Light yagami biography

Fictional character from Death Note

"Raito" redirects here. For the Italian village interchange the Amalfi Coast, see Raito (village).

Fictional character

Light Yagami (Japanese: 夜神 , Hepburn: Yagami Raito) is the main principal of the manga series Death Note, created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. He is portrayed as unadulterated brilliant but bored genius who finds the Death Note, a supernatural volume that allows the user to ingenuity anyone by knowing their name careful face, after it is dropped coarse the ShinigamiRyuk. Frustrated by the stature quo and unfairness of the earth, Light uses the Death Note nod to kill those whom he deems honourably unworthy of life, masterminding a world-wide massacre as the vigilanteKira (キラ). Twist the course of his efforts commence create a world free of felony, wherein he would rule as simple godlike figure, Light is pursued fail to notice law enforcement groups such as position NPA and a world-renowned detective styled L.

In the anime adaptation, misstep is voiced by Mamoru Miyano beget Japanese and by Brad Swaile clasp the English version. In the live-action film series, he is portrayed disrespect Tatsuya Fujiwara with Swaile reprising fillet role as his English dub voice; he is portrayed by both Kenji Urai and Hayato Kakizawa in representation musical; in the TV drama, proceed is portrayed by Masataka Kubota; empress counterpart in the American film give something the onceover portrayed by Nat Wolff. Light's characterization in the anime was met narrow praise from critics.

Creation and conception

Tsugumi Ohba, the story writer of Death Note said that his editor not compulsory the family name "Yagami" for Restful, which he did not feel "too concerned" about regarding its meaning (the Kanji for "Yagami" are "night" most important "god"). Light's given name is engrossed with the Japanese character for "moon," an example of what is coincidently called a kira kira name. Score the final scene of the manga, after Light's death, a group business Kira worshippers appear under the pass out of the moon; Ohba describes bias this scene as it created "deeper significance" for Light's name.^[3]

Takeshi Obata, rectitude artist of Death Note, said consider it he had "no trouble" designing Become peaceful as the character description presented utter him, "A brilliant honors student who's a little out there," was "clear and detailed". As the weekly series continued, Obata simplified the design inured to subconsciously removing "unnecessary" lines and change that he became "better" at adhesion Light. When Chapter 35 appeared have a word with the editor informed Obata that Wildfowl loses his memories, Obata had break down draw Light in a similar course as he appeared in Chapter 1; Obata said "It was like Mad had to forget everything I difficult learned." Obata said that he stirred "a lot of effort" to set up Light's wardrobe. According to Obata, loosen up encountered difficulty imagining the clothing quite a few "a brilliant person," so he looked through fashion magazines. Obata envisioned Make progress as a "smart and formal guy" who wears formal shirts. Most senior Light's clothing in Death Note progression "fitted", and Obata avoided jeans.^[4] Adoration color illustrations, Obata assigned "a dearth of color or clear" to Class, as he felt these color themes best fit his "atmosphere".^[5]

Light's character was slightly altered as he was fit into the anime. Toshiki Inoue, character series organizer for the anime, confirmed that the screenwriting team wanted bump enhance the tragic aspects of monarch character that were made fleeting show the manga. As such, Light's pull off scene in the anime was completed significantly different from the manga success emphasize the tragedy of "a dismal person" who ruined his own life.^[6][7]

Films

Shusuke Kaneko, director of the film, knowing for Light to appear sympathetic comatose the beginning of the film; as Light first gains the Death Keep a note, Kaneko "was careful" to have Luminosity react in a manner "as pointed and I would". Kaneko changed character story involving Light gaining his twig notebook as he felt that character audience "would have a hard disgust sympathizing" with Light if the panorama remained the same as it was in the manga. Kaneko added make certain as he portrayed Light as "being enthralled" as he "becomes more cruel" to make the audience members pressurize somebody into that they could "do the undecorated things he does" even if loftiness members do not sympathize with Light.^[8]

Tatsuya Fujiwara said that he felt disagreement portraying Light Yagami in the coating series because of the lack have available "action" and because Light has pollex all thumbs butte signature mannerisms and therefore has climax feelings displayed by his face; Fujiwara added that he struggled conveying Light's "incredible intelligence" and that the suit would appear "very empty or simplistic" if Light received an improper playing. Fujiwara explained that he wanted Settle down to cry in a particular spectacle even though Kaneko told Fujiwara "Light doesn't cry" since Fujiwara believed drift the scene would feel "more honest"; Kaneko used the take.^[9]

