Death Note
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is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump from the first 2004 issue, to May 2006, with 108 chapters in total. The series has been published in its entirety in 12 graphic novels. The Death Note manga has been licensed by VIZ Media and was published in graphic novel form starting in October 2005. Two Live-Action movies based on the story are currently in production, with the first one released on 17th June 2006, and the second one due in October 2006.[link]. There is also an anime based on the manga series to be released in October 2006.[link] To date, Death Note has sold 18 million copies.[link]
Plot outline
Light Yagami is a bright young high school student who has until recently led a boring and uneventful life. That changed very quickly when he found a strange notebook with the title "Death Note" lying on the ground one day in 2003. After realizing that the "Death Note" was a Shinigami's tool with the power to kill anyone whose name was written on its pages, Light decided to use it to "cleanse" the world of evil.
Soon the many unexplainable deaths of reported criminals was noticed, and Light becomes hunted by the Japanese police force and a mysterious detective known as "L". L quickly discovers that the murderer, that they decide to name "Kira", is located in Japan, and that he can kill just by knowing someone's face and name. Light realizes that L is just as cunning, if not more intelligent than himself, and begins a cat and mouse chase with L to see who will be the first to have their identities exposed.
Characters
This section contains basic information about the most important characters in Death Note, with as few spoilers as possible, though some may still be present.
- Main article: Characters of Death Note
Main characters
Both the protagonist and antagonist of Death Note, highly rare in manga storytelling field. An intelligent young man who picked up the Death Note dropped in the human world by Ryuk, a Shinigami (death god, literal translation). He decides to use the Death Note to kill all criminals, with the ultimate goal of cleansing the world of evil and creating a utopia.
After several incidents, his goal changes from creating a utopia to creating the world to his image and bending the world to his will. He now possess the power of death over both human and Shinigami, he is on his way of becoming more powerful than god.
L (Ryuuzaki)
The world's top rated detective, tasked with tracking down and arresting Kira. His disheveled appearance masks his great powers of deduction and insight. He has many quirks, such as sitting in an odd manner and snacking on sweets in the middle of meetings. His intelligence matches or exceeds Light Yagami's. He often takes drastic strategies to confuse and force his opponents.
By traditional means, L (Ryuzaki by nickname) is the main hero of the story. He has dedicated his life to catching Kira. On several occasions he willingly discloses several of his weaknesses to Kira at the risk of losing his own life in the hopes that he will lure Kira into a trap and catch him.
A young girl who has an immense crush on Kira. She is a famous model, and tends to wear clothing in Gothic Lolita style. She is hyperactive and has a tendency to refer to herself in the third person.
Misa's parents were killed on the street and the crime hasn't been solved. When she heard of Kira, a self proclaimed vigilante, that kills criminals that police and officials cannot arrest, she felt the need to be with him, to join him on his crusade against criminals.
Misa is in "love" with Light.
Shinigami (The Gods of Death)
The Shinigami who dropped a Death Note in the human world, which was subsequently picked up by Light. It was revealed that Ryuk did that out of boredom, as there was little to do in the Shinigami world. It was revealed in the fourth volume of the manga that Ryuk obtained a second death note by tricking the King of Death into giving him another one. Ryuk has a great fondness for apples. He tells Light that apples are to Shinigami as what cigarettes and alcohol are to humans; if he goes too long without one his withdrawl symptoms are that he stands on his head and twists his body into a pretzel-like shape. You see this in volume 4.
Rem
Misa's Shinigami. Rem cared deeply for Misa, and was willing to do anything to protect her from harm even if it costs her her life.
Investigation Team
A group of Japanese police officers, led by Soichiro Yagami, tracking down Kira alongside L.
Light's father and leader of the investigation team, dedicated and determined to arrest Kira at any cost. Cares a lot for his family.
The most outspoken member in the investigation team. Although most of the Investigation Team are adamant that what Kira is doing is wrong, Matsuda wavers on the fence, often speaking his mind without thinking - questioning if what Kira is doing is in fact right. Despite his excitable and naive personality, Matsuda has managed to survive quite a few dangerous situations.
