investigator. In the climactic confrontation at the warehouse, Matsuda's emotional arc peaks when he shoots multiple times upon realizing his identity as Kira, an impulsive act driven by betrayal and rage. Overwhelmed by guilt after the reveal—particularly for his unwitting role in Light's deceptions—he briefly attempts suicide with his gun but is restrained by his colleagues. In the anime adaptation, Matsuda is voiced by Ryō Naitō in Japanese and Vincent Tong in the English dub. Obata noted in the series' guidebook that Matsuda's design as an "average young " was challenging to illustrate due to his unpredictable reactions, which added to his comedic elements, such as exaggerated expressions during moments of surprise or frustration.

Shuichi Aizawa

Shuichi Aizawa (相沢 周市, Aizawa Shūichi) is a with the National Police Agency (NPA) in the manga series , written by and illustrated by . Introduced as a core member of the Japanese formed to investigate the serial killings perpetrated by the enigmatic Kira, Aizawa is portrayed as a no-nonsense, straightforward investigator in his early thirties, emphasizing rigorous and ethical police work over unconventional tactics. He stands at 181 cm tall, weighs 76 kg, and has A, with a birthday on ; his design features black hair in a prominent style and dark brown eyes, reflecting his serious demeanor. Aizawa's skepticism toward L's secretive and potentially illegal methods becomes a defining trait early in the investigation. During the Lind L. Tailor broadcast, where publicly challenges Kira, Aizawa astutely deduces from Kira's immediate response that the killer is likely located in the Kanto region of , showcasing his analytical skills despite his frustration with 's leadership. His concerns peak when 's extends to the homes of members, including Aizawa's own —his wife and two young children, a and son—forcing him to prioritize their safety and leading him to temporarily quit the team in protest. This act underscores his role as a devoted man and his commitment to conventional principles. Aizawa rejoins the shortly before L's death, driven by a renewed sense of duty amid escalating threats. In the aftermath, he emerges as one of the most vigilant members, openly suspecting of being Kira based on inconsistencies in Light's behavior and the timing of key events, though he continues collaborating to avoid internal discord. His persistence highlights the internal tensions within the team and reinforces his reputation as the group's moral compass. In the adaptation produced by , Aizawa is voiced by in Japanese and in the English dub, bringing a gruff, authoritative tone to the character.

Kanzo Mogi

Kanzo Mogi (模木 完造, Mogi Kanzō) is a in the manga and series created by and , serving as a and core member of the Japanese Task Force assembled by to pursue the enigmatic killer Kira. In his thirties during the primary events, Mogi is depicted as a tall, broad-shouldered officer with spiky black hair, typically dressed in formal suits befitting his professional role. Mogi's personality is marked by extreme reticence and ; he speaks infrequently, even when aligning with others' views, embodying a quiet that contrasts with more outspoken team members. This laconic trait underscores his trustworthiness and reliability, qualities L explicitly values in assigning him sensitive duties like and infiltration. Beneath his reserved exterior, Mogi reveals a lighter side through his love of food—he is an avid eater and skilled cook, often indulging in meals during downtime. His adaptability shines in undercover scenarios, where he convincingly adopts upbeat personas despite his inherent seriousness. Mogi's contributions to the Kira investigation highlight his endurance and precision. In the Yotsuba Group surveillance operation, he assumes the alias "Kankichi Moji" (affectionately shortened to "Mochi" by ) as her enthusiastic manager, enabling close monitoring and intelligence gathering on corporate suspects. He also aids in concealing a during a high-stakes ploy to expose Kira, often collaborating closely with Shuichi Aizawa as a steadfast operational duo. These efforts demonstrate his pivotal, behind-the-scenes support in the Task Force's grueling pursuits. In the anime adaptation, Mogi is voiced by in the Japanese version and John Murphy in the English dub.

Hideki Ide

Hideki Ide is a in the Japanese National Police Agency and a member of the Kira Task Force, characterized by his strong sense of honor and principled nature. In his mid-30s at the series' outset, Ide possesses a no-nonsense demeanor, short black hair, and a height of 170 cm, weighing 62 kg; he enjoys but dislikes variety television shows. His critical view of L's unorthodox investigative tactics leads him to resign alongside Shuichi Aizawa early in the investigation, reflecting his commitment to ethical policing. Ide's role in the provides balance, serving as a steadfast supporter under Soichiro Yagami's leadership while maintaining objectivity amid the team's dynamics. He returns to toward the series' , contributing to minor investigations and the final confrontation with Kira, demonstrating his dedication despite initial reservations. This parallel exit and return with Aizawa underscores Ide's integrity without compromising the group's cohesion. In the adaptation, Ide is voiced by in Japanese and Brian Dobson in the English dub, portraying his stern and resolute effectively.

Hirokazu Ukita

Hirokazu Ukita (宇生田 広数, Ukita Hirokazu) is a with the and a key member of the Japanese assembled under L's direction to investigate the serial killings perpetrated by Kira. In his 30s, Ukita serves as a dedicated subordinate to Task Force Director Soichiro Yagami, contributing to early efforts in tracking Kira's methods following the deaths of FBI agents. Ukita's most notable action occurs during the second Kira's attempt to contact via a live broadcast on Sakura TV, where he demonstrates his bravery and quick thinking by leading a team to storm the station and halt the transmission. However, upon forcing entry, Ukita suffers a sudden heart attack orchestrated by the second Kira (), who had written his name in her after seeing his face and name on the broadcast feed. This makes Ukita the first member to fall victim to Kira, highlighting the lethal risks of public exposure and underscoring the investigation's early perils. Portrayed as earnest and emotionally invested in the case, Ukita's death profoundly affects team morale, serving as a stark reminder of Kira's reach and inspiring resolve among survivors, including Touta Matsuda, who later cites it as a personal motivator. His demise parallels the televised execution of Lind L. Tailor earlier in the investigation, confirming Kira's ability to target individuals through media. In the adaptation, Ukita is voiced by in Japanese and Jeremy From in the English dub.

Other investigators and associates

Watari

Watari, whose real name is Quillsh Wammy, serves as the primary handler and butler to the detective L in the Death Note manga and anime series. Born on May 1, 1933, he is in his early 70s during the story's main events set in the early 2000s, placing him well over 50 years old. A renowned British inventor, Wammy amassed a fortune through his innovations, which he channeled into philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of Wammy's House, an dedicated to nurturing exceptionally intelligent children in , . Skilled in , marksmanship, and advanced technology, Watari operates from the shadows, ensuring L's anonymity and operational efficiency. In his role, Watari manages critical logistics for L's global investigations, providing cutting-edge such as systems, secure communications, and for the pursuing Kira. He also oversees the recruitment and training of promising young orphans identified as potential successors or allies to , maintaining a network of talent to sustain the detective's legacy. depends on Watari as his indispensable aide, with the two sharing a close, almost paternal bond forged over decades of collaboration. Beyond direct support to L, Watari acts as a guiding mentor to key figures like Near and Mello, shaping their development within the organization's framework. Watari meets his demise when the Shinigami Rem writes his name in a Death Note to prevent L from endangering Misa Amane's life, an act manipulated by as part of his scheme; this event occurs in chapter 58 of the , "Feelings Within," leading to the simultaneous erasure of investigation data and Watari's sudden death from a heart attack. In the anime adaptation, Watari is voiced by Kiyoshi Kobayashi in Japanese and in English, with Ron Halder providing the voice in the live-action films.

