Shidoh

Sidoh has a distinctively gaunt, almost mummy-like appearance, his body wrapped in heavy, light-colored bandages across his torso, limbs, and head. His face is bird-like or insectoid, with a sharp, dark beak and large, dark, sunken eye sockets. His skin is a pale, yellowish-white, and his limbs are exceptionally spindly, ending in long, claw-like fingers.

Unlike Ryuk’s feathery wings, Sidoh’s are more membranous and insect-like when retracted. He typically carries himself with a nervous, hunched posture that reflects his cowardly nature.

Timid and Easily Manipulated

While most Shinigami are simply lazy, Sidoh is actively fearful — particularly of his own lifespan running out due to his negligence. He is easily dominated by stronger personalities, serving first as a reluctant informant for Mello and later following Ryuk’s lead to secure his notebook’s return.

Easily Startled

Despite being a God of Death, Sidoh is frequently shocked by human ruthlessness, particularly Mello’s intimidating presence.

Chocolate Addiction

Develops a strong fondness for human-world chocolate during his time at the mafia hideout, similar to Ryuk’s addiction to apples.

Sidoh originated in the Realm of the Shinigami, spending centuries in apathy, gambling with other Shinigami to pass the time. He eventually realized his Death Note was missing and learned that Ryuk had stolen it by tricking the Shinigami King. Because the notebook had already been dropped into the human world and used by humans, Sidoh had to wait for its current owner to die or relinquish it before he could legally reclaim it. With his own lifespan dwindling, he consulted the high-ranking Shinigami Armonia Justin before departing for Earth to confront Ryuk.

The Search Begins

In 2009, Sidoh realizes his notebook is missing and consults Armonia Justin, who confirms Ryuk took it. Sidoh travels to the human world and finds Ryuk hovering over the city, who admits to the theft but reveals he no longer possesses the notebook — it’s now in human hands.

The Mafia Alliance

Sidoh tracks the notebook to a Los Angeles hideout belonging to Mello’s mafia syndicate, revealing himself to its current holder, Jack Neylon (Kal Snyder). Intimidated by Mello, Sidoh reveals that the notebook’s “13-day rule” and the rule about the notebook’s destruction are both fake — details a Shinigami had simply written in “for fun.” This proves Light and Misa were never truly cleared of suspicion years earlier.

The Tactical Pawn

Mello forces Sidoh to act as a sentry during a Japanese Task Force raid on the hideout, using his invisibility and intangibility to pull the helmets off entering soldiers so Jack Neylon can see their faces and kill them — a demonstration of how dangerous a Shinigami can be as a human tool.

Reclaiming the Notebook

Acting on Light’s orders, Ryuk approaches Sidoh and promises the notebook will be returned if he stays out of the conflict. After the raid concludes and Light reclaims the notebook, Ryuk hands it back to Sidoh, who immediately returns to the Shinigami Realm, his life secured.

Death Note Ownership

Has the power to kill humans by writing their names in his notebook — though he is unable to do so for most of the story because his book is in human hands.

Shinigami Eyes

Can see the names and lifespans of all humans, an ability he shares with Jack Neylon through an eye deal.

Intangibility and Invisibility

Invisible to anyone who has not touched his Death Note, and able to pass through solid objects — a trait he uses to bypass the mafia hideout’s security.

Flight

Wings that allow travel between the Shinigami Realm and Earth.

Enhanced Hearing

Exceptional hearing, letting him eavesdrop on human conversations.

vs. Ryuk (Interpersonal) — Ch. 66, 71

Sidoh confronts Ryuk over the stolen notebook. Ryuk admits to taking it but explains he no longer has possession of it, forcing Sidoh to search for it among humans.

vs. Mello and the Mafia (Psychological Coercion) — Ch. 70–71

Mello’s intimidating presence forces the timid Sidoh to reveal that the notebook’s “13-day rule” is fabricated, and to perform the Shinigami Eye deal with Jack Neylon to assist the mafia.

vs. The Japanese Task Force (Tactical) — Ch. 70, 72, 73

Used by Mello as a sentry during the Task Force raid, Sidoh pulls the helmets off entering soldiers so Neylon can kill them, nearly causing the raid to fail until Light intervenes through Ryuk.

Major: Ch. 65, 66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74.

Minor: Ch. 60, 69, 75.

Mentioned only: Ch. 76, 77, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 89, 90, 93, 94.

Ryuk

The Shinigami who stole Sidoh’s notebook. Sidoh resents him for it but ultimately follows his lead to secure the book’s return.

Mello

Sidoh finds Mello outright “scary” and is easily coerced by him into revealing secrets and assisting the mafia.

Jack Neylon (Kal Snyder)

The mafia member who held Sidoh’s notebook. Sidoh follows him closely and eventually enters a Shinigami Eye deal with him.

Light Yagami

Interacts with Light briefly at the end of the mafia raid, when Light returns the notebook to him to prevent Sidoh from revealing any further secrets.

Armonia Justin

A high-ranking Shinigami who acts as a mentor and advisor to Sidoh.

“Ryuk… you stole my notebook, didn’t you?” — Chapter 66, confronting Ryuk

“Those two rules… are lies. A Shinigami must have written them down for fun.” — Chapter 70, revealing the fake rules to Mello

“I’ll do… whatever you say.” — Chapter 70, to Mello, highlighting his cowardice

“I only came to get my notebook back.” — Chapter 74, to Light Yagami

• The only Shinigami besides Ryuk shown to have a specific human-world food obsession — chocolate.
• Noted by Armonia Justin as one of the few Shinigami who actually bothers to learn the complex rules of the Shinigami Realm.
• One of the few supernatural entities to enter the human world, influence the plot, and return home alive.
• His name is written as “Shidoh” in Death Note: How to Read 13, but as “Sidoh” in both the tankōbon character introductions and the translated English manga.