Koreyoshi Kitamura is a supporting character in Death Note who serves as the Deputy Director of the National Police Agency, placing him as the direct superior of Soichiro Yagami, the head of the Kira investigation team. His background is that of a high‑ranking police administrator who oversees the overall operation of the investigation, handling command, approval, and the political aspects of the case rather than participating in field work. During the early part of the story, Kitamura and his family become subjects of the investigation. After information leaks to Kira, both his family and the Yagami family are investigated by FBI agent Raye Penber. Following Penber’s death at Kira’s hands, the detective L orders further scrutiny of both families; Kitamura’s daughter is approached by investigator Kanzo Mogi, who poses as L, implying that she is a suspect. This incident deeply upsets Kitamura. He confronts Soichiro Yagami about how his daughter was treated, expressing frustration that Soichiro’s insistence on secrecy prevents Kitamura from learning the details of the investigation. Soichiro eventually admits that his own son, Light Yagami, is the primary suspect, but this disclosure does little to resolve Kitamura’s concerns. Later, Kitamura provides direct operational support during the Sakura TV incident. After Soichiro seizes the Kira tapes being broadcast by the station, Kitamura dispatches a riot squad with police buses, shields, and helmets to safely extract Soichiro from a building surrounded by Kira supporters, demonstrating a willingness to mobilize substantial resources when necessary. However, Kitamura’s role is severely tested when political pressure forces the authorities to shut down the official Kira investigation. Politicians threatened by Kira and bribed by the Yotsuba Group, for whom Kira is then working, compel the National Police Agency to call off the investigation. Kitamura tells Soichiro that he personally tried to oppose the decision but had no choice but to comply. He offers Soichiro the option to continue hunting Kira while performing unrelated police duties, provided that Soichiro cuts all ties with L. Soichiro and the rest of the investigation team instead choose to resign from the police force in order to continue working with L, a decision that ultimately leads to the exposure of Yotsuba. Kitamura’s personality is shaped by his position as a bureaucrat caught between his duties and the extreme pressures of the Kira case. The series’ supplemental material describes him as not being a bad guy despite his failings. His motivations center on maintaining order, protecting his family, and navigating the political landscape that the investigation inevitably intersects with. He is initially cooperative with the investigation but, when overruled by his superiors and politicians, he follows orders, revealing the limits of his authority. His most significant relationship is with Soichiro Yagami: he respects Soichiro as a capable investigator but clashes with him over secrecy and the treatment of his family, yet he still provides support when possible. He is also aware of L’s methods, and the investigation of his own family creates tension, though his interactions with L are indirect. Kitamura’s development is limited, as his role primarily illustrates the institutional and political constraints on the police effort. After the investigation is officially shut down, he fades from the story. By the time of the Near‑Mello arc, Soichiro Yagami has become Deputy Director of the National Police Agency, but it is not specified whether Kitamura was replaced, transferred, or stepped aside; his ultimate fate is unmentioned. Notable abilities include his administrative and command skills, which allow him to coordinate large‑scale police operations such as the extraction of Soichiro from Sakura TV. He also possesses a practical understanding of the political considerations involved in a high‑profile case, though these skills are eventually overshadowed by external pressures. He does not engage directly in investigative fieldwork, so his value lies in his oversight and capacity to mobilize resources. Overall, Kitamura represents the institutional limitations of the police when confronting a threat as extraordinary as Kira, and his decisions directly force Soichiro and the team to choose between remaining within the official system or continuing their work alongside L.