Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's hit manga series Death Note is a supernatural crime thriller that challenges the reader with questions about morality and crime. It has inspired all kinds of media, such as live-action Japanese and American films, stage dramas, spin-off novels, and, of course, an anime series.
While major characters like L, Light, Ryuk, and Near take center stage, let's not forget about the many minor characters who help move the plot along, such as Touta Matsuda, Hideki Ide, and Near's SPK agents. While it's easy to dismiss Matsuda as the comic relief who's just there to make everyone else look good, he's a fully developed character like the rest, and he's had his moments of glory. It's time to shed light on this overlooked character and see what makes him who he is.
10 He's Informal
This is probably Touta Matsuda's single most defining characteristic: he's not uptight and straight-laced like Soichiro Yagami is. Of course, Matsuda wears a proper suit and tie to w0rk, but "the clothes make the man" outlook only goes so far.
He likes to make funny comments and treat the other detectives like they're his roommates or friends rather than co-workers, and everyone else really just puts up with it. Well, there has to be a class (or office) clown in every office, doesn't there?
9 He Blends In
This is a minor but distinct advantage that Matsuda can use in the line of duty. Soichiro is all business, all the time, but Matsuda has a relaxed and friendly air that allows him to integrate into any crowd, despite being a police officer.
When Light went to Aoyama for the investigation, Matsuda volunteered to come, since he could easily blend in with a crowd of college students and act and think like one of them. L agreed, and Matsuda later got the job done.
8 He's Empathetic
Another of Matsuda's more flattering traits is that he is a highly empathetic person who is quick to feel sorry for others and understand their point of view. He brings the human element to the Kira investigation this way.
Every time Light, Misa, Soichiro, or Sayu is suffering, Matsuda is the first one to comment on it, and express his sympathy for the suffering person. He even does this when Misa is captured as a Kira suspect; he doesn't like seeing her in pain, even if she is the second Kira and a major criminal.
7 He's Optimistic
When Matsuda starts thinking positively in the anime, his aura turns yellow, like in this image. And what exactly does he like to think about? Often, he's putting his faith in other people, most often Light and his personal hero, Soichiro Yagami.
Matsuda is not a cynic at all; he sees the best in every person and every situation, and he stubbornly refused to believe that the polite, brilliant, and helpful Light Yagami could possibly be Kira. He practically made it his mission to prove Light's innocence.
6 He Thinks On His Feet
For the most part, Matsuda needs to be told what to do, since he is far from the best strategist or planner in the Kira investigation. He was assigned to be Misa's manager, and he hesitates to ever form his own plans.
There are exceptions, though, such as when he was cornered in the Yotsuba building and quickly claimed that he was there to promote Misa for a commercial opportunity. He also gave his own name as the new L when Mello was grilling Soichiro about who the new L really was. Sometimes, the best plans are thought up while winging it, and that's where Matsuda comes in.
5 He Enjoys Attention
Like the other members of L's task force, Matsuda is careful to not give away his face or his name, or Kira is sure to kill him. Other than that, though, he likes being at the center of attention, and he will volunteer for L's riskiest plans.
He went on Sakura TV as a witness to the Yotsuba Kira, where Higuchi could easily see him. He also made a "drunk" stunt at a house party where he fell over to fake his own death. And, of course, he got some attention by going with Light to Aoyama with friends. He did cut things close when he intentionally gave his face away to lure in Higuchi, but fortunately, that was part of L's plan, and it worked as intended.
4 His Good Aim
Even if Matsuda is the least talented member of the Kira task force and the most irritating, he does have some redeeming qualities. He's no genius, but he does have good aim with firearms, and he's dependable in combat.
He took part in the armed raid on Mello's den, and later, he was able to aim his revolver to shoot a pen out of Light's hand with just one shot. This was a great way to deny Light the power of the Death Note from afar in a non-lethal manner.
3 His Name
A Japanese name is phonetic and can be written with any kanji that are pronounced the same way. And sometimes, hiragana might be used, too. This is tricky for non-speakers to learn.
In Matsuda's case, it seems that the kanji for his last name can be written with the characters for "peach" and "thick," or "Momota." This might not be exactly precise, and it may be a weird jump, but we think it could allude to Ryuk's love for apples. Peaches can be eaten in a similar manner as an apple, after all.
2 He Enjoys Pop Culture
This is something that Matsuda has in common with Sayu Yagami. As a police officer, Matsuda needs to know how the common people think and what they like to do, so he can use this as a reference during any investigation.
He enjoys this part of the job since he's totally invested in the likes of youth fashion magazines, entertainment talk shows, music award shows, and more. He keeps watching the tube, and he lamented the fact that Misa never sang at the year-end music award show.
1 He Enjoys Personal Drama
Matsuda has a good relationship with Sayu, as he was horrified when she was kidnapped, and he even nursed a little crush on this college student. He teased Soichiro and Sachiko by suggesting that he was definitely going to marry Sayu and already saw her parents as in-laws.
Later, when Light was meeting Kiyomi Takada every night in fancy hotels, Matsuda had a great time hearing the personal drama unfold, between Light, Misa, and Kiyomi. He kept annoying his co-workers with his excitement. A real-life soap opera is too much to pass up.