Seventy weeks before she was killed, Christina Grimmie sat with friends and watched the last episode of the Death Note anime.  As so many of us have done, and like us all, it was viewed with gleeful anticipation, as her Instagram snapshot confirms.  An event worth recording.  An excuse for a party.  One of us.

This summer, Viz Media celebrates its 30th birthday firmly entrenched as North America's foremost exporter, and promoter, of Japanese manga and anime.

There will be no big party in the streets by all accounts.  Yet fans can look forward to special offers and goodies given out as a thank you for for thirty years of support. 

However, those deals currently announced are only available to indivduals attending anime conventions across the USA.  Kicking off on July 1st-4th 2016, at the Los Angeles Anime Expo, and continuing throughout the summer and autumn season.  More on all that when we know further.

More to the point, Kelts discusses the effect of such global popularity success on the domestic market in Japan. With its shrinking population population and declining consumerism, the business opportunities at home were always limited.  The injection of worldwide capital turned out to be very timely and very welcome for the overall prosperity of that island nation.

Not bad for a notion mooted by a San Francisco hippy, which turned out to be quite a fabulous one at that.  Happy 30th birthday, Viz Media; the celebrations may run worldwide.

Light Yagami and L have turned up in cartoon and dialogue within the pages of a Social Studies textbook - destined for the classrooms of South Korean 10th Grade schoolchildren.

This is admittedly old news to those living and learning in South Korea, but we admit its only just turned up in our orbit.  The first time the screenshot appeared online was 2009, meaning there's a whole generation of Korean sociologists now used to referencing Kira in their problem-solving.

We'd love to know what it says, if any kind Korean speakers care to translate it for us.  Thanks in advance!

In explanation of his likening Donald Trump to Light Yagami, Paloma wrote, 'While Light’s intention with the notebook at first was good, which is to eliminate the criminals in the world, this power consumed him. Trump, on the other hand, has a lot of good intentions for the country, but his methods and ideologies are a little bit odd.'

He went on to add that Kira's vision got him killed in the end, as arrogance out-stripped his vision.  It was pointed out that Donald Trump's ideology has already drawn a great deal of criticism, not only from incredulous commentators within the USA, but on a global scale too.  Racism, anti-Feminism and general insensitivity are just the start of it.

What do you reckon?   Did this alignment with Donald Trump besmirch Kira's reputation more or less than the mass-murdering megalomania for you?

It may be the tenth anniversary of its initial publication, yet manga editions of Death Note sales remain evergreen in the US, Canada and Mexico. 

In fact, this far down the line, Death Note manga volumes are still one of the Top 10 best-selling titles within the c0ntinent for the genre.  It pretty much seems lodged there; camped in all perpetuity.

That's according to ICv2 - the North American pop culture news magazine for retailers - reporting in the April 4th 2016 issue of Publishers Weekly.

While Death Note may lack the current mega-sales of latest releases like Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul and One-Punch Man, that's because they are new and trending fashionably. But that's more than made up for by the steady drip-drip of continued Death Note manga editions purchased throughout the last decade.

It even survived well during the overall manga slump in North America, which saw the trade in Japanese titles fall from a high of $210m in 2007 to a mere $65m by 2012.  The market had bounced back up to $75m by 2014 - mostly on the back of Tokyo Ghoul and One-Punch Man - with early figures suggesting that North American manga sales rose by another 13% again during 2015.

Yet even during the down days in manga consumerism, interest in Death Note there never really wavered.  ICv2 stated that it, along with Dragon Ball, went on 'selling well'.

So why should Death Note stand out so much amid all the rest?  ICv2 CEO Milton Griepp has an answer for that too.  "I think it all comes down to quality," He said, comparing Ohba and Obata's epic manga with iconic graphic novels of the West, like Alan Moore's Watchman or Batman: The Killing Joke. "Death Note is a good series."

And sometimes it really is as simple as that.

From Kira to Genking, take a good look at the two images above.  Can you see a direct causal link between the styles exhibited by God of the New World Light Yagami there on the left and that of Genking, the fashionista gentleman in the right-hand picture?

The Hindustan Times can.  Moreover, it's citing the like of Light Yagami as the reason why current fashions for men in India are becoming ever more 'girly', or at least 'genderless'.

In an article entitled This Japanese guy and more are adopting women’s style because why not? (March 14th 2016), it was pointed out that determinedly unisex clothing is not a new thing in Asia.  Items like the ubiquitous sarong can adorn the hips of anyone without eliciting passing comment in regard to the wearer's chromosomes and anatomy.