Matt

Mail Jeevas (マイル・ジーヴァス, Mairu Jīvasu), better known as Matt (マット, Matto), is a supporting character in the and series, created by and . He is a former resident of Wammy's House, the orphanage established by Watari to raise gifted children as potential successors to , where he ranked third in intelligence behind Near and Mello. Orphaned like many of his peers, Matt is depicted as 19 years old at the time of his appearance, standing 168 cm tall with brown spiky hair often covered by a striped knit cap and signature orange-tinted goggles. Matt's personality is marked by his reclusive nature and passion for video games, which he plays obsessively in his room, rarely venturing out except to assist his close friend and ally, Mello. Deeply loyal to Mello, whom he considers a brotherly figure from their Wammy's House days, Matt exhibits a calm, confident demeanor under , often cigarettes non-stop as a habitual vice that underscores his laid-back yet thrill-seeking attitude. His technical prowess shines through in his hacking skills, reflecting his high intellect despite his casual, gamer-centric lifestyle. According to the official guidebook 13: How to Read, Matt's cockiness while multitasking on computers occasionally leads to oversights, adding a human layer to his otherwise sharp capabilities. As Mello's trusted accomplice and partner in a high-stakes scheme to outmaneuver Kira, Matt first aids by infiltrating the SPK headquarters' security system to gather intelligence on news anchor , Kira's spokesperson. Later, disguised as Takada's manager, he orchestrates the pickup after her kidnapping by Mello, driving the escape van through crowded streets while firing warning shots at pursuing SPK agent Halle Lidner to cover their retreat; however, he is fatally shot by Takada's hidden bodyguards during the chaos. Matt's brief but pivotal role highlights his self-sacrificial loyalty, ending in his death without achieving his goal. In the anime adaptation, Matt is voiced by Tomohiro Nishimura in Japanese and Drew Nelson in the English dub, capturing his cool, understated presence in limited screen time.

Roger Ruvie

Roger Ruvie serves as the headmaster of Wammy's House, a prestigious in , , dedicated to nurturing exceptionally gifted children as potential successors to the detective L. An elderly man in his mid-60s, born on April 29, 1939, Ruvie stands at 169 cm tall and weighs 49 kg, often depicted with balding gray hair, brown eyes, small round glasses, and a brown coat. As a close associate of Quillsh Wammy (Watari), who co-founded the institution, Ruvie assumes primary administrative duties during Watari's absences, ensuring the safety and development of the orphans amid escalating threats from Kira. In the storyline, Ruvie plays a protective by covertly aiding 's successors, Near and Mello, following the deaths of and Watari. He promptly informs them of these losses and orchestrates the evacuation of Wammy's House residents after the facility comes under attack by Kira sympathizers, prioritizing the children's relocation to secure locations. His cautious approach is evident in these actions, as he operates discreetly to shield the successors from detection while providing logistical support to Near's investigation. By the series , one year after Kira's defeat, Ruvie has fully stepped into the of the third Watari, continuing the legacy of assistance to the new . Ruvie's personality is characterized by grumpiness and a studious nature, compounded by his aversion to children despite his lifelong dedication to their care at the . He harbors a particular fondness for books, reflecting his intellectual pursuits outside administrative duties. His minor appearances, primarily in the manga's latter chapters and the anime special Death Note Relight 2: L's Successors, underscore his behind-the-scenes contributions, including hosting gatherings where L addresses the children. Historically, Ruvie managed Wammy's House during earlier incidents like the Los Angeles BB Murder Cases. In the anime, he is voiced by Hiroshi Ōtake in Japanese and Ron Halder in English.

Beyond Birthday

Beyond Birthday is a fictional character introduced in the novel Death Note: Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases, a prequel to the manga series written by . He is depicted as a and a former resident of Wammy's House for Gifted Children, an orphanage established to cultivate successors for the detective L. As the second candidate after A, Beyond was raised alongside other gifted orphans like Mello and Near, but his path diverged dramatically into criminality as a means to rival L. In his early twenties during the events of the novel set in , Beyond Birthday possesses a slim build, pale skin, and natural black hair, often described with dark circles under his eyes reflecting his obsessive nature. Uniquely among humans, he was born with Shinigami eyes, granting him the supernatural ability to see a person's name and remaining lifespan upon looking at them, a trait that fuels his god-like self-perception. This ability, combined with his genius-level intellect, enables him to orchestrate elaborate crimes, but it also isolates him, amplifying his resentment toward as an unattainable ideal. Beyond's personality is marked by profound and a compulsive need to mimic L, adopting similar eccentric habits such as a hunched posture and consumption of sweets to provoke and test the detective. As the perpetrator of the Los Angeles BB Murder Cases—a series of three meticulously planned killings involving locked-room mysteries and straw doll motifs signed with "BB"—he designs the crimes explicitly as a intellectual challenge to L, aiming to prove his superiority by inverting the role of solver to criminal. Disguised as the private investigator Rue Ryūzaki, he infiltrates the investigation led by former FBI agent Naomi Misora, further blurring lines between ally and antagonist. His actions stem from a deep-seated , viewing the murders as a game where only he and L truly understand the rules. Ultimately, Beyond's scheme culminates in his arrest following L's deduction of his identity and motives, thwarting his planned by fire intended as the fourth "murder" in the sequence to eternally mock L. Incarcerated thereafter, he dies on January 21, 2004, from a heart attack while in a prison, an event consistent with the pattern of criminal deaths during the Kira investigation but predating its full escalation. As one of L's early defeated adversaries from Wammy's House, Beyond represents a dark mirror to the detective's legacy, highlighting the perils of unchecked genius among his potential successors.

A

A was the first candidate selected as a potential successor to , the renowned detective, from among the exceptionally gifted children residing at Wammy's House. As part of this elite program aimed at grooming replacements for , A was expected to emulate his predecessor's unparalleled deductive abilities from a young age, but the relentless pressure to match 's standards exacerbated his mental instability, leading to a profound psychological breakdown. In the novel Death Note: Another Note - The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases by Nisio Isin, A is portrayed as having engaged in investigating minor cases during his tenure as a successor candidate, serving as initial tests of his capabilities under L's oversight. However, unable to cope with the isolation and unattainable expectations, A ultimately committed himself in his room at Wammy's House, an act that marked the tragic failure of the first generation of successors. A's story serves as a poignant symbol of the immense psychological burdens imposed on L's successors, illustrating how the program's intensity could destroy even the most promising talents and foreshadowing the contrasting paths taken by later candidates like Near and Mello. This narrative element also subtly influenced Beyond Birthday, positioning A's despair as a possible inspiration for his own rebellious trajectory against the system.

Aiber

Aiber, real name Thierry Morello, is a French professional in his mid-30s who serves as an associate of the detective during the Kira investigation. Standing at 189 cm tall with shoulder-length blond hair and light blue eyes, Aiber excels in , employing masterful disguises, multilingual fluency, and fabricated identities to infiltrate social circles and extract information. His skills make him ideal for undercover operations, where he blends seamlessly into target groups without resorting to violence, relying instead on scams and psychological manipulation. Aiber's primary role involves posing as Eraldo Coil, one of L's lesser-known aliases as a world-renowned detective, to gain the trust of the Yotsuba Group suspected of harboring Kira. Hired by the group under the pretense of locating , Aiber attends their covert meetings and relays critical intelligence back to , including details on the attendees and discussions that help narrow down Kira's identity. He collaborates briefly with fellow operative Wedy, combining his cons with her expertise to support L's strategy. Despite his greedy nature—often demanding high payments for his services—Aiber proves reliable and loyal, motivated partly by a personal debt to that ensures his commitment to the mission. Following 's death, writes Aiber's name in the , causing him to succumb to in a hospital surrounded by his wife and son. In the adaptation, Aiber is voiced by Takuya Kirimoto in Japanese and David Orth in English.

