neku

Neku is a given name that is best known in popular culture for Neku Sakuraba, the central character of The World Ends with You, a video game developed by Square Enix and Jupiter. The game was originally released in 2007 for the Nintendo DS and has since been ported and remastered for other platforms. The world of the game is a stylized, modern interpretation of Tokyo’s Shibuya district, where players control Neku as he is forced to participate in a mysterious contest known as the Reapers’ Game.

In the storyline, Neku awakens in Shibuya with no memory of his life and must complete missions over a limited period to avoid erasure. He is depicted as a taciturn, introspective teenager who gradually builds friendships and uncovers the truth behind the game and his own identity. Neku’s combat power comes from a set of “pins” that grant various psychic abilities, which he uses to fight Noise and rival participants while navigating the game’s shifting alliances and mysteries.

The character and game have been influential within the role-playing and JRPG genres, prompting several adaptations and refinements. The World Ends with You has seen remakes and ports, including The World Ends with You: Final Remix for Nintendo Switch, and has been adapted into manga and an anime series released in 2023. The narrative has also fostered a dedicated fan community and discussion around themes such as memory, friendship, and personal growth.

Beyond The World Ends with You, “Neku” is not widely documented as a standalone term with a distinct, widely recognized meaning, and its most prominent association remains with the character in the game’s broader canon.