Meanwhile ladies have been happily blurring the previous gender fashion divide for ages, as trousers become reasonable and respectable female attire.  Once such outfits were the sole preserve of men.  So why shouldn't the shift in style go the other way too?

To the Hindustan Times writer, Japanese cultural influence has helped oil the path towards increasingly androgynous wardrobe options for Indian men.  It's all come on the back of the onset of anime, which has only recently exploded as a popular entertainment genre across the nation.

Of them all, Death Note is the biggest, leading the way with the vision of Light Yagami one of the more readily recognizable Japanese anime characters.  His is the new stylish look and male fans throughout India are turning to cosmetics to ape that wide-eyed, 'feminized' look with the tussled hair.  Add into the mix the aspect of KPop idols, whose music has leap-frogged into the same arena from the rearguard of Japanese manga and anime.   No-one questions the masculinity of Korean men singing pop anthems with boyishly styled physiques and hair and make-up perfectly fixed.  A fact not missed by those viewing them openly, perhaps for the first time, as something new within Indian mainstream culture.

So is 'feminine' the new 'masculine' amidst the Indian fashion conscious?  And is Kira really to be credited with its cosmetic start?

That's where the Hindustan Times writer doesn't really make the case, continuing instead into the example of Genking - Instagram self-made star and model, now opening at the Tokyo Girls Collection catwalk - whose name on the birth certificate is Genki Tanaka.  With his flowing bleached blond locks and carefully articulated make-up, he appears more traditionally female than, well, probably half of the women reading on right now.  Yet Genking is known primarily for his fierce advocacy of 'genderless' fashions.  Wearing what pleases you, not what the label - seen or unseen - dictates is appropriate for each sex to don.

It's all very interesting, though the issues raised seem more akin to LGBT and transgender debates than touching anywhere near Death Note and Light Yagami.  Genking certainly didn't mention Kira as a guiding force in his decision to 'stop pretending' at the age of twenty.  Light Yagami didn't grow those lovely, flowing locks.

In fact, maybe I misread it, but the two hardly seem linked at all.  Thoughts?

Respected Sirs and Madams,

I humbly thank you for considering my letter of complaint regarding the mysterious death of my fourteen year old son, S.Rahul*, inside La Martiniere Boys College in Lucknow, around 11am on April 10th 2015.

[*Aka Rahul Sridhar in the press; S. Rahul properly, with the S representing Sridharan Rahul. Mr Sridharan told me that his son's Facebook account used the former merely as a nickname  - Matti]

My son was actually very badly beaten to death by other students inside the school, but the school and the police authorities are trying to hide the truth.  First they said it was a one-sided love affair. But when could not find any proof, they planted a story concerning Death Note. I filed a case against them in the High Court.

I firmly believe that the police and the school authorities were pre-determined to close the case as suicide, without proper investigation and without thorough enquiry. As was the conclusion of their Closure Report, filed on 12th October 2015.

Starting from Day One, the police and the school authorities played a pivotal role in delay tactics and destroying the evidence.  For example:

• Almost all of the school's top brass was present at the Civil Hospital in Lucknow, where Rahul was declared dead for almost 2 hours.
• Most or all of the evidence at the school's crime scene had been destroyed by the school authorities. A ward-boy from the school was burning a bed-sheet soaked with my son’s blood - the video was shown on many TV channels, whereas there was no trace of blood on the spot where he was found lying.

• The police took too much time to reach the crime scene who did not take any fingerprints of my son's belongings,  like his school bag, pencil box or mobile etc.
• The police recovered my son’s (S.Rahul) mobile one day after the crime. That too with all details deleted from the same location where my son reportedly jumped. The police also recovered three mobiles from my son’s schoolmate and friend - call details and all data from all four mobiles were found to have been deleted.
• The Panchanama* had only three genuine signatures with repeated signatures of the same persons. The signature of Rahul's mother was missing, but her name was included in the Panchanama.
  

[* Panch - Sanskrit meaning 'respectable persons' - Nama - 'written down'.  Also called a Mediator's Report. Equivalent to a Crime Report in the West - Matti]

• The police officials ridiculously quoted a non-existent ‘love affair’ over just ONE set of phone records, and a audio clip where there are constant exchanges of “Didi”, Bahin & “chhotu”.  In many conversations, between Rahul and the girl on Facebook, there is NOT EVEN a trace of romance; absolutely nothing suggesting a love affair. The girl knows exactly what happened, as my son was talking to her just minutes before the incident, or crime. Even the police themselves were confused, and quoting different reasons for my son's 'suicide'.
• The police did not investigate deeply enough the girl with whom my son was talking to just minutes before his death. The police have not properly probed the murder angle, as they have only suicide in mind.
• It took seven long days of running from one police officer to another before we - as anguished parents, - could file a FIR* under sections 120B, 201 and 302.  For six days after the crime, the police refused to accept one.