Wedy

Wedy, whose real name is Mary Kenwood, is a supporting character in the Death Note manga series, serving as a professional thief employed by the detective to aid in the Kira investigation. An in her twenties, she possesses a slim, athletic build standing at 170 cm tall and weighing 48 kg, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a curvy figure that aids her agile movements during operations. Kenwood excels in techniques, including expert lockpicking to access secure locations and the installation of surveillance bugs for covert monitoring. Her skills as a make her particularly valuable for physical infiltration tasks that require precision and minimal detection risk. In the series, she is hired to infiltrate the Yotsuba Group's operations, successfully stealing a key file from a to provide with critical evidence on the group's activities. She also plants hidden audio bugs in the Yotsuba executives' secret meeting room, enabling the to eavesdrop on their discussions and uncover connections to Kira. These actions are coordinated briefly with fellow operative Aiber, who handles complementary social engineering efforts. Professionally dedicated to her assignments, Wedy displays a flirtatious demeanor in her communications with , often using a lowercase "w" in messages to distinguish herself from Watari. She is portrayed as daring and confident, with a fondness for motorcycles that reflects her thrill-seeking nature, though she harbors a strong dislike for police due to her criminal background. Following L's death, Wedy withdraws from the investigation and goes into hiding, eventually meeting her end in a fatal motorcycle accident in orchestrated by via the . Her role parallels that of Halle Lidner in later investigative efforts, both utilizing specialized skills for support. In the anime adaptation, Wedy is voiced by in Japanese and in English.

Anthony Rester

Anthony Rester (アンソニー・レスター, Ansonī Resutā), whose real name is Anthony Carter, is a in the , written by and illustrated by . He serves as the second-in-command and security chief of the Special Provision for Kira (SPK), an anti-Kira task force led by Near, where he handles protection of the team's headquarters, logistical operations, and strategic coordination. Born on January 6, 1968, Rester is in his early forties during the main events of the series and stands at 193 cm tall with a weight of 84 kg. Before joining the SPK, he was a in the , bringing his military expertise to the role of Near's deputy in managing the team's defenses and field activities. Rester's key actions include overseeing the security of the SPK's warehouse base to safeguard Near and the team from threats, as well as directing surveillance efforts on Kira supporter to gather intelligence on her movements and communications. He is portrayed as a disciplined, calm, professional, and dedicated individual who acts as a reliable guardian figure to Near, prioritizing the mission's success through honest and hardworking leadership. In the anime adaptation produced by , Rester is voiced by Masaki Aizawa in Japanese and by in the English dub.

Halle Lidner

Halle Lidner, whose real name is Halle Bullook, is a member of the Special Provision for Kira (SPK) led by Near in the investigation against Kira. Born on February 18, 1980, she is in her thirties during the events of the story and stands at 180 cm tall with a weight of 52 kg. A former agent of the and (CIA), Lidner joined the SPK motivated by a desire to avenge a close acquaintance killed by Kyosuke Higuchi, the third Kira, during the earlier phase of the investigation. In the anime adaptation, she is voiced by in Japanese and in English. Lidner demonstrates first-rate skills as a , with particular expertise in disguise and infiltration, allowing her to pose effectively under aliases. Near selects her for high-risk undercover operations due to her professional competence and loyalty to the team, which includes brief collaboration with agents like Stephen Gevanni. Her driving abilities prove crucial in pursuit scenarios, enabling rapid response during critical moments. The official guidebook describes her as an "individual thinker" capable of independent action while remaining dedicated to the SPK's objectives. In her key role, Lidner infiltrates NHN Broadcasting as one of Kiyomi Takada's bodyguards to gather intelligence on Kira's connections, succeeding in monitoring Takada's activities up close. When Mello orchestrates Takada's to advance his own anti-Kira efforts, Lidner leads the pursuit in a vehicle, attempting to track the abductors despite evasive maneuvers. She later witnesses Takada's death by after the situation unfolds, providing vital on-the-ground details that aid Near's deductions. These actions highlight her resourcefulness and commitment under pressure.

Stephen Gevanni

Stephen Gevanni, whose real name is Stephen Loud, is a 25-year-old member of the Special Provision for Kira (SPK), serving as Near's primary field operative and forger. Highly observant and detail-oriented, Gevanni possesses exceptional skills in surveillance, lock-picking, and replication, making him indispensable to the investigation against Kira. His artistic talents are evident in his hobby of crafting intricate ships in bottles, reflecting his patience and precision. According to official character profiles, Gevanni's strengths include high initiative (rated 10/10) and analytical ability (9/10), though his creativity scores lower at 5/10, emphasizing his role as a meticulous executor rather than an innovator. Gevanni's key contributions involve closely tailing prosecutor Teru Mikami, whom the SPK suspects as Kira's proxy. He meticulously sketches Mikami's daily routines and movements over several days, providing Near with critical insights into his habits and the location of his hidden . Demonstrating his expertise, Gevanni creates an exact replica of the Death Note, tracing its black cover onto a standard notebook and filling numerous pages with fabricated victim names to mimic Mikami's and usage patterns—all completed in a single night. On January 21, he infiltrates Mikami's gym locker, switches the real Death Note with the fake, and photographs the original for analysis, ensuring the trap remains undetected. In the climactic confrontation at a , Gevanni's preparations prove pivotal as part of Near's overarching plan to expose . By substituting the Death Note, he prevents Mikami from killing the SPK members, leading to Light's failed attempt to write names and ultimate defeat. Gevanni, alongside Anthony Rester, provides armed protection for Near during the standoff. In the anime adaptation, Gevanni is voiced by in Japanese and in English.

Kira associates and supporters

Hitoshi Demegawa

Hitoshi Demegawa is a in the and series , serving as the director of Sakura TV, a major broadcasting network in . In his late thirties to early forties during the story's events, Demegawa is depicted as a short, overweight man with a mustache and distinctive yellow-tinted glasses, embodying a publicity-driven media executive. His primary role involves exploiting sensational events for higher ratings, particularly those related to the enigmatic killer Kira. Demegawa first gains prominence when he decides to air a series of videotapes sent to Sakura TV by the second Kira, later revealed to be , which contain threats against law enforcement and instructions purportedly for Kira's benefit. These broadcasts amplify Kira's influence, leading to deaths among police officers and sparking widespread public fascination. Capitalizing on this, Demegawa transforms his platform into a for Kira worship, founding and leading the Kira Equality Front, a cult-like organization that amasses followers and donations under the guise of supporting Kira's "justice." However, his motivations are rooted in personal gain; he embezzles funds from the group's contributions to enrich himself, revealing his opportunistic nature. Demegawa's fanaticism toward Kira is superficial and self-serving, driven by greed rather than ideological conviction, making him a of media . This greed ultimately leads to his demise when Teru Mikami, acting on Yagami's behalf, writes his name in the after discovering the , causing Demegawa to suffer a fatal heart attack during a . In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Chafūrin in Japanese and Ward Perry in the English dub.

