DeathLight dies
- What happens
- Light dies at the end of the series.
- Why it matters
- It ends the story and the duel that began in the first part.
- Verified at
- Anime ep. 37 · Manga ch. 108
Death Note character guide
Light Yagami.
Light Yagami is a top student who finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. He uses it to punish criminals under the name Kira, and he is then hunted by the detective L. The story is the duel between the two.
- Student who finds the Death Note and becomes Kira
- Verified October 31, 2026
Quick facts
- BirthdayConfirmed
- February 28
- Birth yearDiffers by medium
- 1986 in the manga; 1989 in the animeThe Death Note Wiki lists different birth years for the two versions.
- AgeConfirmed
- 17–18 in the first part of the story; 23 after the time skip
- HeightConfirmed
- 179 cm (5 ft 10½ in)
- WeightConfirmed
- 54 kg (119 lb)
- Blood typeConfirmed
- A
- FamilyConfirmed
- Father Soichiro, mother Sachiko, younger sister Sayu
- DebutConfirmed
- Manga chapter 1, “Boredom”; anime episode 1, “Rebirth”Ep. 1 · ch. 1
- Voice actorsConfirmed
- Mamoru Miyano (Japanese); Brad Swaile (English)
Confirmed: stated in the manga, anime or official guidebooks. Estimate: approximate or derived. Unknown: not revealed.
Light Yagami’s biography
The notebook
Light is a high-school student at the top of his class who is bored with the world. He finds a notebook that the shinigami Ryuk dropped into the human world, tests it, and finds that it works. He decides to use it to rid the world of criminals. (Ep. 1 · ch. 1)
The detective L
The police and a detective known only as L begin to hunt Kira. L tests Kira with a televised broadcast, and Light kills the man who appears as L, Lind L. Tailor. Light’s own father, Soichiro, is one of the police officers working with L. (Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
Meeting L
Light and L meet in person at the university. L introduces himself, and Light realises that he cannot easily kill the man who suspects him. (Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
Misa Amane
Misa Amane and her shinigami Rem enter the story and join Light’s side of the conflict. (Ep. 11 · ch. 25)
Spoiler: The end of the first partThe end of the first part (episode 25)
The end of the first part
The first part ends with the death of L in chapter 59. The story continues with a time skip and a new set of opponents. (Ep. 25 · ch. 59)
Spoiler: The end of the storyThe rest of the story (episodes 26–37)
The end of the story
The story ends with Light’s death in the final chapter. (Ep. 37 · ch. 108)
Personality, motivations and development
Brilliant and sure he is right
Light is a top student who is confident in his intellect and in his sense of justice. The Death Note lets him act on it, and he comes to believe that he is making a better world. (Ep. 1 · ch. 1)
A skilled liar
Light is an excellent actor. Under suspicion from L and the police, he keeps up the appearance of an ordinary student and a loyal son, and the Death Note Wiki rates his acting and social skills at the top of its scale. (Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
What drives Light Yagami
- Creating a new world without criminals.
- Avoiding capture by L and the police.
- Protecting his family and himself.
Spoiler: From a bored student to a self-styled godThe rest of the story (episodes 26–37)
From a bored student to a self-styled god
The story shows Light’s growth step by step: from testing the notebook, to hiding it from L, to treating himself as the judge of the world. In the later chapters another character, Teru Mikami, calls him “God”, and the story’s final chapters turn on what Light has become.
Light Yagami’s abilities
Open an entry for its strengths, limits and where it appears. Entries describe what the story shows; they are not a power ranking.
Abilities and techniques
The Death Noteデスノート
A notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. Light finds it in chapter 1 and uses it to kill criminals.
Strengths
- Kills from any distance without being seen.
- The writer can specify how it happens.
Limits and weaknesses
- He must know the person’s face and name.
Shown in
Ep. 1 · ch. 1 · part of The Death Note
Strategy and intellect
Light plans several steps ahead. He responds to L’s test by killing the decoy, and he keeps his actions looking like an ordinary student’s.
Strengths
- Long-term planning.
- Fast responses to traps.
Limits and weaknesses
- His plans depend on L not seeing through them.
Shown in
Ep. 2 · ch. 2
Deception
Light plays the role of a loyal student and son while he is Kira. He keeps this up when L meets him in person.
Strengths
- Convincing acting under pressure.
Limits and weaknesses
- Each lie has to be maintained.
Shown in
Ep. 9 · ch. 19
Light Yagami’s relationships
Every named connection is listed here. Open a card to see how the relationship changes over the story.
Open Light Yagami in the Death Note family tree.
L
Rival · detective
Light and L are opponents: one uses the Death Note and the other tries to catch him.
