Table of Contents
The anime “Death Note” gained popularity with just one season of 37 episodes. The story is set in both the human world and the world of the Shinigami. The main character, Light Yagami, possesses a Shinigami’s notebook. This notebook, known as the Death Note, can kill anyone whose name is written in it. There are many rules associated with the Death Note. Let’s explore these rules.
Death note rules
Ryuk, a Shinigami, was tired of staying in the Shinigami world for so long. For fun, he dropped his Death Note into the human world and wrote all the rules of the Death Note in English because it was a famous language in the human world. After Light Yagami picked up the Death Note and started killing criminals, Ryuk appeared in front of Light Yagami and told him some rules of the Death Note, as mentioned in the anime.
Basic Rules
- The person whose name is written in the Death Note will die.
- If the cause of death is not specified, the person will die of a heart attack within 40 seconds.
Identification Requirement
- The writer must remember the person’s face when writing their name; otherwise, the Death Note will not take effect.
Time Frame for Cause of Death
- After writing the name, the cause of death can be specified within the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
Details of Death
- After specifying the cause, details of the death should be written within the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
Feasibility of Death
- If the specified cause of death is physically impossible, the person will die of a heart attack.
- If the manner of death leads to the death of others, details must be written; otherwise, the subject will die of a heart attack.
Ownership and Transfer Rules
Human Ownership
- The Death Note can be owned by a human, who will gain the ability to use it.
- The human who touches the Death Note can recognize the original owner, the Shinigami (death god).
Transfer of Ownership
- If a Death Note is passed to another person, ownership shifts to the new holder.
- If the original owner retrieves the Death Note, all previous rules apply to them again.
Memory and Ownership
- When a human gives up ownership of the Death Note, they lose all memories of using it. Memories return if they touch the Death Note again.
- If the Death Note is destroyed, all memories related to it are lost permanently.
Shinigami Rules
Shinigami’s Role
- the Shinigami, or death gods, are the original owners of the Death Notes.
- Shinigami can extend their own lives by writing human names in their Death Notes.
Shinigami’s Eyes
- Shinigami possess eyes that can see the name and remaining lifespan of any human.
- A human can trade half their remaining lifespan to gain the Shinigami’s eyes.
Limitations and Conditions
Life Span
- A human cannot see their own lifespan or the lifespan of another Death Note user.
- The Death Note cannot kill someone if their lifespan is not meant to end by the written cause.
Multiple Death Notes
- Multiple Death Notes can exist simultaneously in the human world.
- Each Death Note has a specific Shinigami owner.
Language and Writing
- The Death Note can be written in any human language.
- Misspelling a name multiple times results in the writer’s death.
Additional Rules
Copying the Death Note
- No matter the copies made, the effects only apply to the original Death Note.
- Writing on materials other than the Death Note is ineffective.
Mixed Causes of Death
- If mixed causes of death are written, the first cause will take precedence.
- If a person’s death would lead to an impossibility, they will die of a heart attack.