Ito Shiroba
CharacterIto Shiroba is a motorcycle traffic officer whose routine stop of a speeding driver makes him an unwitting casualty in the hunt for Kira. His abrupt death hands L a crucial clue about how the killer is able to strike.
Appearance
Shiroba is presented as a uniformed traffic officer who patrols on a police motorcycle.
Personality
What little the story shows of him is professional diligence. He pulls over a reckless driver and, when the man bolts mid-stop, immediately gives chase rather than letting the violation slide.
History
Shiroba pulls over Kyosuke Higuchi, who is racing toward Sakura TV to stop Matsuda from exposing him as Kira. While pretending to search for his license, Higuchi uses his Shinigami Eyes to read the officer's name and enters it in the Death Note, then tears away once more. Shiroba sets off after him and is killed in the crash that follows, slamming into a truck. The unexplained death leads L to deduce that Higuchi can kill merely by seeing a face, prompting him to tighten the plan for the suspect's capture. Shiroba fills the same role in the 2015 television drama, where he carries a different name and his lifespan is shown. His written name is even a pun, reading as police bike in a nod to his profession.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ito Shiroba in Death Note?
Ito Shiroba is a motorcycle traffic officer in Death Note whose routine stop of a speeding driver makes him an unwitting casualty in the hunt for Kira. His abrupt death hands L a crucial clue about how the killer is able to strike.
How does Ito Shiroba die in Death Note?
Ito Shiroba pulls over Kyosuke Higuchi, who writes the officer's name in the Death Note before tearing away. Shiroba gives chase and is killed in the crash that follows, slamming into a truck.
Why is Ito Shiroba's death important in Death Note?
Ito Shiroba's unexplained death leads L to deduce that Higuchi can kill merely by seeing a face. This prompts L to tighten the plan for the suspect's capture.
How did Higuchi learn Ito Shiroba's name?
While pretending to search for his license during the traffic stop, Kyosuke Higuchi used his Shinigami Eyes to read Ito Shiroba's name. He then entered it in the Death Note and drove off.
What is the pun in Ito Shiroba's name?
Ito Shiroba's written name is a pun that reads as police bike, a nod to his profession as a traffic officer. In the Viz translation his name is rendered, in error, as Yukito Shiraba.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Ito Shiroba? The Death Note Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Death Note anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Nippon Television and Warner Bros. Japan.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to Konami and other publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha, Tsugumi Ohba, and Takeshi Obata.
Official resources:
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