[* First Information Report - Filed by victims (or representatives of victims) of crimes in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Once registered with police authorities, the FIR's contents cannot be altered, except by a High or Supreme Court ruling. They must be investigated. In India, it is a crime to refuse to register a FIR - Matti]

• Our son S.Rahul was present at the morning assembly on that Fateful day (10/04/2015), but the School Principal lied to say that my son was absent. Many of his classmates/friends have given statements to the police regarding my son’s presence in that assembly.
• In the alleged suicide note, my son has written his name as 'RAHUL SRIDHAR'. But my son never used to write like that, he always signed his name ‘S.RAHUL”. I have doubts regarding the writing of this note, but somebody could have forced my son to write it.  Although Uttarprdesh Police verified that the handwriting belonged to my son.
• Most importantly, the post-mortem analysis from an independent forensic lab - TruthLab in Hyderabad - states that the post-mortem report and nature of injuries very clearly suggests that it cannot be a fall from such a height. It is a homicide (murder), NOT a suicide.
  
• Moreover, the FIR was filed on sections 120B, 201 and 302, but the police did not bother to touch sections 120B and 201; despite there being clear evidence proving the destruction of evidence by the school authorities and others.

Even knowing the facts listed above, the police filed their Final Report at their convenience. It was tailor-made to benefit the culprits, and this is so very unfair and unjustified.

So with all due respect I request you to do what's needful to get justice for my 14 years old innocent son, S.Rahul.  I hope, Sirs and Madams, that you make every effort at your command to achieve this for my boy on the merits of the case. My son was everything to me, but I am lifeless now; fighting a lonely battle for my son’s justice with limited resources.

Sirs and Madams, I enclosed most of the documents with this letter. If you need any further documentation, I humbly request you let me know.

Thanking you.

Yours Faithfully,

V. Sridharan
(Father of S.Rahul - known to us as Rahul Sridhar)

What if Kira killed by scoring goals in premiership football matches?  That's the scenario pondered by journalist Marco Buonasorte in Il Giornale d'Italia.

English top league football club Arsenal was founded by workers from the nearby Woolwich Royal Arsenal in London.  Now the modern day team may have added a Death Note to its  horde of weaponry.  At least if today's musings in an Italian newspaper are correct.

Unless the curse of Aaron Ramsey is real, in which case surely he should be banned from a premiership football pitch for life.  Or get signed by the Wolves.

What do you make on it?   The Italian paper lists many, many more correlations than those repeated here.

As part of our research and heads up on stories to bring you about Death Note, we're subscribed to several general news sources, each searching for the key phrase 'Death Note', amongst others.

However 'death note' doesn't only describe a manga from Japan.  In some countries (the USA seems prevalent, as does India) it's an alternative name for a suicide note.   Every so often, our trawl through the world's online papers feeds a tragic, albeit off-topic for us report about someone ending their own life and leaving a message to tell their kin and kith why.

I've heard it said that emergency services note that suicides peak around the holiday season, but this is the first time I've seen it reflected in our RSS feeds.  Right now, I'm staring at ten distinct and separate cases from around the world.  Over half of the whole feed, with the rest reporting actual Ohba penned Death Note news (all of which we've already long since covered in our own stories).

Ordinarily I'd skip over them, as they are irrelevant here.  But today, I wondered if perhaps they are. Perhaps someone searching for death notes/suicide notes online, in order to write their own (stranger things have happened) might stumble across this.  And that would be Fate.   Don't do it.  You matter.   And most of all, sod 'em.   This is your life, as much as it is your death, and there is always a third way unforeseen until you attempt the audacious.

Here is the wording for your death note:

'Today I was going to kill myself.   Today, I will.  But not that part of me that lives and breathes. Only that which has been straining to breathe, yet chokes on the cards dealt to me.   Today instead, I will take the first deep and long breath of many, and today I am going to find out what living means.  And I will be fabulous.

Watch me fly.

yours
That Beautiful Person you used to call The Sad One
xxxxx'

And on the off-chance you need more than my prose to keep this show on the road, then please make like Alice and CLICK ME.  Good luck.

However, then Britain's most insidious tabloid actually reproduced the Tweeted photographs of the young Tory campaigner, so that we could gasp in shock and outrage at someone in suspenders daring to express an opinion regarding politics.  Instead, every undiscerning Death Note fan out there (i.e. those daft enough to read the Daily Mail) and the folk catching it on social media later all frowned in abject familiarity.

