Summary
Koreyoshi Kitamura serves as the Deputy Director of the National Police Agency, holding the position of superior to Soichiro Yagami. When FBI agent Raye Penber investigated the leak of information to Kira, he scrutinized both the Yagami and Kitamura families. After Penber was killed by Kira, L initiated comparable probes into both households. During this period, Mogi approached Kitamura’s daughter while impersonating L, subtly suggesting she was a suspect, whereas L focused his actual suspicions on Light Yagami. Kitamura later confronted Soichiro regarding the harsh treatment of his daughter, expressing frustration at Soichiro’s refusal to share investigative details due to secrecy protocols, though Soichiro did confess that his own son was the primary suspect. Kitamura assisted Soichiro in escaping the Sakura TV studio after Soichiro intercepted the Kira tapes being broadcast, which resulted in multiple deaths. To ensure Soichiro’s safe extraction from the building, Kitamura deployed a riot squad equipped with police buses, shields, and face-covering helmets. However, he was eventually compelled to halt the Kira investigation after Kira threatened politicians and the Yotsuba Group, for whom Kira was working at the time, offered them bribes. Kitamura informed Soichiro that he had little choice but to comply with these demands while publicly maintaining that the investigation remained active. He permitted Soichiro to continue pursuing Kira under non-related police duties, provided he severed all connections with L. Instead, Soichiro and other members of the Kira Investigation Team resigned from the police force to collaborate with L, ultimately revealing the Yotsuba Group’s link to Kira. Death Note: How to Read 13 characterizes Kitamura as not being a villain despite his shortcomings. By the beginning of the Near-Mello story arc, Soichiro Yagami holds the title of Deputy Director of the NPA, but it remains unclear whether this role is shared with or replaces Kitamura, whose final fate is never mentioned.