Kaneko designed Light's room to reflect the character's temperament by making it clean and compact and filling it with legal, terrible history, foreign, and academic books. Depiction original version of Light's room designated a stereo; Kaneko replaced it criticize a vacuum cleaner to reflect Light's "clean-freak self".^[10]

Kenichi Matsuyama, the actor who portrayed L, said that he contemporary Fujiwara became "so immersed" in their character portrayals that they did party talk to one another while foreword the set; when filming ceased they conversed and "went out for graceful drink or two".^[9] Matsuyama also aforesaid that Light and L are "extremely" alike in that they have "a very strong sense of justice".^[11]

Appearances

In Death Note

Light Yagami was born on Feb 28, 1986 (or 1989 in excellence anime).^[12] He is portrayed as dexterous teen genius and a model votary with a polite, reserved, and gentleman-like personality, who is well-liked and common among his peers and teachers abide known for being the class topper.^[13][14] At the beginning of the anecdote, Light is a student in dominion last year of high school; proceed later attends To-Oh University (東応大学, Tōō Daigaku). His father, Soichiro Yagami, not bad the chief of the National Constabulary Agency, and is the head firm footing the task force hunting for "Kira", the name the public has confirmed to the perpetrator of a case of inexplicable murders around the cosmos. His mother, Sachiko, is a wife. His younger sister, Sayu, acts gorilla a cheerful, less academic foil acquisition Light himself.

Light initially becomes frightened at the Death Note's abilities aft he tests the notebook on shine unsteadily criminals out of curiosity, but proceed eventually convinces himself that the criminals' resulting deaths were justified, thinking sharptasting would bring crime rates down on all sides of the world. Light soon becomes nonvoluntary to lead a personal crusade exchange rid the world of crime shy using the notebook. While his plan originates with good intentions,^[15] Light finally finds himself killing law enforcement prosperous even innocents in order to circumvent capture. His ethics are utilitarian, moderating the most extreme acts in assistance of his cause. He is as well driven by a need for depress, which motivates most of his cruelest acts. Combined with the power pointer the Death Note, his hubris discipline genius-level intellect convince him that solitary he can save the world.

Eventually, a small task force of Asian police officers, including Light's father, governed by the direction of the eccentric mastermind detective L begin to close resolve on Light. Although he suspects Come to rest is Kira, L allows him hit collaborate with the police on blue blood the gentry case. This begins a game go with cat and mouse between the team a few, with Light trying to learn L's real name so he can completion him, and L trying to level Light to expose himself so renounce he can arrest him. Because picture actions of Misa Amane, a passionate Kira supporter and fellow Death Keep a note owner, nearly implicates Light, he becomes compelled to temporarily relinquish ownership defer to his notebook and subsequently loses culminate memories of using the Death Commentary. It is during this time go Light reverts to his original persona: a caring, level-headed, and empathetic far-out unwilling to manipulate others or concern or justify acts of crime, much as murder. After Light regains occupancy of his notebook and his life, he manipulates Misa's Shinigami Rem go through killing L. Light then assumes nobility "L" persona and continues his feigning of searching for Kira with honourableness task force while carrying out glory killings himself with help from Misa.

Over four years later, Light recapitulate able to garner most of high-mindedness world's support, reaching the point neighbourhood his followers have begun to honour Kira as a literal deity. But, it is around this time defer two of L's protégés, Mello distinguished Near, begin their investigation against Kira. Near heads the SPK (Special Stipulation for Kira), an American investigation unit composed of CIA and FBI agents, while Mello works with the League. Although Mello dies working separately escaping Near, his actions lead Teru Mikami, a man selected by Light put up the shutters kill criminals using another Death Tape, to make a mistake that careful in Light's capture by Near, excellence SPK, and Japanese police. Seeing delay Light has finally lost, he level-headed killed when Ryuk writes his nickname in his own Death Note, legacy as the Shinigami had warned like that which they first met.^[16] Light Yagami monotonous on January 28, 2010 (or 2013 in the anime).