Ms Muttik was wearing Misa Amane cosplay.  She was even holding Misa-Misa's replica Death Note.  The clues were there.  In a secondary cited picture, she's even got shinigami eyes, hopefully courtesy of contact lenses.

Thus raising a much more pertinent question - the British Conservative Party have a Death Note?  And a second Kira to wield it on their side?!

Looking to debate Death Note with fellow political scientists and sociologists?  If you're a student or associate of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, you can do just that with an event scheduled for later this month.

Death Note is the subject of the first in a month long analysis of anime at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).  Members of the prestigious university's Political and Social Science Department (Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales) will be meeting to debate aspects of the show.

Their Death Note analysis and debate event will be held on November 17th 2015, at 1pm, in the Lucio Mendieta y Núñez Room, at UNAM's campus in Mexico City. 

It's unclear whether members of the public are also free to attend.  If you wish to participate, then contacting the faculty itself may be the way forward.

If you find out - on behalf of everybody else - please do report back and we'll update this accordingly.

There's a poignant, sick scene in the anime Death Parade, which might include an extra-curricular glimpse of Light Yagami.

Fandom noted and not confirmed by the show's creators. But with enough there to make us all wonder if it could actually be a thing.

Death Parade takes place in a strange outpost of the Afterlife.

Individuals dying at the exact same time may find themselves in bars, where they are forced to participate in games to determine their everlasting Fate. Arbiters doubling as bartenders judge the outcome.

In episode 11, Memento Mori, a character named Mayu is given the option of condemning a complete stranger to eternity in the Void. If she complies, then she may retrieve her lover Harada's soul, that he might regain it and they can continue on together.

But look  at the stranger...

That Mayu does in fact send this Kira lookalike Death Parade stranger into the Void is actually consistent with the canon Death Note storyline.

According to Ryuk - and indeed Death Note Rule 2.3 - no-one owning and using a Shinigami's notebook may continue on to Heaven or Hell upon their own demise. Instead the like of Light Yagami will end up in Mu (Nothingness).

Which sounds very much akin to Death Parade's Void, or even the bars themselves.  Those hospitalities end up acting like reception rooms for those about to be lost to that infinite nothingness. It's a rare soul who manages to escape that eventuality, no matter how many games they play.

Not even Mayu and Harada really get away. 

Could a post-Death Note Kira be sitting in a bar, as a final addendum to his own story?  Not such an unlikely proposition as you might think, when you factor in that Death Parade is produced by Madhouse. 

Madhouse was also behind the production of Death Note as an anime, adapted from the manga.

It's a company for which Nippon TV owns a 95% share.  NTV recently utilized its own rights to the story and characters. It was behind the live-action Death Note (2015) television drama.

Hold on, it gets weirder - or more inclined towards an in-joke, if that really is canon Kira in the Afterlife.

Look again more closely at what is being said at the time that the lookalike Light Yagami is shown in Death Parade.  Harada may only live if Kira dies. So who do we (or, to be fair, Mayu) choose to survive this storyline?

It may illuminate or amuse you to note that Light and Harada are both voiced, in their respective anime, by Mamoru Miyano.

The voice actor would struggle to bring Harada audibly to life, if recording lines for Kira was a current pre-occupation of his career.  One would imagine that he'd be pushed for time, taking on such a main role.

So yeah, Harada's unmuted anime soul really was quite dependent upon Light being lost to the Void.

Or a random stranger, whomever he might be.

Death Note will be the main attraction for GEM - a brand, new television channel launched across Asia on October 1st 2015.

GEM marks a collaboration between Nippon TV (NTV) and Sony Pictures Television (SPT), each of which are bringing their biggest shows to air to Asian audiences.

NTV chose its television Death Note drama, recently broadcast in Japan and streamed on-line around the world, to act as its flagship for GEM's launch. Also on offer to viewers is another drama entitled Angel Heart; season two of Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out; and a Chinese romance series called Lady & Liar.

A hallmark of the channel will be its emphasis upon Asian content.

At a press conference to announce GEM's opening content, NTV's International Business Development divisional President Yukiko Kimishima told reporters:

So, do you reckon Asia is going to like Death Note?  Wry smile. 

Though I suppose there might be the odd one or two who haven't heard of it. Under their rock. And perhaps a handful more who never saw Death Note's 2015 TV dramatisation. They're all in for a treat.

The intrepid Mayagami contacted me recently to ask if it was possible to translate Death Note News into Bahasa.

Well, when I say recently, what I mean was she asked ages ago, but her email got caught up in my blocked contact form system. Hence I only read it recently.

Naturally I gave the nod and Mayagami wasted no time in translating Death Note News for her Indonesian readership.

You can read Mayagami's Bahasa Death Note News here.