Noragami is an anime and manga series that blends action, mythology, and emotion, following Yato, a minor god who dreams of becoming famous. Alongside his regalia, Yukine, and a human girl named Hiyori, Yato takes on odd jobs while facing threats from the supernatural world.
Among Noragami’s many compelling characters, Yukine stands out due to his emotional growth and tragic past. His struggles with morality, self-worth, and loyalty make him one of the most complex characters in the series.
In season one of Noragami, it quickly becomes clear that something tragic happened to Yukine while he was alive. We get numerous hints, from the flashes Yato sees when he makes Yukine his regalia to a few cryptic lines Yato drops. For example, Yato states that a spirit cannot become a regalia if they have died by suicide. There’s also the undeniable fact that Yukine is so young. These details serve as breadcrumbs, allowing us to piece together the tragedy of his past.
What really happened to him before he became Yato’s regalia? Let’s dive into Yukine’s past and uncover the real story behind his death.
His intense fear of the dark (nyctophobia) also hints at a deeply unsettling death and likely a short life. His tragic end explains his deep-rooted fear of abandonment and his initial resentment toward the living when he becomes Yato’s Regalia.
The manga, however, provides far more insight into his past. So, if you’ve only watched the anime or haven’t reached that part of the manga yet, consider this a spoiler warning. Additionally, a trigger warning for child abuse and graphic murder applies.
Yukine’s Past: What the Anime Reveals
From the flashes we see in the anime, we can determine that his mother and sister (?) left him. We also get flashes of empty alcohol cans, which makes us think that his father was an alcoholic. The images of Yukine hiding crunched up to be as small as possible, and the image with the bandages tells us that he was abused by his father, and probably frequently. The stepping-on letters scene could show that his abuse was not just physical and his father destroying any attempt Yukine made to reach out for help. With the presence of an empty wallet and scattered coins image, it implies financial struggles, possibly even being denied basic needs.
The anime leaves room for interpretation, but these flashes paint a picture of a child who suffered greatly before his death, but it was a lot more violent than we could have predicted, or at least more so than what I had anticipated. Knowing why Yato cried when accepting Yukine impacts me more now that I know what he knows.
When the manga finally delved into how and why he died, I had been wanting to know for years and it broke my heart. His struggles with trust, morality, and self-worth feel even more justified when you consider what he went through. His past trauma plays a significant role in his development throughout the series, influencing his struggles with morality, loyalty, and his desire for a family. So with that said, I will now get into what happened to Yukine.
You can watch Noragami on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
The Heartbreaking Truth: How Yukine Died in Noragami
When Yukine was alive, his family was deeply dysfunctional, primarily due to his father’s violent and abusive nature. Despite the harsh environment, Haruki (Yukine’s name before he died) and his sister, Yuka, were incredibly close. They often avoided going home until late at night, and neighbours frequently saw them together. As the abuse worsened, Yuka became so desperate that she contemplated suicide. Haruki stopped her, physically holding her back and urging her to run toward a better future. Eventually, Yuka convinced their mother to divorce their father, but he agreed only on the cruel condition that one of the children would stay with him. Haruki and Yuka decided the matter with rock-paper-scissors, and Haruki ultimately stayed behind while Yuka left with their mother.
As a child, Haruki often appeared with bruises, which caused his friends’ parents to keep their children away from him. Over time, he became isolated, and his small stature made him an easy target for further abuse. Despite everything, Haruki managed to send letters to Yuka, expressing how much he wanted to leave their father and escape the nightmare he was living in. However, his letters never reached her. Unbeknownst to either sibling, their father and mother had intercepted every letter they wrote to each other. Haruki’s letters to Yuka were never delivered, and Yuka’s responses were returned to her, torn apart.
When Haruki was 14, his father revealed the stack of undelivered letters he had been hoarding and used them as an excuse to punish him. He beat Haruki nearly to death, then dragged him into the mountains, where he trapped him inside an abandoned refrigerator and left him to die. Before closing the fridge, his father tore up letters and scattered the pieces around Haruki, declaring that this was his “divine punishment” for disobedience. It is unclear whether Haruki succumbed to his injuries or suffocated first, but he passed away clutching the final letter he had written to his sister. Afterward, his father lied to everyone, claiming that Haruki had run away.
Yukine’s Spirit & His Connection to Yato
At the time of his death, Haruki didn’t have a firm belief about the afterlife, so his wandering spirit lingered. He eventually became a sudama, descending the mountain as the seasons changed. Instead of returning to the mountains like most spirits, Haruki’s longing to send his final letter drew him to a mailbox in the city. This is where Yato found him, gave him the name Yukine, and turned him into a regalia.
Years later, Yato recovered Haruki’s body, which had remained in the refrigerator for about 30 years, and buried him beneath a cherry blossom tree near Yuka’s current home. The tragic circumstances of his death explain Yukine’s deep-seated fears, his resentment toward adults, and his struggles to trust others, making his journey in Noragami all the more heartbreaking and profound.
What do you think of Yukine’s past?
Did the truth about his death change how you see his character? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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