Takuo Shibuimaru is the second person Light Yagami ever kills, and the first whose death Light deliberately engineers rather than just leaves to the default heart attack. Writing his name to cause a traffic accident is Light’s way of confirming the notebook can control exactly how someone dies — the proof that convinces him it’s real, and the true beginning of his identity as Kira.
A young adult man with long, unkempt dark hair framing a sharp, often leering face. Dressed in delinquent-style clothing — a dark, fur-trimmed jacket, a beanie, and loose trousers.
Crude, aggressive, and predatory, with no respect for anyone’s boundaries — particularly women’s. He gets his kicks intimidating people he sees as weaker than himself.
Shortly after finding the Death Note, Light watches Takuo and his biker associates corner a woman outside a convenience store, demanding her name with lewd remarks. Deciding Takuo’s death would genuinely be a service to society, Light writes his name several times — testing different kanji spellings to make sure he gets it right — and specifies “traffic accident” as the cause. As Takuo chases the fleeing woman on his motorcycle, he’s struck and killed instantly by a truck. Light feels a flicker of guilt, then talks himself past it, concluding the world needs someone willing to pass this kind of judgment — the moment that sets his mass execution of criminals in motion.
Minor: Ch. 1.
Mentioned only: Ch. 41.
Light Yagami
His executioner, who regards him with cold, intellectual contempt rather than anger.
Unnamed Woman
The harassment victim whose distress is what draws Light’s attention to him in the first place.
“Hey! What’s your name? Come on, tell me!” — Chapter 1
“You’re cute! You’re really cute! Let’s play!” — Chapter 1
- The only character Light kills while explicitly testing multiple spelling variations of a name to confirm the notebook works correctly.
- His death is used to illustrate the notebook’s 40-second window for specifying a cause of death.
🇯🇵 Japanese Voice Actors
Nishimura, Tomohiro
🇯🇵 Japanese
🇺🇸 English Voice Actors
Tockar, Lee
🇺🇸 English