Minoru Tanaka

Minoru Tanaka is a fictional character introduced in the 2020 Death Note one-shot manga chapter titled "The a-Kira Story," created by and . He is depicted as a high in in 2019, renowned for his exceptionally high IQ, which leads the Ryuk to select him as the recipient of a new dropped into the human world. Despite his intelligence, Tanaka experiences depression stemming from poor performance on standardized tests, viewing such assessments as meaningless measures of intellect. Rather than using the Death Note for vigilante killings like his predecessor , Tanaka devises a pragmatic plan to auction the notebook's power to the highest-bidding , aiming to amass a personal fortune without direct involvement in deaths. In 2019, he executes this scheme by instructing Ryuk to deliver instructions via a national television broadcast and platform , framing it as an anonymous sale of "Kira's weapon" with strict conditions to ensure secrecy and verifiability. The auction culminates in the , under its then-president, purchasing the Death Note for 1 quadrillion yen (approximately 10 trillion USD at 2019 exchange rates), after which Tanaka disperses the funds equally among all Japanese citizens aged 60 and under to obscure his identity and evade detection by international investigators. Tanaka's death occurs immediately upon accessing his share of the payment, triggered by a newly established rule in the Death Note decreed by the Shinigami King: any individual who sells or buys the notebook will die at the moment the transaction is finalized. This event underscores the inescapable fatal consequences for Death Note users, as Ryuk, who has returned to observe human affairs, witnesses the outcome without intervention. Tanaka's actions inadvertently usher in a potential new era of Kira activity, as the notebook now resides with a powerful nation-state, raising global concerns about its misuse in geopolitical conflicts.

C-Kira

C-Kira is the alias given by Near to the fifth Kira in the "The C-Kira Story," part of the Short Stories collection by and , set three years after Light Yagami's defeat in 2013. Unlike previous Kiras driven by grand ideologies, C-Kira is an individual who uses a Death Note to kill elderly people in Japan who have publicly expressed a desire to die, ostensibly to "relieve their pain" through heart attacks. Near dubs this perpetrator "C-Kira" or "Cheap Kira" due to the simplistic and unoriginal motive, lacking the moral or reformist ambition of earlier Kiras. The killings initially receive little attention from Near and the SPK, as the victims consent to death and no innocents are harmed, but public speculation revives fears of Kira's return. Through investigation, Near traces the and confronts the perpetrator, leading to C-Kira's arrest and the recovery of the . This incident highlights the notebook's ongoing allure and the ease with which it can inspire copycat actions, even without ideological depth.

Yagami family and civilians

Sachiko Yagami

Sachiko Yagami is a supporting character in the Death Note manga series written by and illustrated by , serving as the devoted housewife and mother to the Yagami family. In her mid-40s, she maintains the household while her husband, Soichiro Yagami, pursues his demanding career in , providing a stable domestic backdrop to the story's central events. Portrayed as gentle, affectionate, and nurturing, Sachiko remains blissfully unaware of the Death Note's existence and her son Light's secret activities as Kira, focusing instead on everyday family concerns. Her caring nature is evident in her frequent expressions of worry over Soichiro's health and stress levels during the intense Kira investigation, which strains the household dynamics. The family's tension escalates briefly with Sayu's kidnapping, leaving Sachiko emotionally impacted as she supports her remaining family members through the ordeal. In the 2006 anime adaptation by Madhouse, Sachiko is voiced by Ai Satō in the original Japanese version, bringing a warm and maternal tone to the role. The English dub features Saffron Henderson as Sachiko, capturing her oblivious yet loving demeanor across the series' 37 episodes.

Sayu Yagami

Sayu Yagami (夜神 粧裕, Yagami Sayu) is the younger sister of in the manga and series Death Note, created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. As a supporting character, she represents the vulnerability of the Yagami family amid the escalating conflict surrounding the Death Note. At the start of the story, Sayu is a 14-year-old third-year student at Eishu Junior High , characterized by her innocent, cheerful, and kind-hearted personality. She enjoys typical teenage interests, such as fashion and spending time with friends, and idolizes her older brother , often teasing him in a lighthearted manner. Sayu's limited involvement in the plot underscores her role as a civilian outsider to the Kira investigation, remaining completely unaware of the Death Note's existence or her brother's as Kira. Her life takes a dramatic turn in the manga's second arc when she is kidnapped by Mello, a rival to Near in the race to capture Kira, who uses her as bait to force the Japanese Task Force to relinquish the . The abduction occurs while Sayu is walking home from school, and she is held captive by Mello's associates in the United States, highlighting the personal stakes for the Yagami family. This incident causes profound anguish for her father, Soichiro Yagami, who risks everything to secure her release by delivering the notebook as ransom. Following the exchange, Sayu is rescued through intervention by the , but the traumatic experience leaves her deeply affected, resulting in emotional withdrawal and psychological distress that lingers after her return home. Her ordeal serves to illustrate the human cost of the Death Note's power on innocent bystanders, contrasting the high-stakes intellectual battles among the main characters. In the adaptation produced by , Sayu is voiced by Haruka Kudō in Japanese, capturing her youthful innocence, while English dubs feature Kelly Metzger for pre-time skip episodes and Kristie Marsden for post-time skip appearances and live-action films.

Shiori Akino

Shiori Akino (秋野 詩織, Akino Shiori) is a exclusive to the 2006 live-action film adaptations Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name, where she serves as the girlfriend of protagonist , helping to illustrate his outward persona as an ordinary college student amid his secret activities as Kira. She is depicted as a first-year student at , approximately 18 years old, with aspirations to pursue a career in due to her strong belief in justice and the legal system. Shiori admires Light's intelligence, passion, and academic excellence, often expressing envy toward his superior grades while dating him casually, including shared moments like bus rides and university life that highlight Light's pre-Kira normalcy. In the narrative, Shiori's relationship with Light provides a glimpse into his dual life, but it becomes a liability during the Kira investigation when former FBI agent Naomi Misora kidnaps her to coerce a from , whom she suspects. Under the influence of the , Naomi fatally shoots Shiori before committing suicide, an event manipulates to clear his name and gain entry to the Japanese task force by feigning grief over his girlfriend's death. This incident underscores the implications of their through tragedy, eliminating Shiori as a potential or emotional distraction while reinforcing 's calculated duality in maintaining his facade. Shiori exhibits minor suspicions about 's secretive behavior but remains trusting and defensive of him until her demise. The character is portrayed by Japanese actress Yû Kashii, who brings a sense of innocence and determination to the role, marking one of her early prominent film appearances following her modeling debut. In international dubs of the films, she is voiced by in English.

Raye Penber

Raye Penber is an American FBI agent assigned to as part of an international investigating the serial killings perpetrated by the enigmatic Kira. He is engaged to fellow FBI agent Naomi Misora, and his role becomes central when he is tasked with surveilling , the son of a high-ranking Japanese police officer suspected of ties to the Kira case. Penber's investigation places him directly in the path of , who manipulates events to identify and neutralize him as a threat. During his surveillance, Penber encounters on a bus that Light orchestrates to be hijacked by a criminal under the influence of the , forcing Penber to reveal his identity as an FBI agent to reassure the passengers. One week later, Light tails Penber onto a crowded train and confronts him at gunpoint with a concealed , compelling Penber to write the names of all 12 FBI agents involved in the Kira investigation into a notebook provided by Light. This act unknowingly triggers the agents' deaths via the Death Note's power. Light then writes Penber's name in the notebook, causing Penber to board another train and fatally shoot himself in the head. Penber's death devastates his fiancée Naomi, who later suspects Kira's involvement. In the anime adaptation, Raye Penber is voiced by in Japanese and in the English dub.

