| Light Yagami is the main protagonist of Death Note. A top-ranking student who finds a preternatural notebook, belonging to a shinigami, on the pavement outside his high school. The eponymous Death Note has properties wherein any name written inside it will cause the person to die, as long as their facial features are also envisaged at the time of writing. At first disbelieving that the book was anything more than a sick prank, Light quickly discovered its truth in all claims scrawled as rules amidst its pages. Two people are killed after he followed those instructions to add their identities to his Death Note. Now understanding that he was in possession of a powerful force, Light targets criminals and other corrupt members of society. Slowly assuming the mantle of his self-professed title: the God of this New World; known on-line, then elsewhere as Kira. However, his bid for global domination - in pursuit of 'improving' a 'rotten world' made 'safe' for all law-abiding citizens - does not go unchecked. The world's police forces are mobilized, alongside the renowned, yet enigmatic detective L, and his successors, Mello and Near. While Light Yagami, as Kira, remains convinced he represents a force for good and justice, not everyone is convinced. Nevertheless, there are others who will create whole religions surrounding him. |  |
The Names of Light Yagami Death Note's main character is alternatively known as: | キラー Kira The First Kira Lord Kira L-Kira L The Second L | 朝日月 Light Asashi Asashi Light Raito Asashi Asashi Raito God God of the New World Kami-Sama |
Kira's Vital Statistics  | Hair Colour: Brown Height: 5' 10" (179cm) | Eye Colour: Brown Weight: 10 stone 7lbs (141lbs; 64.1kg) | Occupation: Schoolboy; student; serial killer; detective; deity (disputed) Relationship Status: Single at start; engaged to Misa Amane by end |
The Family of Light Yagami
 Light Yagami's nuclear family are all known from Death Note. His involvement with the shinigami notebook and his reign of terror as Kira has a profound effect upon his closest kin. Ultimately leaving two dead; one catatonic with trauma; and one utterly bereft. |
 Light's sibling Sayu Yagami |
Key Dates for Kira
| February 28th 1986: February 28th 1989: January 28th 2010: July 10th 2010: January 28th 2013: | Light Yagami born Light Yagami born Light Yagami killed Light Yagami killed Light Yagami killed | Manga Anime Manga Movie - L: Change the World Anime |
Light's Lifespan as Seen by Shinigami Ryuk in Death Note
 |  Death Note's Light Yagami should not have died on January 28th of any year, nor even July 10th 2010 of the movie rendering. Light's true lifespan was revealed through the eyes of a Death God, glimpsed by readers/viewers as Ryuk explained the nature of shinigami eyes and offered to make a deal. 9 3 31 2 6 3 9 - Light's dates in the manga; 9 3 31 26 3 9 in the anime. |
There's a conundrum here for Death Note mathematicians. In How to Read: Death Note 13, author Tsugumi Ohba told of how he devised a complicated formula to arrive at the Shinigami numbers for Light Yagami's lifespan. Then promptly forgot what it was. When it came to showing those Death God dates for the lives of other Death Note characters later in the story, the numbers shown were just random. Takeshi Obata picked out ones he liked, when he came to ink the panels.
Though we know when Kira died in the narrative, we cannot know when he was meant to have died. The very nature of Death Note's shinigami means that Ryuk curtailed that life ahead of time. He then kept for himself the years of Light's life that were thus rendered unlived by the man himself.
Without that key bit of information, presumably Ohba's algorithm can never be retrospectively engineered from the figures of Light Yagami's lifespan. Unless some mathematician reading is wiser on the subject than I.
Though we know when Kira died in the narrative, we cannot know when he was meant to have died. The very nature of Death Note's shinigami means that Ryuk curtailed that life ahead of time. He then kept for himself the years of Light's life that were thus rendered unlived by the man himself.
Without that key bit of information, presumably Ohba's algorithm can never be retrospectively engineered from the figures of Light Yagami's lifespan. Unless some mathematician reading is wiser on the subject than I.