- The broadcast. L tests Kira with a televised broadcast, and Light kills the man who appears as L, Lind L. Tailor.(Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
- Face to face. Light and L meet in person at the university, where L introduces himself.(Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
Spoiler: later developmentThe end of the first part (episode 25)
The end of the first part. L dies at the end of the first part of the story.(Ep. 25 · ch. 59)
Ryuk
Ally · shinigami
Ryuk is the shinigami who drops the Death Note into the human world, and he follows Light.
- The dropped notebook. Light finds the notebook Ryuk dropped, and Ryuk appears to him.(Ep. 1 · ch. 1)
Soichiro Yagami
Family · father
Soichiro Yagami is Light’s father and a police officer who works on the Kira case.
- A father on the case. Soichiro is introduced as one of the police officers working with L.(Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
Sayu Yagami
Family · younger sister
Sayu is Light’s younger sister.
- The Yagami family. Sayu is introduced in the early chapters with the rest of the family.(Ep. 2 · ch. 3)
Misa Amane
Romance · partner
Misa Amane is introduced as another person tied to the Death Notes, and she becomes Light’s partner.
- Misa appears. Misa Amane and her shinigami Rem first appear in the story.(Ep. 11 · ch. 25)
Major battles
The televised test
Result: Light kills the man who appears as L. (Ep. 2 · ch. 2)
L goes on air as a decoy to provoke Kira. Light kills the decoy, Lind L. Tailor, which tells L that Kira can kill from afar. See it on the timeline.
Light and L meet
Result: Neither reveals his hand. (Ep. 9 · ch. 19)
Light and L meet face to face at the university. L introduces himself, and the two begin a game of suspicion. See it on the timeline.
Spoiler: battleThe end of the first part (episode 25)
The end of the first part
Result: L dies and the first part of the story ends. (Ep. 25 · ch. 59)
The duel between Light and L ends with L’s death at the end of the first part. See it on the timeline.
Light Yagami timeline
- Start of the story
Light finds the Death Note
Bored with his life, Light picks up a notebook that Ryuk dropped, and tests it.
- The first weeks of the story
L’s televised test
L goes on television as a decoy, and Light kills the man who appears as L, Lind L. Tailor.
- Part I
Light and L meet in person
L approaches Light at the university and introduces himself.
- Part I
Misa Amane appears
Misa and her shinigami Rem enter the story.
- End of Part I
Hidden eventThe end of the first part (episode 25)
L dies
L dies at the end of the first part of the story.
- End of Part II
Hidden eventThe rest of the story (episodes 26–37)
Light dies
Light dies at the end of the series.
No visible events match. Raise your spoiler level or clear a filter.
Open the full Death Note timeline to filter by any character.
Status tracker: is Light Yagami alive?
Status can differ between the anime and the manga, and it can change: characters are sealed, revived or used by others. Each event below has its own spoiler protection and verified references.
Spoiler: Light Yagami’s current statusThe rest of the story (episodes 26–37)
- In the manga
- Deceased
- In the anime so far
- Deceased
Light dies at the end of the series, in chapter 108 of the manga and episode 37 of the anime.
Spoiler: status eventThe rest of the story (episodes 26–37)
Anime and manga differences
Birth year. Anime: Light is born in 1989. Manga: Light is born in 1986.
Anime and manga appearances
| Medium | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Manga | Death Note | Protagonist, chapters 1–108. |
| Anime | Death Note | Episodes 1–37 |
| Film | Death Note film series | Appears in Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name; the films change parts of the story. |
Plan your Death Note viewing
- Death Note filler list: which episodes you can skip.
- How long it takes to watch Death Note: total time and your finish date.
Death Note articles on AnimeSparks
Light Yagami FAQ
Who is Kira?
Kira is the name Light Yagami gives himself when he starts killing criminals with the Death Note.
How does Light meet L?
L approaches Light in person at the university and introduces himself, in manga chapter 19 and anime episode 9.
Spoiler questionThe rest of the story (episodes 26–37)
How does Death Note end?
Light dies at the end of the series, in manga chapter 108 and anime episode 37.
How this profile was checked
Last verified October 31, 2026. Covers Manga chapters 1–108 and anime episodes 1–37. Details are written by AnimeSparks from the manga and anime themselves, and cross-checked against the references below. Where something isn’t confirmed, the page says so.
- Death Note manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (Shueisha): Chapters cited throughout.
- Death Note anime (Madhouse): Episode numbers.
- Death Note Wiki on Fandom, “Light Yagami” and its chapter and episode pages: Birthday, ages, height, weight, debut chapter and episode, and the chapter and episode of each event; no text copied.