Death Note (2015)
A gripping Japanese live-action drama where a supernatural notebook grants one student the power to reshape the world — at a devastating cost.
Death Note - Series Information
- Original Title: デスノート
- First Air Year: 2015
- Last Air Year: 2015
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (58 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 11
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: July 5, 2015 (United States - TV-14), July 5, 2015 (France - TP), July 5, 2015 (India - A), July 5, 2015 (Brazil - 12)
- Networks: Nippon TV
- Production Companies: Nippon Television Network Corporation, AX-ON
- Production Countries: Japan
- Alternative Titles: Ölüm Dəftəri (AZ), Death Note (JP), 死亡笔记(电视剧版) (CN), Death Note (2015) (US), 死亡筆記本(電視劇) (TW), Death Note Drama (FR)
Death Note - Plot
Light Yagami is an ordinary university student. One day, he receives a "Death Note", which changes his life. The Death Note awakens his warped sense of justice and genius. He becomes murderer Kira and punishes criminals. L is a well known private detective. L appears in front of Light Yagami. L defines Kira as evil and decides to catch Kira. Then N, who has a beautiful appearance but dangerous existence, appears.
Death Note - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the deadly game of wits begin:
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Death Note - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Masataka Kubota
- Kento Yamazaki
- Mio Yuki
- Hinako Sano
- Reiko Fujiwara
- Megumi Seki
- Tomohisa Yuge
- Shugo Oshinari
- Kazuaki Hankai
- Jiro Sato
Writers
- Yoshihiro Izumi
Death Note - FAQs
Is Death Note (2015) based on a manga or anime?
The 2015 drama is a live-action adaptation of the original Death Note manga created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, which was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2003 to 2006. The beloved anime series aired in 2006-2007, making this drama the most recent major Japanese adaptation of the franchise.
Who plays Light Yagami and L in the 2015 drama?
Masataka Kubota takes on the role of Light Yagami, the brilliant university student who becomes the self-appointed judge of humanity as Kira. Kento Yamazaki portrays the eccentric genius detective L, whose unconventional methods and razor-sharp intellect make him the only one capable of matching Light's cunning.
Where can you stream Death Note (2015)?
The 2015 Death Note drama is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. Both options give you access to all 11 episodes of the single season, making it easy to binge the full story of Light Yagami's rise and fall as Kira.
How does the 2015 drama differ from the original story?
The live-action drama introduces N, a new character described as having a beautiful appearance but a dangerous presence, who does not exist in the original manga or anime. The series also condenses the sprawling source material into 11 episodes, streamlining certain plot threads while updating the story for a contemporary Japanese audience.
Is Death Note (2015) worth watching for fans of the anime?
For fans of the original, it offers a fresh perspective with strong lead performances from Masataka Kubota and Kento Yamazaki. While the condensed format means some subplots are trimmed, the psychological tension and cat-and-mouse dynamic between Light and L remain compelling. The addition of the original character N also gives longtime fans something genuinely new to discover.
How many episodes does Death Note (2015) have?
The series ran for a single season of 11 episodes, each approximately 58 minutes long. It aired on Nippon TV in Japan starting July 5, 2015, and has since concluded. The feature-length episode runtime gives each installment a cinematic quality that sets it apart from standard television dramas.
Who composed the music for Death Note (2015)?
The score for the 2015 drama was composed by Takayuki Hattori, a prolific Japanese composer known for his work across film and television. His music helps sustain the series' tense, psychological atmosphere, underscoring the moral ambiguity and high-stakes intellectual battles at the heart of the story.
What are similar series to watch after Death Note (2015)?
If you enjoyed the psychological cat-and-mouse tension, try Unnatural (2018) or AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo (2002) for sharp Japanese detective drama. Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions (2023) offers a similarly eccentric investigator dynamic, while Ghost Hunt (2006) blends supernatural elements with mystery in a way that fans of Death Note's darker tone will appreciate.
More About Death Note
Explore further details about the series on these authoritative resources.