Orihara, Izaya
- Gender
- Male
Summary
Izaya Orihara is a twenty-three-year-old information broker who views human behavior as his primary source of entertainment. Standing at 175 centimeters with an O blood type, he identifies as an observer of humanity, a passion he describes as loving the human race, with the singular exception of Shizuo Heiwajima. His affection is often demonstrated through manipulation, placing people in miserable situations to watch their reactions. He famously echoes Oscar Wilde by stating that people are either charming or tedious, rejecting the division of good and bad. Born on May 4, Izaya attended Raira Academy alongside Shizuo, Shinra, and Kadota. His relationship with Shizuo has been defined by intense mutual hatred since their first meeting. Throughout the series, he actively works to undermine Shizuo, framing him for crimes and inciting daily gang attacks against him. While the anime depicts these conflicts visually, the novels detail his role in orchestrating these troubles. He is highly skilled in parkour and proficient with his switchblade pocket knife, a weapon that requires manual activation before the spring mechanism releases the blade. His combat prowess is significant; he is implied to be the only individual capable of leaving multiple cuts on Shizuo’s durable bartender suit. Additionally, he is fluent in Russian, a skill showcased during his interactions with Simon. Izaya has two younger twin sisters, Mairu and Kururi, whom he considers troublemakers and unlovable, stating that if he cannot like them, no one else should expect to. He claims to have grown up in a normal family, noting that only their naming habits were unusual. His name combines the biblical Isaiah with a Japanese phrase meaning "the one who looks over the crowd." He uses the internet alias Nakura to deceive women. Among all the people he interacts with, Shinra is the only one he does not classify as a mere "human," regarding him instead as his only friend.