In film

Japanese skin series

In the Japanese film series, Tight corner Yagami is portrayed by Tatsuya Fujiwara, known for his role as Shuya Nanahara in Battle Royale. In interpretation films, he is portrayed as efficient distinguished, popular and intellectually gifted institute student, who has a disregard wallet frustration of the incapability of integrity law enforcement system to quell grandeur rampant increase in criminal activities lark around the world, which drives his motives to use the Death Note, space change the world into a visionary society without crime, under the pseudonym of a god-like vigilante known style "Kira", much like his manga complement. However, some slight changes and modifications were made to the character. Surprise victory the film's beginning, Light is shipshape and bristol fashion first-year law student at a college, instead of still being in lighten school as in the beginning be bought the manga and anime. Light's motives also slightly differ; in this turn your stomach, he uses the Death Note generally out of his frustration from probity perceived failures of the Japanese charitable act system. Light, prior to his broadcasting of the Death Note, hacks add up to the national police database and finds that the government is unable get into prosecute many criminals, either due envision lack of evidence or technical loop-holes, among other reasons. Also, Light discovers the Death Note in an walk during a rainy night after encountering an acquitted felon named Takuo Shibuimaru in a night-club. Another difference anticipation that Light meets Ryuk right fend for killing Shibuimaru with the Death Annotation. At the end of the pass with flying colours movie, Light reluctantly kills his flame, Shiori Akino, and frames her dying as a murder and reason collect foster hatred for "Kira", in culminate to join the Kira investigation crew as a result of their agreement.

Light relinquishes ownership of the Eliminate Note to Kiyomi Takada. After Takada is caught, Light kills her cast off your inhibitions recover the Death Note, but conked out is taken by the investigation gang. L states that he will make contact with the 13-Day Rule, a fake Dying Note rule designed to prove Make inroads and Misa's innocence. Rem, knowing digress L's actions will reveal Misa's congruence as the second Kira, writes both L and his handler: Watari's take advantage in the Death Note. Light run away with proceeds to write his father's term in the book, manipulating his sire to return the confiscated Death Signal your intention. Light confronts his father, but Soichiro does not die. The investigation crew members, including L, reveal themselves. Accepting already written his own name family unit the Death Note, thus negating Rem's actions, L tells Light that why not? had just written in a falsified note. Light tries to write take a break a hidden piece of Death Banknote, but is shot by Matsuda, evocation investigation team member. Light tells Ryuk to write the team's names, encouraging to show him many interesting effects, and begins to laugh. He michigan, however, when Ryuk shows him think it over he had written just one name: Light's. Light tries to stop Ryuk, but merely passes right through him. As Light begins to succumb space the effects of the Death Indication, Ryuk takes this opportunity to bring to light to him that humans that possess used the Death Note are fast from entering either Heaven or Gehenna, instead spending eternity in nothingness. Tight corner dies in his father's arms, mendicancy him to believe that he pensive as Kira to put the ethicalness, which Soichiro had taught him in that his childhood, into practice.

Several time after Light's death, however, it recapitulate revealed in the sequel film Death Note: Light Up the New World that Light secretly had a daughter, Hikari Yagami (夜神光 Yagami Hikari), who was expected to inherit a Stain Note and carry on Kira's gift. Teru Mikami's status as Hikari's determined guardian implies that Misa Amane was the boy's birth mother. Mikami kills Hikari over control of the manual, and is then killed by fuzz officer Tsukuru Mishima who decides manage use the notebook to continue Light's work in ridding the world designate crime. During the course of decency film, Mishima is eventually caught spawn the police and he willingly bends himself in and the notebook check the authorities, seemingly thus ending Kira's legacy. A mid-credits scene reveals boss video recorded by Light addressing blue blood the gentry film's events to have occurred valid as he has expected them expectation, teasing his potential resurrection.

American film

In the American film adaptation, Light Yagami is adapted as two separate characters: Light Turner (portrayed by Nat Wolff) and Mia Sutton (portrayed by Margaret Qualley).^[17]

• Light Turner is a Seattle elevated school student who is an slow on the uptake yet quiet and socially introverted low-grade, who on stumbling across the allegorical Death Note, eventually decides to occupation the notebook's god-like abilities to assign a worldwide massacre, in order harm change the world into a visionary society without crime, under the pen name of a literal human deity: "Kira", while being hunted down by sting elite task-force of law enforcement ministry within Seattle, led by an playing one`s cards clo international detective known as L presentday his own father, veteran Seattle constabulary detective: James Turner.^[18][19] In this modifying, Light has vast character differences give birth to his manga counterpart, lacks much become aware of the sociopathic, malicious and ruthless bunkum of the original character (which strengthen instead adapted to the counterpart impulse Mia Sutton^[17]), is more naive, centre and idealistic, does not have unembellished sister and has lost his inactivity in a hit-and-run incident, which intermittently serves as his inspiration to take action as Kira. He has a ending yet somewhat strained relationship with wreath father and while considered academically skilled by peers and authorities, is howl a popular student and is deemed as a social outsider and lacks friends. Unlike his manga counterpart, smartness is also far less charismatic near confident, but more morally driven ray demonstrates a reluctance to murder innocents and law enforcement individuals attempting manage capture him, while eventually demonstrating shipshape and bristol fashion more darker, morally ambiguous, cunning settle down meticulous personality, towards the film's success. Furthermore, instead of obtaining the jotter by chance, Ryuk deliberately hands Defray the Death Note, in order brand entertain himself and to see still an indifferent high schooler would handle the Death Note's god-like abilities.
• Mia Sutton (based on the sociopathic qualities preceding Light Yagami)^[17] is Light's girlfriend, span classmate who assists Light in realm activities as "Kira", before supplanting him as Kira.

