Light Yagami

"It's not up to us to debate whether Kira is evil or not. That's for the public and philosophers to decide. We have no choice but to capture Kira. If Kira is captured, the world will return to chaos, but don't think about that. Good or evil... It all depends on the outcome. If we capture Kira, then Kira is evil. If Kira rules the world, then Kira is good." Light Yagami ("Thank you")

Light Yagami is the main protagonist of the Death Note series; he decides to use it to rid the world of criminals. His murders end up being labeled by the inhabitants of Japan as the work of "Kira".

Appearance Light is a young man of above-average height, with light brown hair and brown eyes. During Part 1, when not wearing his school uniform, which consists of a beige suit and red tie, he dresses quite casually, sometimes wearing a dress shirt under a blazer or a V-neck sweater with a turtleneck underneath. During Part II, when not wearing a similar style of clothing, he is seen wearing a suit.

He is considered quite handsome, a trait noted by Misa Amane and Kiyomi Takada, among others.

Character

(The fact that Light received constant praise for his achievements may have contributed to his boredom and arrogance.)

Light is characterized as hardworking, talented, and a natural genius. Highly perceptive and with great problem-solving skills, Light is a skilled planner and good at creating scenarios. Furthermore, Light is very popular among his peers and adored by his family. However, his high intelligence, academic achievements, and constant praise from adults laid the groundwork for an innate arrogance and presumption that intensified rapidly after he assumed the role of Kira. Light also struggled with a feeling of boredom that was alleviated as soon as he began using the notebook.

Like his father, Soichiro, Light possesses a strong sense of justice, but this is quickly distorted after being corrupted by the power of the Death Note. Believing the world is "rotten," he uses the notebook as a means to impose his will and rid the world of evil people. As Kira, Light's main goal is to create a new world free of injustice, populated only by people he considers honest and kind, and to rule this new world as his "God." Despite knowing the criminality of murder, Light considers his actions the ultimate "sacrifice" to make the world a better place.

(Even after being corrupted by the Death Note, Light continues to demonstrate a willingness to protect his family).

Through the use of the Death Note, Light quickly begins to develop a cold and ruthless nature. As a utilitarian, he will use any means necessary to achieve his goals and ambitions. However, although his actions put his family in danger, he continues to demonstrate love and genuine concern for them. This is evident when his sister Sayu is kidnapped and held hostage.

Light prevents Soichiro from taking drastic measures to keep Sayu safe, even knowing that this would increase the chances of Mello obtaining the Death Note.

Furthermore, the series shows that Light was not born without remorse. After handing over the notebook and temporarily losing his memories to avoid suspicion, Light demonstrates compassion, a reluctance to manipulate others, and an intense aversion to killing. As soon as his memories return, however, he reverts to being the ruthless Kira and remains so until his death.

(In the anime, Light appears to reflect on his actions before his death).

Light's level of arrogance and cruelty varies depending on the adaptation. In the manga, Japanese films, musicals, and anime (at least before the final episode), Light is firm in his decisions as Kira and rarely expresses any doubt or regret about his actions or utilitarian beliefs. An example of this is shown early in the series when he quickly and unequivocally decides to kill FBI agent Raye Penber for following him, despite Raye not being a criminal. However, in the anime's final episode, Light, defeated by Near and in critical condition while trying to escape capture, appears saddened as he reflects on his high school self, seemingly at the moment he picked up the notebook. His true emotions regarding this memory, however, remain ambiguous.

Light's arrogance and cruelty are especially toned down in the Netflix series and film adaptation. In these versions, he appears less confident, shows hesitation in killing the FBI agents investigating him, and even considers abandoning his mission when he feels cornered. Even so, in all adaptations, Light has consistently been portrayed as an idealist willing to resort to extreme measures to defend his idea of ​​justice.