Mogi is one of the most dedicated members of the investigation team. Mostly silent. Little else is known of him.
Aizawa chose to leave the investigation team and remain in the police force, when L offered the investigation team members the choice of quitting and returning to the life of a normal police officer. He continued assisting the investigation team as a member of the japanese police force after he left.
L's assistant. Acts as logistics to the investigation team.
Other characters
Light's mother and Soichiro's wife. She plays a minor role in the storyline, unaware of Light's possession of the Death Note.
Light's younger sister. She plays a minor role in the main storyline, unaware of Light's possession of the Death Note.
A member of an FBI team sent to Japan to investigate the Kira killings.
A former FBI agent. Engaged to Raye Penber.
The rules of the Death Note
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Rules of the Death Note
Written rules
Before the series begins, Ryuk writes instructions in English inside his Death Note, because English is the most widely used language in the world.- The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
- This note will not take effect unless the writer has the subject's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
- If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the subject's name, it will happen.
- If the cause of death is not specified, the subject will simply die of a heart attack.
- After writing the cause of death, the details of the death should be written in the next 400 seconds (6 minutes and 40 seconds).
Unwritten rules
These rules were not written in the Death Note, but are revealed throughout the story.- This note shall become the property of the human world, once it touches the ground of (arrives in) the human world.
- The human who uses this note can neither go to Heaven nor Hell.
- If the time of death is written within 40 seconds after writing the cause of death as a heart attack, the time of death can be manipulated, and the time can go into effect within 40 seconds after writing the name
- The human who touches the Death Note can recognize the image and voice of its original owner, a god of death, even if the human is not the owner of the note.
- The person in possession of the Death Note is accompanied by a god of death, its original owner, until they die.
- If a human uses the note, a god of death usually appears in front of him/her within 39 days after he/she uses the note.
- Gods of death, the original owners of the Death Note, do not do, in principle, anything which will help or prevent the deaths in the note.*
- A god of death has no obligation to completely explain how to use the note or rules which will apply to the human who owns it.
- A god of death can extend his life by putting human names on the note, but humans cannot.
- A person can shorten his or her own life by using the note.
- The human who becomes the owner of the Death Note can, in exchange of half of his/her remaining life, get the eyeballs of the god of death which will enable him/her to see a human's name and remaining lifetime when looking through them.
- A god of death is immortal. However, there are ways to kill a god of death, which are not generally known to the gods of death.
- The conditions for death will not be realized unless it is physically responsible for that human or it is reasonably assumed to be carried out by that human.
- The specific scope of the condition for death is not known to the gods of death, either. So, you must examine and find out.
- One page taken from the Death Note, or even a fragment of the page, contains the full effects of the note.
- The instrument to write with can be anything, (e.g. cosmetics, blood, etc.) as long as it can write directly on to the note and remains as legible letters.
- The cause and/or details of the death can be written prior to filling in the name of the individual. The name must be inserted in front of the written cause of death. There are only 19 days (according to the human calendar) allowed in order to fill in the name.
- "Suicide" is a valid cause of death. Basically all humans are thought to possess the possibility to commit suicide. It is, therefore, not something "unbelievable to think of."
- Whether the cause of the individual's death is either a suicide or accident, if the death leads to death of more than the intended, the person will simply die of a heart attack, this is to ensure that other lives are not influenced.
- Even after the individual's name, the time of death, and death condition on the Death Note were filled out, the time and condition of death can be altered as many times as you want, as long as it is changed within 6 minutes and 40 seconds from the time it was filled in. But, of course, this is only possible before the victim dies.
- The time and conditions of death can be changed, but once the victim's name has been written, the individual's death can never be avoided.
