Shinnigami Ryuk and Rem

Shinigami, or Death Gods, are demon-like characters who live in the Shinigami Realm. They write the names of humans in their Death Notes to increase their lifespans. Their lifespans are increased by the human’s remaining lifespan. Because the realm is incredibly dull, this act is usually laughed at and is done in privacy. Shinigami cannot be killed by physical methods, such as stabbing or shooting, and must follow a strict set of rules if they want to live without punishment. Shinigami also have no need to eat. Their organs have “evolved” to the point where it is not necessary. However, it appears that they do eat for pleasure, and prefer the delicacy of sweet things, such as apples or chocolate.

Ryuk (リューク, Ryūku^?)

Voiced by: Shidō Nakamura (Japanese), Brian Drummond (English)

Ryuk is the shinigami who drops a Death Note in the human realm, which is then discovered by Light. It is revealed that Ryuk did it out of boredom, as there was little to do in the shinigami realm. Ryuk has a great fondness for apples, and will go through a type of withdrawal if he goes for too long without eating them. His withdrawal symptoms involve twisting himself up like a pretzel and doing handstands. He says apples are to Shinigami as cigarettes and liquor are to humans. He seems to enjoy video games as well. He also states that he is shy around girls. For a time, he is Mikami’s personal Shinigami.

Although he assists Light at certain points throughout the series, he is essentially ambivalent to Light’s success or failure; his purpose on Earth seems to solely be his own personal entertainment. In all versions of Death Note, Ryuk kills Light at the end of the storyline by writing his name in his Death Note, as he promised to shortly after meeting him.

In the manga, shot by Matsuda after he attempted to write Near’s name down on a Death Note scrap, a severely injured Light desperately begs Ryuk to write the names of the investigation team and the SPK members in the Death Note; the desperate SPK members shoot Ryuk, not realizing that gunshots will not kill the shinigami. Ryuk states that he will write Light’s name instead. In the 30 seconds before Light’s death, Ryuk says it would be too boring to wait for Light to die in prison, then he says that he enjoyed Light’s company because he got rid of his boredom. In the end he repeats his statements from the beginning of the story regarding the fact that the Death Note’s first human owner will die by the hands of the Shinigami who handed the notebook to them.

In the anime version, Light does not ask for Ryuk’s help and manages to escape the warehouse thanks to Mikami’s gruesome suicide distracting everyone. His wounds are too severe for him to escape. And so, Ryuk, who is watching him from atop a pole, wrote Light’s name in his Death Note, while stating the same rules mentioned in the manga. Light then collapses, dying peacefully, with an apparition of L standing over him.

In the film version, after Light is shot by Matsuda, the man begs Ryuk to write names of L’s team members. Light laughs and Misa smiles as Ryuk writes in the Death Note and the panicking SPK members shoot Ryuk; as in the manga, the gunshots do not harm the shinigami. Light’s laughter stops when Ryuk reveals that the only name written in the Death Note was Light’s name. The desperate Light yells at Ryuk and jumps through him, trying in vain to stop his death. Light dies in Soichiro’s arms. Ryuk offers L the Death Note. When L refuses to use it, Ryuk moans about L being “boring” before leaving.

According to How to Read 13, Ryuk is 6 feet tall and his weight is unknown. He likes apples and games and dislikes boredom. Ryuk’s love of games is seen in the first omake eight-panel comic series, originally published in Weekly Shonen Jump Volume 4-5 (double issue) in 2005. In the omake, Light, dressed in a Santa Claus suit, asks Ryuk what he wants for Christmas, expecting that Ryuk would ask for Light’s soul. Ryuk begs Light for a Game Boy Advance SP. Light asks Ryuk why he celebrates Christmas. Ryuk, defeated, falls to the floor, mumbling about the cold in the human world ^[8]. On another occasion, Ryuk asks Light if he wants to play Mario Golf (changed to “video games” in the anime), but receives no answer since Light’s bedroom is bugged with cameras ^[9].

Ryuk makes a guest appearance in the last second of a Death Note parody episode of Gin Tama, commenting on how silly humans are (Gin and his friends fighting over the beef in a hotpot)

Rem (レム, Remu^?)

Rem as she appears in the manga.

Voiced by: Kimiko Saitō (Japanese), Colleen Wheeler (English)

Shinnosuke Ikehata (movie)

Rem is the Shinigami who first gives Misa her Death Note and Shinigami eyes. Similar to Ryuk, Rem possesses two Death Notes; she purposely gives a Death Note to Misa. Rem inherited her second Death Note from Jealous, another Shinigami who died when he saved Misa’s life, and thought it only right to pass it on to Misa. Rem inherits Jealous’ love for Misa as well and is prompt to defend Misa even at the cost of her life. She shows this when she openly shows her lack of trust for Light stating that if Misa dies before her time, Rem will kill Light. Rem dies after she is tricked by Light into killing L and Watari to protect Misa. In the second movie, Rem, voiced by Shinnosuke “Peter” Ikehata, declares her love for Misa and her spite for Light moments before her death. While she dies, she burns her note in a blue flame entrusting that it will never belong to Light, but this is not the case in the manga and anime where Light is able to retrieve the notebook.

In the manga and anime, Rem tells Misa that she is actually a female Shinigami. In the second live-action film, this is not mentioned, leaving it ambiguous. She is also given a more masculine voice.