Naomi Misora

Naomi Misora is a in the Death Note, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. She serves as the fiancée of FBI agent Raye Penber and is depicted as a former FBI in her late 20s. Born on February 11, 1976, Misora was 27 years old at the time of her involvement in the Kira investigation. According to the official guidebook Death Note 13: How to Read, she was a first-rate agent renowned for her remarkable investigative abilities, having previously collaborated with the detective L on high-profile cases, including the Los Angeles BB Murder Cases, where she demonstrated exceptional skill as one of his trainees. Following Penber's death on December 13, 2003, which Misora attributes to Kira, she independently pursues leads on the case despite her retired status. Disguised as "Shoko Maki," she visits the Japanese headquarters in early January 2004 to share her theories, deducing that Kira must be affiliated with the police and a student at a specific university based on the Lind L. Tailor broadcast incident. Her analysis narrows suspects to those connected to the original bus hijacking victims, leading her to confront and nearly identify as Kira during a chance encounter. However, Yagami manipulates her into revealing her true identity, then uses the to orchestrate her apparent suicide under the fabricated 13-day rule, ensuring her body is never recovered and her death appears as a disappearance. These events unfold across chapters 5–7 of the . Misora's personality is characterized by sharp , unwavering , and a profound sense of , traits that position her as one of the series' most formidable investigators outside the main protagonists. Her proactive approach and logical deductions highlight her professional expertise, though her trust in others proves a fatal vulnerability. In the anime adaptation produced by , Misora is voiced by in Japanese and in the English dub.

Steve Mason

In the anime adaptation of the Death Note series, Steve Mason is the director of the (FBI), serving as a key figure in the early stages of the Kira investigation. He agrees to assist the enigmatic detective by deploying twelve FBI agents to to monitor potential leaks within the Japanese task force pursuing Kira. However, after Kira uses the Death Note to kill all twelve agents, Mason informs of the FBI's decision to withdraw all support, citing the unacceptable risks to his personnel. In the latter half of the story, following the time skip, Mason reemerges as a supportive ally to Near, L's successor. He helps Near persuade the U.S. President—David Hoope in the or George Sairas in the —to authorize the formation of the Special Provision for Kira (SPK), an independent anti-Kira organization. Mason provides logistical and authoritative backing from his position as FBI director to help establish the SPK, though his on-the-ground involvement remains limited compared to other members. His efforts underscore a persistent, albeit cautious, commitment to combating Kira on an international scale. Tragically, Mason meets his end when the acquires a and uses it to eliminate him, further highlighting the global reach of Kira's influence. As the FBI director, Mason is a professional colleague of former agent Naomi Misora, offering indirect support through the bureau's resources during the initial investigation phase, though he does not directly accompany her actions in . His personality is portrayed as pragmatic and supportive toward allies like and Near, prioritizing institutional caution after the agents' deaths while still aiding the cause when approached. In the anime adaptation, Steve Mason is voiced by Mitsuru Ogata in Japanese and John Novak in the English dub.

Yotsuba Group and corporate figures

Kyosuke Higuchi

Kyosuke Higuchi is a and in the manga series , written by and illustrated by . He serves as the third Kira, wielding a Death Note obtained from the Rem to kill corporate rivals and boost Corporation's profits. Higuchi holds the position of vice-president and head of the Technology Development Division at Corporation, and is depicted as a man in his early thirties, aged 32 at the time of his involvement. His personality is marked by arrogance and sharp business savvy, often presenting a polished exterior while pursuing personal advancement through ruthless means. Rem selects Higuchi to receive her Death Note after being manipulated by Misa Amane, targeting him specifically for his greedy, forceful, and selfish traits to ensure the notebook falls into the hands of someone who would misuse it for self-serving ends. Using the Death Note, Higuchi orchestrates a series of murders against competitors, driving Yotsuba's stock gains during secret group meetings. His reign as Kira ends in a dramatic on October 28, 2004, where he is forced off the road by the Japanese ; Ryuk then writes Higuchi's name in Light Yagami's Death Note, causing a fatal heart attack. In the anime adaptation produced by , Higuchi is voiced by Futamata in Japanese and Andrew Kavadas in the English dub.

Other Yotsuba Group members

The other members of the Yotsuba Group, excluding Kyosuke Higuchi, consist of seven high-ranking executives from the Yotsuba Corporation who form a secret cabal to exploit Kira's powers for corporate gain. These individuals, all in their 30s and 40s, participate in clandestine weekly meetings where they discuss and vote on using the to eliminate business rivals, driven by a mix of greed and escalating paranoia about exposure. Shingo Mido serves as the of Corporate and , aged 33, and is noted for his analytical mindset and ambition within the group. He actively contributes to discussions on targeting competitors and handles financial aspects of their scheme, but grows increasingly suspicious of the group's security. In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Eiji Hanawa in Japanese and Trevor Devall in English. Reiji Namikawa, the Vice President of Sales at age 31, initially supports the use of Kira to boost 's market position but later withdraws after receiving anonymous warnings, highlighting the internal fractures fueled by fear. His strategic insights make him a key voice in early meetings. He is voiced by in Japanese and Ted Cole in English. Eiichi Takahashi, aged 43 and Vice President of the Material Planning Division and Homes, is a family man who reluctantly joins the but voices moral qualms during votes on victims, reflecting the group's moral erosion. Despite his hesitations, he remains involved until the end. Voiced by Rintarō Nishi in Japanese and in English. Suguru Shimura, Head of Personnel at 37, brings a former athletic background to the table and often pushes for aggressive actions to eliminate threats, embodying the paranoia that leads to heated debates over potential leaks. He is voiced by Hiroyuki Yokoo in Japanese and Brian Drummond in English. Masahiko Kida, 33-year-old Vice President of Rights and Planning, manages the committee's external contacts, such as hiring investigators, and maintains a calm demeanor amid rising tensions, though his involvement underscores the collective self-interest. Voiced by Masaki Aizawa in Japanese and Martin Sims in English. Takeshi Ooi, the 44-year-old de jure leader and head of the Marine Division, nominally chairs the meetings but defers to Higuchi's influence, his passive role amplifying the group's dynamic of unchecked ambition. He is voiced by Kiyoyuki Yanada in Japanese and in English. Arayoshi Hatori, of Marketing at 33 and the illegitimate son of the company president, is the most enthusiastic supporter early on, advocating for broad use of Kira's abilities until Higuchi eliminates him to prevent him from becoming a liability. Voiced by Yukitoshi Tokumoto in Japanese and Simon Hayama in English. The group's activities culminate in their exposure when private investigators Aiber and Wedy plant surveillance devices in the meeting room, allowing L's team to record their discussions and votes on targets. All surviving members are arrested following Higuchi's capture, with the cabal's downfall illustrating the perils of their paranoid and greedy collaboration.