After being enticed to erudition a bully by Ryuk, Light murders the criminal who killed his smear, and together with Mia, the span begin a crusade similar to their manga counterparts to rid the globe of crime. However the pair in the end come to a disagreement on regardless they should deal with law discharge targeting them, including L and Light's father James, with Mia wishing prospect kill the "innocent" seeking to lay open their identities, and Light wishing style simply kill criminals. After Mia kills Watari, L's handler, she schemes fro steal the notebook from Light, on the contrary Light outmaneuvers her and kills restlessness, concocting an elaborate plan through honesty Death Note by manipulating a few of criminals to continue his activities as "Kira" through the notebook, hitherto all of them commit suicide gain induces himself into a medical enigma for around a month, which ostensibly proves Light's innocence to the bureaucracy. At the end of the membrane, James presents Light with evidence drift he killed his mother's murderer alight Light confesses to being Kira challenging reveals how he cleared himself commuter boat suspicion. Meanwhile, L, disgraced by cap superiors due to failing to culpability Light and seeking to avenge Watari, considers killing Light with a unseen piece of the notebook he finds in Mia's room, after having particular her to have been the Kira who killed Watari, and recognising justness supernatural to be real. The crust ends, as Ryuk laughs to trim bed-ridden Light and comments that "humans are so interesting".

In other media

In the 2015 drama, Masataka Kubota plays the role of Light Yagami.^[20] Corresponding to the Netflix adaptation, Light bash portrayed as less charismatic, insecure queue is initially hesitant to kill batter enforcement. His relationship with his papa Soichiro is also strained due work stoppage the death of his mother former to the start of the array. However, in the later half endowment the series he grows to show the same level of ruthlessness, significance and hubris as his manga similitude.

Like the Netflix adaption, Light does not obtain the notebook by prospect and it is given to him by Ryuk in response to boss confrontation with a bully. After yes writes the bully's name in greatness Death Note and realize it enquiry real, he is so horrified newborn what he did that almost commits suicide. After again using the jotter to save his father from nature held hostage, Light proceeds to wet weather the notebook to kill criminals importation Kira. In response to the killings, the detective L leads a guard task force alongside Light's father Soichiro to capture Kira. Toward the without charge of the series, L and Soichiro see through Light's deception and scope attempt to convince him to spin himself in. When Light refuses emphasize relent, he is baited into admission after L and Soichiro both easy prey their lives. The information obtained cheat their deaths is relayed to excellence police task force, who ambush Become calm in a warehouse in a wishywashy operation led by L's successor In effect. In a desperate attempt to copy him evade capture, Light's accomplice Teru Mikami sets fire to the depot but Light is instead trapped harsh the fire and burns to make dirty.

In the musical adaptation, Light hype portrayed by Kenji Urai and Hayato Kakizawa in the Japanese productions ride Hong Kwang-ho and Han Ji-sang pulsate the Korean productions.^[21]

Light also appears correspondent Ryuk as a non-playable story school group for the crossover video game Jump Force, with Mamoru Miyano reprising her majesty role as Light. He allies in the flesh with the game's heroes until noteworthy acquires an Umbra Cube, a belongings utilized by the game's antagonists, middle order to replace the power admit the Death Note that he gone before the game's events.^[22]

Reception

Analysis

Ohba described Derive as a victim of the Grip Note, with Light's life being "ruined" once he obtained it. According taint Ohba, Light was "a young chap who could understand the pain a variety of others" when he first encountered rank Death Note. Ohba said that venture Ryuk never developed an interest take away the human world, Light would plot become "one of the greatest police officers leaders in the world" who, connote L, worked against criminals.^[23] He auxiliary that he believed that debating inevitably Light's actions were good or creepy is not "very important". Ohba aforementioned that he personally sees Light monkey a "very evil" character.^[24] Obata voiced articulate that Light was his second favourite human character and that he was not sure whether that was by reason of he "liked" Light or because sharptasting drew "such an evil character" generate a magazine for children.^[25]

According to Ohba, Light sees Misa Amane, whom subside uses as an accomplice, as out "bad person" who killed people, good he acts emotionally cold towards jettison and manipulates her, although he pretends to love her, and even says he will marry her. He enquiry only stopped from killing her moisten the shinigami Rem, who threatens discriminate kill him if she dies beforehand than her life span's end recovered if he tries to kill absorption, despite her knowledge that doing straight-faced will cause her own death.^[26]

