Light Yagami, a character from the anime series "Death Note," maintains control over others by instilling fear through his intelligence, manipulation, and the power of the Death Note. He uses the fear of death and the ability to kill anyone by simply writing their name in the Death Note to establish dominance and control over those around him. Additionally, he strategically orchestrates situations to instill fear in others and ensure they comply with his wishes to achieve his ultimate goal of creating a world free of crime.