David Hoope

David Hoope serves as the during the later stages of the Kira investigation in the Death Note . Depicted as a pragmatic leader in his 50s, Hoope prioritizes and survival amid the supernatural threat posed by Kira, often balancing cooperation with covert resistance. His appearance features an older man with squinted eyes and thin eyebrows, reflecting a weary yet determined demeanor. Hoope's role in the international response to Kira begins with his direct involvement in supporting Near, L's successor. In March 2009, he meets with Near and authorizes the formation of the Special Provision for Kira (SPK), an elite task force comprising FBI and CIA agents. Hoope provides essential resources, including funding, surveillance technology, and classified information, to aid the SPK's efforts against Kira. This pragmatic decision underscores his commitment to combating the threat through global collaboration, despite the risks to his administration. Later, Hoope faces direct confrontation from Mello, who blackmails him by threatening to inscribe his name in the . To avert immediate death, Hoope supplies Mello with satellite access, weapons, funds, and details on the Japanese , demonstrating his survival-oriented pragmatism. Simultaneously, he secretly coordinates with (Light Yagami) to launch a counteroffensive, deploying a unit under Yitzak Ghazanin to assault Mello's hideout. The operation disastrously fails when all troops are manipulated to commit via the , exposing the limitations of conventional military responses. Following the raid's collapse, Hoope himself is controlled by the Death Note to commit suicide on , 2009, effectively ending his presidency and forcing the U.S. to withdraw from overt anti-Kira activities. This outcome paves the way for Vice President George Sairas's ascension, who subsequently announces the nation's conditional surrender to Kira in a global broadcast. Hoope's demise highlights the inescapable reach of Kira's power on world leaders, paralleling the earlier Lind L. Tailor broadcast designed to expose Kira.

George Sairas

George Sairas serves as the of the in the manga, ascending to the presidency after the sudden death of his predecessor, David Hoope, from a heart attack induced by Kira. In his 50s, Sairas initially maintains a public facade of submission to Kira's influence by announcing the cessation of all U.S. involvement in anti-Kira investigations, echoing Hoope's earlier capitulation during a global broadcast. Despite this outward compliance, Sairas adopts a covert anti-Kira stance by secretly allying with Near at the latter's request, supplying the SPK with essential resources including funding, additional personnel, and the authority to reinstate international cooperation against Kira through the ICPO. These actions underscore his strategic approach to undermining Kira from within the highest levels of government, enabling the SPK's operations without drawing suspicion. Death Note 13: How to Read portrays Sairas's personality as weak-willed and deficient in leadership qualities, yet his calculated support for Near highlights a pragmatic and tactical mindset in high-stakes scenarios. His appearances remain minor, confined primarily to pivotal scenes in the manga's final volume where he facilitates the resolution of the Kira conflict.

Koreyoshi Kitamura

Koreyoshi Kitamura (北村 是良, Kitamura Koreyoshi) is a in the manga and anime series written by and illustrated by . He serves as the Deputy Director of Japan's National Police Agency (NPA), acting as the direct superior to Soichiro Yagami during the Kira investigation. Depicted as a man over 50 years old with white hair and a stern demeanor, Kitamura oversees the bureaucratic and administrative facets of responses to the killings perpetrated by Kira. In his role, Kitamura authorizes the NPA's involvement in the special assembled by the detective to pursue Kira, enabling collaborative efforts between Japanese police and international allies despite mounting political scrutiny. After 's death, he reluctantly disbands the amid pressure from influential corporate entities like the Group, redirecting officers to routine duties while allowing limited personal continuation for dedicated members like Soichiro Yagami. Later, Kitamura facilitates cooperation between surviving members and Near's SPK (SPK International Criminal Police ), providing official sanction for renewed joint operations against the new Kira. As Soichiro's superior, he receives periodic reports on investigation progress, underscoring his oversight position. The official guidebook Death Note 13: How to Read portrays Kitamura as bureaucratic in nature, emphasizing his adherence to protocol and sensitivity to external pressures, yet affirms that he "isn't a bad guy" despite these limitations, highlighting his underlying commitment to duty over personal ambition. This trait manifests in his measured decisions, such as weighing the risks of defying higher authorities against the imperative to combat Kira's . In the anime adaptation produced by , Kitamura is voiced by Masaru Ikeda in Japanese. The English dub, handled by Ocean Studios, features Howard Siegel as his voice actor.

Kanichi Takimura

Kanichi Takimura serves as the of the Japanese National Police Agency (NPA), acting as the superior to deputy director Soichiro Yagami during the Kira investigation's second phase following L's death. His tenure proves extremely brief, marked by minimal direct involvement in operations as the NPA grapples with renewed threats from Kira supporters. Takimura's leadership coincides with heightened international scrutiny, facilitating a transitional period where the NPA's secrecy about possessing the becomes central to the plot's escalation. Takimura is abducted by Mello's mafia group on October 8, 2009, who demand the Death Note in the NPA's possession in exchange for his life. Light Yagami uses another Death Note to kill Takimura on October 11, 2009, to prevent him from revealing its location, underscoring the case's toll on Japanese authorities.

Yamamoto

Yamamoto is a minor character in the Death Note manga, serving as a with the Japanese National Police Agency (NPA). He joins the Japanese approximately one year after the conclusion of the main events involving , providing support in ongoing investigations related to crimes. Appearing primarily in the series' epilogue, Yamamoto is portrayed as a skeptical member of the team, openly doubting the reality of Death Notes and the existence of despite the Task Force's past encounters with them. His role remains peripheral, with limited involvement in active cases and occasional unnamed cameos in background scenes depicting NPA operations. In the final chapter, Yamamoto is shown socializing with Touta Matsuda, having become his drinking companion, which highlights his integration into the post-Kira community. Little else is revealed about his personality or backstory, emphasizing his function as a supportive figure in the Task Force's continuation.

FBI and international figures

Lind L. Tailor

Lind L. Tailor is a death row convict selected by the detective to serve as a during a pivotal televised broadcast designed to lure out Kira. employs Tailor as a to impersonate himself, delivering a provocative message challenging Kira's sense of justice and declaring intent to capture the killer. The broadcast, aired exclusively in Japan's Kanto region but announced as a global transmission, features Tailor condemning Kira's murders of criminals worldwide. In response, , secretly Kira, writes Tailor's full name in the , resulting in the convict's immediate death from a heart attack just 40 seconds after the taunt begins. This swift reaction enables to pinpoint Kira's location to the Kanto region, narrowing the investigation significantly and prompting subsequent pursuits, such as those involving FBI agent Penber. In the anime adaptation, is voiced by Yukitoshi Tokumoto in the Japanese version and Matt Lagan in the English dub.

Other FBI agents

The eleven other FBI agents, deployed to alongside Penber under L's command, formed a covert team aimed at identifying Kira among the Japanese police task force and their families. These agents, whose individual names were later obtained by through manipulation of Penber, conducted discreet tailing operations on suspects, including shadowing on public transportation and monitoring daily routines to detect any anomalous behavior linked to the killings. Their efforts represented a pivotal instance of U.S.- collaboration, leveraging the FBI's expertise in undercover work to support L's deductive strategy. The agents were: Tooru Denis, Yonegoro Nusumi, Aire Weekwood, Freddie Gunthe, , Derek Gunt, Helena Lo, Steven Ueter, McMannis, Nathan Keene, and Leif Thorn. The agents' mission ended abruptly on December 27, 2003, when all twelve team members, including Penber, died of heart attacks after Light compelled Penber to inscribe their names in the . This mass casualty prompted FBI Director Steve Mason to inform the Japanese task force of the losses and announce the immediate withdrawal of all American personnel from the investigation. The incident not only eliminated the network but also strained international cooperation, as the U.S. under President David Hoope severed ties with to avoid further risk, forcing the detective to rely solely on Japanese resources. The deaths underscored the high stakes of the pursuit, highlighting Kira's ability to target across borders and diminishing global momentum against the vigilante.