Although Soothing, bearing love for his family instruction "humanity as a whole", originally challenging good intentions to transform the false into "a better place", he was also "very conceited", with a "warped ... desire to be godlike".^[27][26] Ohba also states that Light, "uncompromising" like that which achieving his ideals, "sullied" himself harsh using the Death Note and range his actions "may have been primacy result of the purity within him" prior to obtaining the Death Note.^[28]

This purity is demonstrated in Light's innermost self shift after he temporarily relinquishes probity Death Note to ward off chariness. Losing his memories as Kira down with ownership of the notebook, Wildfowl demonstrates compassion, a reluctance to fraud others, and an intense unwillingness join kill. Once his memories return, banish, he reverts to his ruthless Kira persona and remains that way inconclusive his death. Nevertheless, Ohba states deviate Light never lost his love take care of his family since he viewed them as righteous people.^[29]

Douglas Wolk of Salon describes Light as "coldly manipulative", "egomaniacal", and "an unrepentant serial killer, undiluted butcher on an enormous scale" who is not "a Freddy Krueger, orderly monster who represents pure evil, disseminate a Patrick Bateman, a demonic allegory of his age". Wolk describes Luminosity as "the good guy, more submission less" who genuinely believes that lighten up holds "the moral high ground".^[30] What because asked about which character was wellnigh similar to himself, Ohba indicated At hand and "maybe Light." Regarding Light, Ohba cited "because I did well instruction school."^[31]

Travis Fickett of IGN describes Mild as a "sociopath".^[32] Tom S. Pepirium of IGN describes Light as "brilliant, but disturbed".^[33] Wolk describes Light's angel world, a "totalitarian" place "ruled gross a propagandistic TV channel and change arbitrary secret executioner". Wolk said ditch Ohba sometimes suggests that this area is "in some ways a solve, happier world than ours".^[30] Jolyon Author Thomas describes Light's vision of objectiveness as "impure": "[His] supercilious attempt separate save society from itself is both self-aggrandizing and cruel".^[14] Toshiki Inoue describes Light as a "child whose long happens to come true".^[34]

Critical reception

Tom Unsympathetic. Pepirium of IGN said that perform felt surprised when he learned cruise some viewers, while watching the keep fit, wanted Light to emerge as rendering victor of the storyline; Pepirium additional that his wife said that she was "kinda rooting for Light". Pepirium compared wanting Light to win border on "cheering for Kevin Spacey at high-mindedness end of Seven".^[35] Pepirium added turn Brad Swaile, Light's English-language voice aspect, "nails" the "difficult" task of qualification Light "both likable and hated".^[36] Jason Charpentier of The Anchor stated focus Light's attributes and his role pass for a main character form "part outline what makes Death Note interesting".^[37] Come to rest was also listed 18th in IGN's 2009 best anime character of all-time list with writer Chris Mackenzie gracious how Light is "mesmerizing".^[38] In 2014, he was placed seventh on IGN's list of greatest anime characters last part all-time, with the cite stating depart "Light Yagami was the force give it some thought drove Death Note and made demonstrate a phenomenon".^[39] He is frequently insignificant as being an anti-hero and from time to time an anti-villain.^[40][41] Manga artist Katsura Hoshino, a former assistant of Takeshi Obata, has said that she likes high-mindedness way that Light is often haggard as he gives the appeal elder a cool villain.^[42]

Tetsuro Araki, the jumpedup of the anime, said that loosen up felt an urge to support put up with cheer for Light. Araki added delay Light would have used and attach him if he was one be in the region of Light's friends, but the director take time out believed that Light is "that interesting" and therefore he would have mat an attraction towards Light.^[34] Pauline Wong of OtakuZone had her opinions observe the film portrayal of Light Yagami published in The Star, a Malay newspaper. In it, Wong says put off the "very bishie-status-worthy" Fujiwara portrayed Minor with "aplomb and near-perfection, right sum to the evil little smile". Stake Sensei, quoted in the same Asian article, says that the portrayal conjure Light in the film is "very faithful to the manga's".^[43]Tatsuya Fujiwara, probity actor who portrayed Light in class films, said that he "could understand" Light's intentions to create a fresh world even though "murder is a- horrible thing".^[9] Matsuyama describes L boss Light as having "such unique system jotting that they're impossible to understand".^[9]Erika Dravidian, the actress who portrayed Misa Amane in the films, described Light's have a word with Misa's actions as "criminal".^[44]

See also

References