Soichiro Yagami

Lore & Background

After L's death, Soichiro is sent to retrieve the Death Note stolen by Mello by obtaining Shinigami Eyes and infiltrating Mello's hideout, though Light had planned for Matsuda to fill the role. He retrieves the note and learns Mello's real name but is unable to kill him and is instead fatally wounded. In the original manga and anime, because Light has given up his Death Note, making his lifespan visible above his head, Soichiro dies believing that Light is not Kira.

In Their Own Story

Soichiro's defining moment comes when he agrees to make the Shinigami Eye deal to infiltrate Mello's hideout and retrieve the stolen Death Note. He succeeds in learning Mello's real name but cannot bring himself to kill the young man, and is mortally wounded in the process. His final comfort is that he dies believing his son Light is innocent, as Light had temporarily given up ownership of his Death Note, making his lifespan visible.

Reader's Guide

Soichiro Yagami is the detective superintendent of Japan's National Police Agency and Light's father. He initially leads the Kira investigation team that later joins with L. When L begins to suspect Light of being Kira, Soichiro is unwilling to believe his son would be capable of such a thing. After L's death, he is sent to retrieve the Death Note stolen by Mello by obtaining Shinigami Eyes and infiltrating Mello's hideout, though Light had planned for Matsuda to fill the role. He retrieves the note and learns Mello's real name but is unable to kill him and is instead fatally wounded. In the original manga and anime, because Light has given up his Death Note, making his lifespan visible above his head, Soichiro dies believing that Light is not Kira.

Did You Know?

• Soichiro is the detective superintendent of Japan's National Police Agency.
• He initially leads the Kira investigation team that later joins with L.
• When L begins to suspect Light of being Kira, Soichiro is unwilling to believe his son would be capable of such a thing.
• After L's death, Soichiro obtains Shinigami Eyes and infiltrates Mello's hideout to retrieve the stolen Death Note.
• Soichiro dies believing that Light is not Kira because Light had given up his Death Note, making his lifespan visible.