Mafia and criminals

Rod Ross

Rod Ross is the boss of a powerful American featured in the and series , created by and illustrated by . His real name is Dwight Gordon. Described officially as a "big fish the police can't even take down," Ross commands a vast criminal network that operates beyond 's reach, leveraging his influence to pursue high-stakes objectives. In his early 40s during the story's events (age 41), he stands at 190 cm (6' 3") tall and weighs 85 kg (187 lbs), with a commanding presence marked by his stern demeanor and preference for whiskey. Ross allies with Mello, hiring him to secure a Death Note after learning of its existence through criminal channels affected by Kira's killings. Under Ross's leadership, the mafia orchestrates the theft of the notebook from by exploiting its rules: they use it to cause the deaths of incarcerated criminals, compelling the shinigami Sidoh—who panics upon realizing his Death Note is missing—to disclose its location hidden in the Japanese police headquarters. With the notebook in hand, Ross directs raids on the SPK headquarters, resulting in the deaths of several members and the capture of key evidence against Kira. His underling, Jack Neylon, assists in these operations as part of the core team. Ultimately, Ross meets his end when writes his name in the , causing a fatal heart attack on November 10, 2009, along with the rest of the mafia members, allowing the Japanese to raid their hideout and retrieve the notebook. In the anime , Ross is voiced by Masaki Aizawa in Japanese and Brian Dobson in English.

Jack Neylon

Jack Neylon is a in the , created by and illustrated by , where he serves as a and enforcer for the Mafia organization headed by Rod Ross. His real name is Kal Snydar. In this role, Neylon has been involved with the group since 1987, participating in illicit operations such as drug trafficking and illegal weapons sales. He is depicted as a man in his late 30s to early 40s, with shoulder-length blonde hair, brown eyes, and oval glasses, often wearing a brown suit in the . His character first appears in volume 8 of the series, contributing to the narrative's exploration of criminal alliances in the pursuit of the . As an enforcer, Neylon plays a key part in the Mafia's acquisition and use of Sidoh's Death Note, which the group forcibly obtains from Japanese authorities. He takes possession of the notebook and, following Ross's orders, makes a deal with the shinigami Sidoh to gain Shinigami Eyes, sacrificing half his remaining lifespan to see individuals' names and lifespans for strategic advantage in their operations. Neylon coordinates efforts with Mello, utilizing the Death Note to carry out targeted killings, including the elimination of U.S. Army members during an attempted raid on the Mafia's hideout. These actions underscore his direct involvement in enforcing the group's objectives amid the escalating conflict over the supernatural artifact. Neylon's personality is marked by ruthlessness in executing his duties, reflecting the hardened demeanor of a career criminal, though he displays initial panic upon encountering Sidoh. His minor but pivotal appearances in chapters 69, 70, and 72 highlight his function as a subordinate carrying out Ross's directives, including alliances with figures like Mello and his associate Matt.

Kurou Otoharada

Kurou Otoharada (音原田 九郎, Otoharada Kurō) is a minor criminal character in the manga and anime series, written by and illustrated by . An unemployed man in his forties, Otoharada goes on a violent rampage, killing six people and wounding several others before barricading himself in a nursery school and taking eight children and teachers . Otoharada becomes the first victim of the Death Note when , having recently obtained the supernatural notebook from the Ryuk, tests its power by writing Otoharada's name and prescribed cause of death—heart attack—in it while watching the hostage crisis unfold . Exactly forty seconds later, as specified in the notebook's rules, Otoharada collapses and dies of a heart attack, allowing the hostages to be rescued unharmed. This event occurs on November 28, 2003. This killing serves as the symbolic inception of Light's campaign as "Kira," the anonymous executioner who uses the Death Note to target criminals worldwide, marking the notebook's inaugural use in the human world to eliminate perceived societal threats.

Takuo Shibuimaru

Takuo Shibuimaru (渋井丸 拓男, Shibuimaru Takuo) is a minor antagonist in the manga and anime series, appearing in Chapter 1 ("Boredom") and Episode 2 ("The Second Kill"). He is portrayed as a man in his twenties, a member of a motorcycle gang involved in street harassment and criminal activities. Light Yagami first encounters Shibuimaru leading his gang in harassing a young on the street, an incident that prompts Light to target him as a test subject for the shortly after killing Kurou Otoharada. To ensure the notebook's rules on name and face accuracy, Light hacks into the National Police Agency's database to retrieve Shibuimaru's full name and photograph, then meticulously writes multiple phonetic variations of "Takuo Shibuimaru" in the . For the , Light specifies a detailed scenario: Shibuimaru suffers a heart attack while fleeing from police after attempting to a in broad daylight, causing him to crash his into an oncoming truck exactly 40 seconds later, resulting in his immediate death. This killing serves as Light's deliberate practice run with the Death Note's capabilities, confirming its power beyond coincidence and solidifying his resolve to purge society of criminals, an approach that escalates in subsequent uses like manipulating Kiichiro Osoreda in a public bus hijacking. Shibuimaru's death occurs on November 28, 2003, marking the second confirmed victim and highlighting Light's growing precision in orchestrating "accidental" fatalities to avoid suspicion.

Kiichiro Osoreda

Kiichiro Osoreda is a minor antagonist in the Death Note manga and anime series, depicted as a desperate criminal manipulated by protagonist Light Yagami through the Death Note. A drug addict in his thirties (age 43 at death), Osoreda is portrayed as impulsive, nervous, and prone to panic, with his disheveled appearance and erratic behavior stemming from his substance abuse. On December 18, 2003, Osoreda attempted to rob a but fled after the heist failed, heightening his desperation. Two days later, on December 20, 2003, executed a ploy by writing Osoreda's name in the , dictating his actions: Osoreda boarded the 11:31 a.m. bus to Spaceland near Hanazono District, hijacked it at gunpoint, and coerced the driver while threatening the passengers. Under this control, Osoreda proclaimed himself as Kira, claiming possession of the supernatural powers to incite fear among the riders and draw out suspicions of a federal agent's involvement. The hijacking unfolded in the presence of FBI agent Raye Penber, a witness on the bus who attempted to intervene. After touching a page, Osoreda hallucinated the Ryuk, panicked, emptied his gun toward the apparition, and leaped from the moving bus into oncoming traffic. He was struck by a vehicle, dying of a heart attack precisely as specified in the at 2:40 p.m. This orchestrated death by heart attack served to alert to Kira's potential awareness of the investigation.

