Takeshi Ooi is a fictional male character from the series Death Note, serving as the head of the VT Division within the Yotsuba Group and a key member of the so‑called "Death Meeting."
Name: Takeshi Ooi
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: March 31, 1961 (anime: 1964, live‑action drama: 1982)
Age: 43 years old (drama version: 34 years old)
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 77 kg
Blood Type: O
Likes: Model guns
Dislikes: Acting in groups, being part of a crowd
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Head of Yotsuba Group VT Division
Affiliation: Yotsuba Group, "Death Meeting" member
Education: Graduate of Waseki University, Faculty of Law
Family Background: Father is a senior official in the Defense Agency
Voice Actor (anime): Kiyoyuki Yanada
Portrayed by (drama): Hiroshi Daitou
Takeshi Ooi is the head of the Yotsuba Group’s VT Division and one of the eight executives involved in the clandestine "Death Meeting" where they exploit Death Note killings for corporate gain.
Among these eight, he often acts as the de facto leader, managing the regular meetings and guiding decisions with his strong presence and clear authority.
He is portrayed as the oldest among the Yotsuba executives, which naturally pushes him into a leadership and moderator role during discussions.
Despite his corporate position, his demeanor and visual style give off a vibe closer to an underworld figure than a typical businessman.
A dedicated gun enthusiast, he collects model guns as a hobby and knows a great deal about firearms.
His father’s position as a high‑ranking Defense Agency official and his own fascination with weapons contribute to his occasionally extreme suggestions during strategy talks.
General Look
Ooi is a tall, large‑framed man with a commanding and intimidating presence.
He has a shaved head and is almost always seen wearing sunglasses, which amplify his imposing, slightly menacing image.
His style makes him look less like a typical office executive and more like someone from organized crime or private security.
The combination of his build, bald head, and dark glasses projects authority and a sense of danger.
In the original work, his face without sunglasses is only shown once, in volume 5, offering a rare glimpse beneath his usual façade.
Even then, his expression reinforces the impression of a cool, confident, and unflappable professional.
Drama Adaptation
In the live‑action drama adaptation, several details are altered to fit the casting and story direction.
His age is lowered to 32, making him noticeably younger than in the original version.
Instead of a shaved head, the drama gives him slicked‑back hair, which maintains a sharp and somewhat intimidating look but is less extreme than the bald design.
Despite these changes, his aura of leadership and quiet threat remains intact.
Core Traits
Takeshi Ooi is intelligent, decisive, and naturally suited to leadership.
He is capable of making quick, firm decisions and steering group discussions without hesitation.
He tends to be broad‑minded and tolerant, possessing a big‑picture mindset rather than getting bogged down in small details.
At the same time, he has a somewhat rough, broad‑stroke way of handling things, which can make him seem a bit careless or overly bold.
His colleagues in the Yotsuba Group, such as Suguru Shimura, Masahiko Kida, and Shingo Mido, rely on him for guidance and stability.
This shows he has considerable personal charisma and is widely trusted among the eight executives.
Attitude and Extremes
Ooi dislikes unnecessary socializing and does not enjoy "hanging around" as part of a crowd for its own sake.
He prefers purposeful interaction and is not drawn to casual group bonding or cliques.
He has a somewhat extreme streak that surfaces in high‑pressure situations.
Influenced by his Defense Agency family background and his love of firearms, he once remarked that, if necessary, they could simply "fire a missile at L Lawliet’s hideout," revealing his readiness to consider drastic measures.
His fearless, almost reckless confidence leads other Yotsuba members to assume he cannot be Kira, since his style does not match the secretive, moralizing murderer they imagine.
Because of this, he is invited by Shingo Mido and others to join their private anti‑Kira discussions.
When approached about these separate gatherings, however, Ooi reportedly dismisses them with something along the lines of, "If you want to hold that kind of pointless meeting, do it without me."
This reaction sums up his character well: pragmatic, uninterested in gossip or conspiracies, and focused on what he sees as real action.
Ooi’s position as VT Division head places him at the intersection of corporate strategy and the criminal exploitation of Death Note killings.
Within the "Death Meeting," he chairs and coordinates discussions, acting as a moderator who keeps the group moving toward decisions.
His leadership is not strictly formal, but it emerges naturally from his age, experience, and strong personality.
He often steers the direction of the group, balancing profit motives with risk management, even if his proposed solutions can sometimes be extreme.
Because of his commanding presence and ability to maintain order, he becomes one of the essential anchors of the Yotsuba arc.
Even when he is not the one holding the Death Note or giving direct orders to Kira, his influence shapes the mood and dynamics of the entire group.
Ooi is a dedicated gun enthusiast and model gun collector.
He studies and collects detailed replicas, showing a technical appreciation of firearms beyond casual interest.
This hobby adds a distinctive flavor to his character and helps explain his blunt, militaristic thinking in tense situations.
It also links thematically with his family’s Defense Agency background, suggesting that weapons and force have always been part of his environment.
Takeshi Ooi graduated from Waseki University’s Faculty of Law, giving him a solid grounding in legal and corporate matters.
This education supports his executive position in the Yotsuba Group and his ability to operate effectively in high‑level business settings.
His father is a senior official in the Defense Agency, indicating that Ooi grew up in a disciplined, security‑oriented environment.
This background likely shaped his sense of authority, his comfort with power, and his readiness to think in terms of force and strategic escalation.
In the anime adaptation of Death Note, Takeshi Ooi is voiced by Kiyoyuki Yanada.
Yanada’s deep, powerful voice enhances Ooi’s intimidating and authoritative aura.
In the live‑action drama adaptation, he is portrayed by Hiroshi Daitou.
The drama softens some visual aspects, such as his age and hairstyle, but preserves his key traits: leadership, decisiveness, and a quietly threatening presence.
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