Light Yagami

Appearance

Light is a young man, standing at above average height with light-brown hair and brown eyes. During Part I, when not wearing his school uniform, which consists of a tan suit and red tie, he dresses fairly casually, sometimes sporting a dress shirt underneath a jacket or a V-neck sweater with a collared t-shirt underneath. During Part II, if not wearing a similar style of clothes, he is seen wearing a suit.

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

Character

Ch1 academic achievements Light receiving constant praise for his achievements may have contributed to his boredom and hubris. Light is characterized as hardworking, talented, and a natural genius. Highly perceptive and good with problem-solving skills, Light is a skilled planner and good at mapping out scenarios. Furthermore, Light is very popular among his peers and adored by his family members. However, his high intelligence, academic achievements, and constant praise from adults laid the foundation for an innate hubris and arrogance that quickly escalated after he adopted the role of Kira. Light also struggled with a feeling of boredom that was quelled once he began using the notebook.

Similar to his father, Soichiro, Light has a strong sense of justice, but this quickly becomes warped after he becomes tainted by the Death Note’s power. Believing the world to be "rotten," he uses the notebook as a means by which he can enact his will to rid the world of evil people. As KIRA, Light's main goal is to create a new world free of injustice, populated only with people whom he deems honest and kind, and to rule this new world as its "God." Despite knowing the criminality of murder, Light would consider his actions the ultimate "sacrifice" to make the world a better place.

Ch 62 Even after being corrupted by the Death Note, Light continues to show 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, though his actions do put his family in harm’s way, he continues to show love and genuine concern for them. This is demonstrated when his sister Sayu is kidnapped and held for ransom. Light prevents Soichiro from taking drastic action in order to keep Sayu safe, in spite of knowingly increasing Mello's chances of obtaining the Death Note.

Additionally, the series shows that Light was not born remorseless. After relinquishing the notebook and losing his memories to temporarily avoid suspicion, Light demonstrates compassion, a reluctance to manipulate others, and an intense unwillingness to kill. Once his memories return, however, he reverts to his ruthless KIRA persona and remains that way until his death.

Death Note 37 Final In the anime, Light appears to reflect on his actions before his death. The degree of Light's hubris and ruthlessness varies with adaptation. In the manga, Japanese films, musicals, and anime (at least before the final episode), Light is steadfast 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 on in the series when he resolves, quickly and without hesitation, to kill FBI agent Raye Penber for tailing him, despite Raye not being a criminal. However, in the final episode of the anime, Light, defeated by Near and in critical condition as he tries to evade capture, appears sorrowful as he reflects on his high school self, seemingly during the moment he picked up the notebook. His true emotions regarding this reminiscence, however, are left ambiguous.[5]

Light's hubris and ruthlessness are especially downplayed in the drama and Netflix film adaptation. In these continuities, he appears less confident, demonstrates hesitation in killing the FBI agents investigating him, and even considers abandoning his mission when feeling cornered. Nevertheless, across adaptations, Light has consistently been portrayed as an idealist willing to go through extreme measures to defend his idea of justice. ADVERTISEMENT

History

Light grew up in Japan with his family, which consists of his father, Soichiro Yagami, who is a member of the Japanese Task Force (an investigation team opposing Kira), his mother, Sachiko Yagami, and his younger sister, Sayu Yagami.

At the start of the series, Light is a third-year high school student (12th Grade) at Daikoku Private Academy and also attends supplemental classes at Gamou Prep Academy in the beginning of the story. He later attends college at To-Oh University (東応大学, Tōō Daigaku).