Auguries of Kira
 Born on February 28th, astrologically Light Yagami is Pisces |  Light's birth date of February 28th 1986 (manga) also factors into Shēngxiào. Kira is a Fire Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac |  However, the time-slip of the anime would have him born in 1989 instead. That means that now in the Chinese Zodiac Light Yagami is an Earth Snake |  How to Read: Death Note 13 reveals that Light Yagami's blood group is A |
And what does it all mean? Hopefully somebody will be along soon to tell us! By which we mean we have no idea. Do you?
Educating Kira - The Schooling of Light Yagami
Light attended Daikoku Private Academy - he was in the third year (12th grade) when Death Note began. He was also taking extra classes at Gamou Prep Academy. Later, he entered To-Oh University.
Death Note's protagonist was not merely intelligent, but the top-ranking student in the entire of Japan. A genius to meet L's mind. And indeed, tennis racket. Those watching the match between the pair noted that Light Yagami had been Junior High School Tennis Champion in both 1999 and 2000. He quit the game upon moving onto his high school in Daikoku, as he wished to concentrate on his studies.
Later achievements included world domination and becoming the self-styled God of this New World.
Death Note's protagonist was not merely intelligent, but the top-ranking student in the entire of Japan. A genius to meet L's mind. And indeed, tennis racket. Those watching the match between the pair noted that Light Yagami had been Junior High School Tennis Champion in both 1999 and 2000. He quit the game upon moving onto his high school in Daikoku, as he wished to concentrate on his studies.
Later achievements included world domination and becoming the self-styled God of this New World.
Death Note Anime - Light and L Play Tennis
A Divine Persona? The Personality of Death Note's Kira
Light Yagami is generally seen as hard-working and studious. A serious student with a rare and rather prosaic sense of humour.
The TV drama version followed bands around to enjoy their live concerts and hung out with his friends, but all previous incarnations of Kira had little time, nor inclination, for all that. Though there are some hints that Light was a bit of a gamer. Ryuk did spot Mario Kart in his room.
Nevertheless, Light Yagami was not precisely a loner. There were no end of girlfriends awaiting his call to come and get hijacked on a bus with him, or get arrested, illegally detained and tortured in his defence. The usual dating stuff. Additionally, How to Read notes that Light's social skills were honed to perfection, alongside full marks for emotional strength, acting skills and creativity.
He only scores slightly lower for intelligence and initiative.
Unfortunately, most of his brainpower and creative attributes seems to be plunged into manipulating others in pursuit of his own uncompromising ideals. Those regarding the improvement of the world by means of mass murder and the taking over of governments through fear, ransom and blackmail tactics.
Light's chief 'like' was 'justice' and 'dislike' was 'evil'. Ironic, really? Though he believed throughout that he was not only doing the right thing, but was pre-ordained and destined to complete his slaughter as a duty. In his perception, Kira was not only good, but actually God.
The TV drama version followed bands around to enjoy their live concerts and hung out with his friends, but all previous incarnations of Kira had little time, nor inclination, for all that. Though there are some hints that Light was a bit of a gamer. Ryuk did spot Mario Kart in his room.
Nevertheless, Light Yagami was not precisely a loner. There were no end of girlfriends awaiting his call to come and get hijacked on a bus with him, or get arrested, illegally detained and tortured in his defence. The usual dating stuff. Additionally, How to Read notes that Light's social skills were honed to perfection, alongside full marks for emotional strength, acting skills and creativity.
He only scores slightly lower for intelligence and initiative.
Unfortunately, most of his brainpower and creative attributes seems to be plunged into manipulating others in pursuit of his own uncompromising ideals. Those regarding the improvement of the world by means of mass murder and the taking over of governments through fear, ransom and blackmail tactics.
Light's chief 'like' was 'justice' and 'dislike' was 'evil'. Ironic, really? Though he believed throughout that he was not only doing the right thing, but was pre-ordained and destined to complete his slaughter as a duty. In his perception, Kira was not only good, but actually God.
The Faces of Light Yagami
 Light Yagami Death Note manga  Light Yagami Death Note anime  Light Yagami Death Note official game |  Light Yagami Death Note: Relight anime  Light Yagami Death Note live action movie
Light Yagami Death Note Musical (Japan) |  Light Yagami Death Note TV drama  Light Yagami Death Note Musical (Korea)  COMING SOON Light Yagami Death Note US movie |
Kira profile posted as part of our
