The fascination of teenagers and young adults with Japanese and Korean web series is well known. Many are so drawn to these shows that they often adopt the speech, style, and mannerisms of their favourite characters. While this usually remains harmless, a recent incident has sparked serious concerns over the influence of such content on impressionable minds and the importance of parental oversight.
In Bengaluru, Karnataka, a 14-year-old boy named Gangadhar tragically ended his life after watching the Japanese web series Death Note. In a suicide note, he wrote, “The time for me to leave is near… by the time you read this letter, I will be in heaven.” Deeply engrossed in the anime, Gangadhar went to his room and hanged himself with a guitar string. He was the son of musician Ganesh and singer Savita.
Death Note tells a dark yet compelling story of a high school prodigy, Light Yagami, who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name in it. Using this power, he begins eliminating corrupt people, drawing the attention of L, a brilliant investigator from an elite Japanese police task force. The plot revolves around their tense battle of wits and the corrupting influence of absolute power.
Bengaluru police are now examining Gangadhar’s online activity to determine whether his viewing of Death Note directly influenced his decision. This tragedy has renewed discussions on the potential dangers of certain web series and the need for vigilant parental guidance, as anime has been linked to similar cases in the past.
