"I don't want to be compared to a Shinigami; I am a human using the Death Note to make the world a better place for humans." Light Yagami speaking to Ryuk (Episode 4).
Light Yagami is the primary protagonist of the series. He was the eldest son of Soichiro and Sachiko Yagami, and the older brother of Sayu Yagami. He became the owner of the Death Note.
Light finds the Death Note and uses it to kill criminals who appeared on the news, eventually becoming known in Japan as "Kira" (from the Japanese pronunciation of "Killer"). He joined the police force to get closer to his enemy, L, and eliminate him. In the end, he is killed by Ryuk's Death Note on January 28, 2010.
Appearance
Light was a young man of somewhat fragile physical appearance, quite thin at 54kg and tall at 179cm. He had longish, disheveled brown hair. His eyes were brown with fine eyebrows. He considered himself very handsome, a trait noted by Misa Amane and Kiyomi Takada.
His attire varied throughout the series; his most iconic look was his school uniform consisting of a white shirt, beige jacket and trousers, dark brown shoes, and a burgundy tie. After obtaining the Death Note, he began wearing variations of long-sleeved shirts and trousers, mostly in neutral colors. As a member of the Task Force, he typically wore light or neutral-colored suits.
Personality
Light is characterized as bored, courageous, and intelligent. At the beginning of the series, he is 17 and relies on his own logic and creativity. Frustrated by the world's "rotten" state, he seeks to enact his will and purge the world of evil.
Light uses the Death Note to cleanse the world of crime. His goal is to become the "God of the new world," populated only by those he judges to be responsible and good. While his stated purpose is noble, his methods lead society and authorities to view him as a maniacal, childish serial killer driven by ego.
As the series progresses, Light becomes increasingly ruthless and twisted, losing empathy and manipulating even his own family. He develops an extremist narcissism and megalomania, ultimately convinced he is the only one fit to judge humanity.
Overview
Ohba described Light as a young man who could understand the pain of others when he first found the Death Note, noting that without it, he would have become a great police leader working alongside L. Ohba views Light's life as having been ruined by the notebook, describing him as having good-faith intentions balanced by a vain, warped desire to be divine.
