Light Yagami, the main character in the anime "Death Note," uses manipulation of emotions and perceptions of reality as key elements in his strategies to achieve his goal of creating a utopian world free of crime. By controlling how others perceive situations and manipulating their emotions, Light is able to influence their behavior and decisions to serve his own agenda. This manipulation allows him to gain trust, instill fear, and outmaneuver his opponents, ultimately leading to his rise to power as the infamous serial killer known as Kira.