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Death Note news articles

What's in a Name? The Reason Why Light Yagami is Called Kira in Death Note

10/2/2016

12 Comments

 
What's in a name? Different cultures say different things.

In Western society, names are generally chosen from the Bible. Parents name their children after angels, after Jesus himself, or they look to the Latin roots in order to choose a name fitting for their child.

Sometimes, a name is simpler than people believe.

Kira.

Kira is the name assigned to Light Yagami by the public, when criminals mysteriously began to die of heart-attacks.  But what does Kira mean?

The pseudonym Kira is written in Katakana, one of the three writing systems of Japan. Katakana is generally used when words are from a different language – whether that language be Spanish or English.
The Legend of the Savior Kira Death Note manga
Kira from Death Note anime
Kira is a Japanese Romanization of the English word ‘Killer’. When said with a Japanese accent, out-loud, the word sounds like ‘Killer’.

But why use that instead of ‘Murderer’, or the actual Japanese word for a killer? The answer?

Because it’s cooler.

In Japan, Katakana is widely regarded as “cooler” than Hiragana, the main writing system for Japanese words. Katakana originally came about when a large group of people looked at Kanji and decided that it was difficult and took a very long time to write. Katakana was largely derived off of bits and pieces of different Chinese characters. Katakana tends to look sharper and thinner than Hiragana, which tends to be bubblier.
 
In my opinion, the name Kira was given by a younger generation of Japanese people. This explains the Katakana, and explains the use of English instead of Japanese.

It is short, cool, and extremely catchy.

(Article by Renchan)


12 Comments
fredy link
6/5/2016 18:38:27

kira

Reply
Aden
2/2/2022 01:10:24

I want To role the world

Reply
Aden
2/2/2022 09:31:53

I'm the new kira now

Reply
Murielle
26/3/2017 15:38:09

Actually, I think it also is a pun.
In Japan there is a thing called "kira-kira names". It describes names that are pronounced differently from their Kanji or are written in a Kanji, but spoken like a western word. "kira-kira" (きらきら) itself means "sparkly" and, in this context, has a bad reputation - because there is no way a japanese person could guess the pronunciation of a kira-kira name from the kanji.
Back to Yagami Light (夜神 月). His first name, Light, is written like that: 月. But here's the thing: 月 actually would be pronounced tsuki (つき), meaning moon. Misa Amane even says that in the series as she researches his name: she thinks Light is called Tsuki, but then, through her internet research, finds out he is not. ライト is how his name, Light, is written in katakana - but there's no way one would know that from the kanji 月. That's why I think, that he isn't only called Kira because an english word is cooler, but also because his actual name, Light, is a kira-kira name - which I think is a very clever pun ^^

Reply
Phoebe
5/8/2017 20:36:13

The Japanese word for "Killer" is Kira. They don't have a r or l sound its more of a combination of the two!

Reply
Pierre
23/8/2020 03:58:09

Ingenious!

Reply
Hellvis
28/7/2020 17:03:19

A Latin meaning of Kira is light which I always thought was kind of humorous.

Reply
LINLIN link
8/11/2021 06:50:57

Thanks very nThanks very nice!
Do you like flowers? Do you have paper crafts in your house?
There are <a href="https://www.buygiftstore.com/collections/thanksgiving" rel=dofollow>pop up thank you cards </a>that pets like, <a href="https://www.buygiftstore.com/collections/christmas" rel=dofollow>Christmas Pop Up Card</a>, and <a href="https://www.buygiftstore.com/collections/mothers-day-greeting-cards" rel=dofollow>pop up flower bouquet</a>.
You are welcome!
ice!

Reply
Aden
2/2/2022 01:18:24

I'm Aden my year is 2007 I have a death note

Reply
Aden
2/2/2022 09:39:30

I'm Aden I'm the new kira now

Reply
Haru link
15/4/2022 08:01:45

Eu vou ser o Deus do novo mundo

Reply
Haru link
1/5/2022 15:16:58

I wanna kill everybody humans

Reply



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