Adaptation-specific characters

Japanese live-action film originals

The 2006 Japanese live-action films Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name, directed by Shûsuke Kaneko, introduce several original characters not present in the manga or anime, enhancing the narrative through additional personal stakes and investigative dynamics. These characters primarily serve to adapt key plot elements, such as Light Yagami's relationships and the Task Force's composition, while providing opportunities for expanded emotional and suspenseful scenes unique to the cinematic format. Sanami, portrayed by Miyuki Komatsu, is a investigator added to the Japanese led by Soichiro Yagami. She appears as a professional, composed member who assists in surveillance and analysis efforts against Kira, contributing minor but supportive roles in operational scenes across both films. Her inclusion diversifies the predominantly male , emphasizing teamwork in the live-action adaptation without altering core investigative outcomes. Ryotaro Sakajo, played by Masanori Fujita, functions as an obsessive producer and on Misa Amane's television show. Developing a dangerous fixation on Misa, he stalks her, collects personal items like discarded tissues, and eventually attacks her with a knife in an attempt to "reunite" her with her deceased family before dying of a heart attack induced by the Shinigami Gelus. This character parallels the propagandistic role of figures like Yuji Demegawa but focuses on personal peril for Misa, heightening tension in her storyline specific to the films. Shiori Akino, depicted by Yu Kashii, serves as Light Yagami's initial girlfriend and a fellow To-Oh University student aspiring to a career in . In , she becomes a target when Naomi Misora kidnaps her to coerce a confession from regarding his involvement with Kira; during the confrontation, Naomi accidentally shoots Shiori, who dies from her injuries, allowing to feign grief and join the . Her expanded romantic subplot with adds layers of moral ambiguity and humanizes his character early on, contrasting with the source material's lack of such a pre-Misa relationship.

L: Change the World additions

"L: Change the WorLd, a 2007 novel by and its 2008 live-action film adaptation directed by , expands the universe by depicting events in the 23 days leading to L's death after he writes his own name in the to defeat Kira. The story shifts focus to a bioterrorism crisis involving a man-made capable of wiping out much of humanity, introducing original characters who interact with L during his final mission. These additions emphasize themes of environmental and scientific , with L tasked by his predecessor Wammy (F) to safeguard key individuals while racing against time. Maki Nikaido is a mathematical child and the daughter of immunologist Dr. Kimihiko Nikaido, who developed the at a secret Japanese laboratory and subsequently created an to prevent its weaponization. Following her father's suicide by self-infection with the , Maki inherits encrypted clues to the formula, making her a prime target for the eco-terrorist group Blue Ship, which seeks to deploy the pathogen to drastically reduce global population for environmental preservation. She flees to L's headquarters in for protection, where she assists him in decoding the clues and evading pursuers, forming a pivotal bond that highlights L's protective instincts in his waning days. In the film, Maki is portrayed by Mayuko Fukuda, whose performance captures the character's intelligence and vulnerability. Kimiko Kujo, also referred to as K, is a brilliant scientist and Dr. Nikaido's assistant at the research facility, who emerges as the mastermind behind Blue Ship's operations. Driven by a radical belief that culling humanity is necessary to save the planet, Kujo betrays her former mentor and orchestrates the theft of virus samples, using her medical expertise to advance the group's bioweapon plans. Her pursuit of Maki drives much of the conflict, showcasing her composed demeanor masking ruthless determination, and she represents the story's exploration of ideological extremism clashing with L's deductive resolve. The film casts Youki Kudoh in the role of Kimiko Kujo, delivering a portrayal of calculated antagonism."

Death Note: Light Up the New World additions

Death Note: Light Up the New World (2016) is a Japanese live-action film set ten years after the events of the original Death Note storyline, introducing new human and characters amid a crisis involving multiple Death Notes. The plot centers on the emergence of six Death Notes in the human world, a deliberate act by the King inspired by Kira's past actions, leading to widespread chaos and cyber-terrorism as various factions vie to collect all six for ultimate power. A special task force is formed to secure the notebooks and prevent their misuse, drawing in protagonists who grapple with the temptations and consequences of wielding them.

Tsukuru Mishima

Tsukuru Mishima, portrayed by , serves as the protagonist and leader of the Death Note Countermeasures Headquarters task force, a dedicated investigator with a deep fascination for the original Kira case—often described as a " ." Recruited due to his expertise, Mishima inherits one of the Death Notes and initially uses it to target criminals in an attempt to revive Kira's vision of justice, but his actions lead to moral conflicts and eventual remorse. He collaborates with other key figures to track down the remaining notebooks, ultimately becoming entangled in a web of alliances and betrayals that tests his resolve. Mishima's arc highlights the corrupting influence of the , culminating in his incarceration before being named successor to the detective role.

Ryuzaki

Ryuzaki, played by , is the biological successor to and a world-renowned private detective in his thirties, assigned by to assist the task force in recovering the six s. Unlike the youthful Near from the , this Ryuzaki is more mature and action-oriented, often concealing his identity and employing gadgets like a wristwatch . He possesses a originally owned by the Beppo and uses it strategically against antagonists, while forming a tense partnership with Mishima. Ryuzaki's investigation uncovers connections to Kira worshippers, and he ultimately passes his mantle to Mishima before his own death sentence from the notebook takes effect.

Yuki Shien

Yuki Shien, acted by , functions as a primary and genius hacker known as the "Pacifist Hacker," who reveres Kira as a divine figure and employs his cyber-terrorism skills to locate and consolidate the Death Notes for a new era of control. Operating from hidden locations, Shien spreads a demanding the surrender of the notebooks and manipulates events to eliminate rivals, including clashes with the . His backstory involves personal tragedy fueling his Kira devotion, leading to complex motivations that blur lines between villainy and . Shien's technical prowess drives much of the film's digital intrigue, positioning him as a modern threat in the evolving saga.

Arma and Beppo

Arma and Beppo are newly introduced characters who break realm rules by intervening in human affairs, paralleling rule-breaking entities like Ryuk from the original series. Arma, voiced by , is a with a slender, ethereal design who attaches to one of the six s and develops an emotional bond with Ryuzaki, ultimately sacrificing her life to protect him from a fatal attack—an unprecedented act for her kind. Beppo, voiced by , appears as a golden-colored and the initial owner of the later held by Ryuzaki; he demonstrates a detached amusement toward human conflicts but aids in subtle ways by revealing notebook rules. Both contribute to the film's expanded mythology around the six-notebook crisis, emphasizing themes of attachment and consequence in the realm.

American Netflix film characters

The 2017 American live-action film , directed by and released on , introduces several original characters while adapting core figures from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's and series into a Western high school setting in . These changes include renaming the protagonist as Light Turner, portrayed by as an intelligent but disaffected teenager who discovers the Death Note dropped by the Ryuk. The detective , played by , retains his enigmatic persona as a brilliant investigator pursuing the killer known as Kira, assisting Light's father, James Turner (). Ryuk, the apple-loving death god who enables the notebook's power, is voiced by and redesigned with a more grotesque, skeletal appearance featuring elongated limbs, sharp teeth, and glowing eyes to emphasize his otherworldly menace, diverging from the original's more cartoonish grin. Kenny Doyle, portrayed by Jack Ettlinger, is an original character as a school bully who antagonizes Turner by assaulting him and attempting to steal from another student. After obtaining the , tests its power by writing Doyle's name, causing the bully's via a falling in a witnessed by . Antony Skomal, played by Artin John, serves as a minor and original addition as the wealthy criminal responsible for killing 's mother in a hit-and-run , evading justice due to his influential lawyers. Motivated by personal vengeance, uses the on Skomal as his second victim, inducing a fatal car crash that mirrors the incident involving 's mother. Mia Sutton, portrayed by Margaret Qualley, is an original female lead and Light Turner's girlfriend, reimagining elements of Misa Amane while expanding her role as a co-conspirator in wielding the Death Note. A popular and ambitious high school student, she learns of the notebook's power from Light and enthusiastically joins his crusade to eliminate criminals, dubbing their vigilante persona Kira; her arc involves growing obsession and betrayal, culminating in her using the book against Light.

References

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