Hitoshi Demegawa is the Sakura TV director who turns Kira’s tapes into ratings gold, and later becomes his self-appointed spokesperson through the “Kira’s Kingdom” program — soliciting massive donations under the pretense of building a Kira shrine. His greed eventually disgusts both Light and Teru Mikami, who executes him live on air to make room for a spokesperson with actual sophistication.
A short, heavily built man with a round face, double chin, unkempt dark hair, and a thick mustache behind thin spectacles. Wears standard dark business suits in the early series, switching to a flamboyant white double-breasted suit with gold buttons once “Kira’s Kingdom” takes off.
Greedy, opportunistic, and utterly without journalistic integrity — he keeps broadcasting Kira’s tapes against police orders purely because the ratings are too good to pass up. Arrogant enough to believe Kira’s protection makes him untouchable, his devotion to “Kira’s Kingdom” turns out to be entirely financial. Light bluntly calls him a “crook” blinded by money.
Demegawa rises to prominence in 2004 when he receives the Second Kira’s tapes and broadcasts them immediately despite the Task Force’s demands to stop, at one point being confronted at gunpoint by Soichiro Yagami over the originals. After L’s death, he becomes a vocal public Kira supporter, launching “Kira’s Kingdom” to spread pro-Kira propaganda and collect billions of yen in “donations.” His unchecked greed eventually angers both Light and his new proxy, Teru Mikami, who judges him “not righteous” and writes his name in the Death Note during a live broadcast on November 24, 2009. Demegawa dies of a heart attack on camera, along with his four executives.
vs. Soichiro Yagami (Ch. 39)
Soichiro storms the Sakura TV control room to stop the Second Kira’s broadcast. Demegawa resists until Soichiro uses physical force and a firearm to seize the tapes.
vs. Teru Mikami (Ch. 83)
Disgusted by Demegawa’s commercialization of Kira’s name, Mikami executes him live on air — ending his role as media link and clearing the way for Kiyomi Takada.
Major: Ch. 39, 76, 81, 83.
Minor: Ch. 40, 49, 85.
Mentioned only: Ch. 82, 91, 93, 96.
Light Yagami (Kira)
Demegawa worships him as his “God” and cash cow; Light sees him only as a greedy nuisance damaging his image.
Teru Mikami
His eventual executioner, who judges him unworthy of profiting off Kira’s name.
Soichiro Yagami
An adversary who threatens him at gunpoint to stop a broadcast.
Kiyomi Takada
His successor as spokesperson, chosen for the refinement he never had.
“I have been saying all along that sooner or later, Kira’s time would come!”
“Kira’s Kingdom is made possible by donations starting at the million yen mark from people like you, who loathe evil.”
- Died on November 24, 2009.
- Set donations for “Kira’s Kingdom” at a minimum of 1,000,000 yen.
- His broadcasts contributed to the in-story “Kira Bubble” economic boom.
🇯🇵 Japanese Voice Actors
Chafuurin
🇯🇵 Japanese
🇺🇸 English Voice Actors
Perry, Ward
🇺🇸 English