When Sakamoto Days first hit shelves as a manga by Yuto Suzuki, it charmed readers with its high-octane action, sly humour and the refreshing twist of a retired assassin turned family man.
The anime adaptation, released this year, has finally brought that chaotic charm to the screen – but does it deliver the same punch?
AN ASSASSIN’S SECOND LIFE… WITH GROCERIES
The premise alone is gold. Taro Sakamoto, once feared as the deadliest assassin in Japan, now runs a tuck shop with his loving wife and daughter. He’s gone soft – or so it seems.
Chubby, mild-mannered and obsessed with ramen, Sakamoto looks like your average dad.
But when old enemies crawl out of the shadows and threaten his peaceful life, the action kicks in and he snaps back into deadly mode – without killing anyone.
I feel that this tightrope walk between hyper-violence and domestic comedy is what defines Sakamoto Days, and the anime leans into it gleefully. It doesn’t try to be overly serious or edgy – it knows it’s absurd, and it embraces that absurdity with flair.
One of the strongest points of the first season is the animation quality during the action scenes. Fights are smooth, stylish and surprisingly inventive. Studio TMS Entertainment deserves credit for making close-quarter battles in convenience stores, ramen shops and alleyways feel fresh and exciting every time.
The comedic beats, too, are generally well-executed – especially the deadpan delivery of Sakamoto’s reactions juxtaposed with the wild antics of Shin, the mind-reading ex-assasin sidekick, and Lu, the martial arts prodigy-slash-student-turned-shop-assistant. Their dynamic carries a lot of the series’ momentum, even when the plot starts to meander.
Shin and Lu bring a delightful contrast to the chaos of Sakamoto Days, acting as both comic relief and competent sidekicks to the ever-composed Sakamoto.
Their interactions bounce between bickering and begrudging teamwork, but beneath the sarcasm and snark lies a growing camaraderie that adds warmth to the series.
Together, they balance the absurdity of the show’s premise with moments of genuine teamwork, creating a dynamic that’s as entertaining as it is endearing.
One of the things I genuinely enjoy about the anime is its playful subversion of expectations when it comes to villains. More often than not, those who burst onto the screen with menacing glares and dramatic entrances are revealed to be former comrades from Sakamoto’s assassin days – now misguided, not malicious.
Instead of sticking to a black-and-white view of good versus evil, the show leans into shades of grey, reminding us that even the most fearsome hitmen have a soft spot – or at least a past friendship worth revisiting.
In keeping with its overarching theme of redemption, Sakamoto Days offers second chances as readily as it does flying kicks.
PACING WOBBLES AND VILLAIN FLUFF
That said, not everything in the anime hits the bullseye. The pacing is occasionally uneven – with a breakneck first few episodes followed by mid-season episodes that feel a bit like filler.
The tone can also swing a little too wildly from zany comedy to heartfelt drama, which may be jarring for viewers who prefer consistency. Then there’s the villains – or lack thereof. The first season introduces a string of baddies, each with a gimmick, but they tend to come and go without much weight.
There’s a clear sense that the series is building toward a larger arc, but it feels more like set-up than payoff. For now, Sakamoto himself remains the star attraction – and rightly so.
What really sets the anime apart from other action anime is the emotional grounding it offers. Behind the gun-fu and telekinetic brawls is a surprisingly wholesome message: people can change, and redemption doesn’t have to come through violence.
Sakamoto’s commitment to not killing, his quiet love for his family, and his deadpan refusal to be dragged back into a life of bloodshed give the show unexpected heart.
It’s this balance – between heart and havoc – that makes Sakamoto Days stand out, even if the first season doesn’t fully maximise its potential.
FINAL VERDICT
The first season of Sakamoto Days is a solid adaptation that manages to capture much of the manga’s charm and energy. While it occasionally stumbles in pacing and lacks a compelling overarching antagonist, it more than makes up for it with slick action, sharp comedy and a protagonist you can’t help but root for.
The final episode of the first season has certainly piqued my curiosity and left me eager to see what the second instalment has in store.
Rating: 7.5/10
Fun, flashy and oddly wholesome, Sakamoto Days is the action-comedy you didn’t know you needed. – Izah Azahari