The Fake Rules
These rules were written in the Death Note in accordance to a genius scheme Light came up with to clear his own name. They were written by Ryuk however they are completely false as is eventually discovered by Kira's persuers. Fake Rule #1: If the user of a Death Note does not use the notebook after 13 days time, he/she will die. Fake Rule #2: If the Death Note is cut or burnt any persons who have touched the Note will die.After writing these two fake rules in the Death Note, Light allows himself to be imprissoned and releases his ownership of the Death Note and therefore his memories. He is held there for far longer than 13 days and when L finally finds the Death Note, and therefore the rules, after keeping Light handcuffed to his side, he has no choice but to declare Light innocent.
Shinigami and Death Note
A shinigami must own at least one Death Note. That Death Note may also be used and owned by a human, but only if the Death Note falls to earth and is found by a human. The shinigamis have to keep using the Death Note to kill people in order to extend their own lives.Special ability of Shinigami eyes
Shinigami eyes have the ability to learn the subject's natural life span and name by simply looking at the subject's face. There are some limits to this ability: if the face is covered or partially covered, the life span and name will not be seen. It is suggested that the possesser of the eyes only has to see enough of a person's face to know that its them, or if the face is partially covered it may be that one must see the subjects eyes.The shinigami are not allowed to tell humans the names or life spans of individuals he/she sees.A human with a Death note can gain this ability from a shinigami, with the price of having their remaining natural life span cut in half. The human with this ability can not see their own life span or the life span of other death note holders. However, if they ever give away their Death Note, they will lose this ability, but will not regain their lost life span. Even if a human loses its Death Note and has it returned to him/her the shinigami eyes will not be reactivated. The deal must be done again in order to get the eyes back. This would mean his/her life would be cut into a quarter of its original life span.
How to Kill a Shinigami
Rem is one of the only Shinigami to disocover how to kill a Shinigami. Nothing mortal or otherwise can harm them however if a Shinigami uses the Death Note to protect someone (extend their life) instead of using it as a Shinigami should (they exist to take life) they will die. Rem reveals this to Misa who later reveals it to Light and Ryuk.The Shenyang Incident
Some schools in Shenyang, China have banned the manga after some of their students started to tease friends and teachers by altering a stationery to resemble a Death Note and writing names of people they don't like in it.The newspaper Shenyang Night Report called Death Note, "Poison, creating wicked hearts." Others however, including one major Chinese newspaper, feel that the ban is an over-reaction and is inappropriate. Some have suggested that overreactions such as these are what stifle creativity in China. [link]
Movies
Death Note is also being adapted to the big screen, spanning two movies. The first one premiered in Japan on June 17, 2006 and topped the Japanese box office for two straight weeks. It is largely faithful to the manga (excepting the addition of the girlfriend, Shiori), starting with Light in university and flashing back a year or so to him recieving the Death Note. It ends with his first meeting with L. The second movie is scheduled to premiere in October 2006. A trailer is available at: [link]. An early review of the just released Japanese film can be found here.[link]Cinema Topics Online has confirmed that there are plans for an American screening of these movies and even an American remake, depending on their commercial success.
Theme Songs
- Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Manatsu no Yoru no Yume by Suga Shikao
Cast
- Light Yagami: Tatsuya Fujiwara
- Soichiro Yagami: Takeshi Kaga
- Sayu Yagami: Hikari Mishima
- Sachiko Yagami: Michiko Godai
- L: Kenichi Matsuyama
- Watari: Shunji Fujiwara
- Naomi: Asaka Seto
- Raye: Shigeki Hosokawa
- Matsuda: Souta Aoyama
- Aizawa: Shin Shimizu
- Ukita: Tatsuhito Okuda
- Mogi: Ikuji Nakamura
- Ryuk (voice): Toshiyuki Watarai
- Rem (voice): TBA,
- Misa: Erika Toda
- Shiori (original character): Yuu Kashii
External links
- [Death God] A large Death Note site with more about "DN" Terms
- [Death Note manga preview at MangaReviewer.com]
- [Death Note Reviews] (in English)
- [Official Live-Action Movie Site]
- [Cinema Topics Online's Confirmation of the American Death Note movie]
- [DeviantArt.com's Death Note Fangroup]
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