TV-Series
Description
Izumi Rio is a shinigami, a being from the underworld tasked with guiding souls to the afterlife. His role in the story differs significantly between the manga and its anime adaptation, making him one of the more complex characters in the narrative. In the manga, he is a figure with a deeply tragic past and a central role in the main cast, while the anime portrays him as a cold-hearted antagonist for much of its runtime.
In terms of appearance, Izumi has bronze-ish blond hair and is most often seen wearing clothing in yellow and black, which are the colors of the train tracks where he died as a human. He also wears a distinctive hat resembling a dog, which he refuses to remove because he finds his own ears embarrassing. Like the other shinigami, he has the ability to transform into an animal plushie, his form being that of a small dog. However, he rarely uses this ability because he cannot speak while in this form and finds it difficult to transform back to his normal appearance.
Izumi's personality is initially perceived as cold, distant, and even sadistic. This demeanor is a mask that helps him gain confidence and perform his duties as a shinigami, a role he deeply resents but feels obligated to carry out. He tends to call others by nicknames, addressing Meroko as Me-chan, Mitsuki as Mikki, and Takuto as Takkun. Despite his harsh exterior, he possesses a tender side and is capable of deep feelings. He is in love with his former partner, Meroko Yui, and much of his motivation stems from a desire to reunite with her.
The background of Izumi Rio is fully explored in the manga, revealing a past life as a human boy named Rio Izumi. At the age of six, his father died, leaving his mother, Kana Izumi, depressed and abusive. Because Rio resembled his late father, his mother took out her anger on him, regularly abusing him and keeping him isolated so others would not see his bruises. Desperate to make his mother happy, Rio saw an opportunity when she took him shopping. He ran from her and threw himself onto the train tracks as the barriers were lowering, believing that his death would bring her joy. In his final moment, he turned to see his mother smiling at him before the train hit. This act did not bring him the peace he sought. He awakened in the underworld as a shinigami, retaining all his human memories, which is an uncommon occurrence. He later had to collect his own mother's soul when she died, and he found no resolution in that act either.
As the story progresses, Izumi's motivations shift from being a strict enforcer of shinigami rules to a more complex understanding of human connections. Initially, he is dispatched from the underworld to monitor the activities of Takuto and Meroko, who have grown too attached to Mitsuki Kouyama, a girl who is scheduled to die. In the anime, this makes him the main antagonist who repeatedly schemes to take Mitsuki's soul and even tries to destroy her will to live. In the manga, while he is still an antagonist at first, his role evolves dramatically. He comes to live with Mitsuki, Takuto, and Meroko in an apartment, developing a genuine bond with them. Through Mitsuki's persistent kindness and insight, Izumi is finally able to understand the truth about his past. He realizes that what he truly wanted on the train tracks was not to see his mother smile, but for her to call out his name and stop him from dying. With this understanding, he finds peace with his past.
His key relationships define his development. His romantic interest in Meroko is a constant drive, though it is often expressed through frustration and a desire to control her away from Takuto. Over time, he learns to express his feelings more genuinely, and by the end of the manga, he becomes her partner once again. His relationship with Mitsuki is also central; the manga author has stated that Izumi comes to view Mitsuki as a big sister, and she is instrumental in helping him heal from the trauma of his human life.
As a shinigami, Izumi possesses several notable abilities. He can transform into his dog plushie form, though he avoids it due to the limitations it imposes. In both forms, he is responsible for collecting souls, which he typically does using a scythe, although in the anime he is shown using a bow. He also has a method of collecting souls known as the Kiss of Death, which involves kissing a person to take their soul. He works as part of a duo named Yami Nabe with his partner, a floating, pumpkin-headed ghost named Jonathan, who acts almost like a pet to him.
In terms of appearance, Izumi has bronze-ish blond hair and is most often seen wearing clothing in yellow and black, which are the colors of the train tracks where he died as a human. He also wears a distinctive hat resembling a dog, which he refuses to remove because he finds his own ears embarrassing. Like the other shinigami, he has the ability to transform into an animal plushie, his form being that of a small dog. However, he rarely uses this ability because he cannot speak while in this form and finds it difficult to transform back to his normal appearance.
Izumi's personality is initially perceived as cold, distant, and even sadistic. This demeanor is a mask that helps him gain confidence and perform his duties as a shinigami, a role he deeply resents but feels obligated to carry out. He tends to call others by nicknames, addressing Meroko as Me-chan, Mitsuki as Mikki, and Takuto as Takkun. Despite his harsh exterior, he possesses a tender side and is capable of deep feelings. He is in love with his former partner, Meroko Yui, and much of his motivation stems from a desire to reunite with her.
The background of Izumi Rio is fully explored in the manga, revealing a past life as a human boy named Rio Izumi. At the age of six, his father died, leaving his mother, Kana Izumi, depressed and abusive. Because Rio resembled his late father, his mother took out her anger on him, regularly abusing him and keeping him isolated so others would not see his bruises. Desperate to make his mother happy, Rio saw an opportunity when she took him shopping. He ran from her and threw himself onto the train tracks as the barriers were lowering, believing that his death would bring her joy. In his final moment, he turned to see his mother smiling at him before the train hit. This act did not bring him the peace he sought. He awakened in the underworld as a shinigami, retaining all his human memories, which is an uncommon occurrence. He later had to collect his own mother's soul when she died, and he found no resolution in that act either.
As the story progresses, Izumi's motivations shift from being a strict enforcer of shinigami rules to a more complex understanding of human connections. Initially, he is dispatched from the underworld to monitor the activities of Takuto and Meroko, who have grown too attached to Mitsuki Kouyama, a girl who is scheduled to die. In the anime, this makes him the main antagonist who repeatedly schemes to take Mitsuki's soul and even tries to destroy her will to live. In the manga, while he is still an antagonist at first, his role evolves dramatically. He comes to live with Mitsuki, Takuto, and Meroko in an apartment, developing a genuine bond with them. Through Mitsuki's persistent kindness and insight, Izumi is finally able to understand the truth about his past. He realizes that what he truly wanted on the train tracks was not to see his mother smile, but for her to call out his name and stop him from dying. With this understanding, he finds peace with his past.
His key relationships define his development. His romantic interest in Meroko is a constant drive, though it is often expressed through frustration and a desire to control her away from Takuto. Over time, he learns to express his feelings more genuinely, and by the end of the manga, he becomes her partner once again. His relationship with Mitsuki is also central; the manga author has stated that Izumi comes to view Mitsuki as a big sister, and she is instrumental in helping him heal from the trauma of his human life.
As a shinigami, Izumi possesses several notable abilities. He can transform into his dog plushie form, though he avoids it due to the limitations it imposes. In both forms, he is responsible for collecting souls, which he typically does using a scythe, although in the anime he is shown using a bow. He also has a method of collecting souls known as the Kiss of Death, which involves kissing a person to take their soul. He works as part of a duo named Yami Nabe with his partner, a floating, pumpkin-headed ghost named Jonathan, who acts almost like a pet to him.