Sakomoto Days
Sakamoto Days is a touching yet exciting Japanese manga series that is written and drawn by Yuto Suzuki. This series made its appearance in the Weekly Shonen Jump in November 2020 and its diverse blend of action, comedy, and touching moments made it enjoyable for readers. With a backdrop of assassination and redemption, Sakamoto Days adds a family angle alongside the daily life of a retired hitman giving a new perspective to the genre.
In this article, we will take a closer look on the story of the manga, its characters, themes, art style, anime adaptation, and the notoriety of the manga. This guide will help you whether you are just starting or a long time fan get a deeper understanding into the multitude of Sakamoto Days.
The Plot of Sakamoto Days
The story of Sakamoto Days revolves around Taro Sakamoto, a once venerated and feared assassin. While revered in the criminal world for his unparalleled skills, Sakamoto grew tired of this violent life and chose to retire with his wife Aoi and daughter Hana.
Sakamoto is trying to start a new life for himself by opening a small convinene store that also lets him mask his unfortunate past. But as you might expect, there are countless enemies from his past that have caught up with him. He seems to be under constant duress and is always being brought back into the dark world he desperately wants to escape. He has to take into account the safety of his family which gives him a really difficult decision to grapple with.
The manga depicts the duality of identity and how actions have consequences. This case shows how one’s past actions can haunt them. It reveals how his peaceful life is juxtaposed with his dangerous assassination career and how he manages to blend comedy with action.
Sakamoto Days Main Characters
Taro Sakamoto – He is the main protagonist in the series and an exceedingly skilled and well-known assassin. He seeks out a normal life and wants to enjoy his time with his wife & daughter which comes after his retirement. Unfortunately, he is not able to resist returning to his old ways.
Shin Asakura – Shin is an assassin with the gift of precognition. He later becomes allies with Sakamoto after they Tiger and Bunny each other.
Lu Xiaotang – Lu Xiaotang An exceptionally talented fighter who works at Sakamoto’s convenience store. Xuetang doubles as a fighter and a comic relief within the series courtesy of his eccentric character.
Heisuke Mashimo – An extraordinary sniper sharpshooter who becomes Sakamoto’s other ally. He also aids at the convenience store where Sakamoto works and provides a jovial atmosphere to the series.
Aoi Sakamoto – Aoi Sakamoto The wife of Sakamoto who is very supportive of the new life he embraces, but is completely oblivious to the violent life he lived before. Aoi is very supportive and brings stability to Sakamoto’s family life.
Hana Sakamoto – The daughter of Taro and Aoi, Hana is a child full of affection and innocence that aids in redefining the family dynamics. She serves as Sakamoto’s motivation to become a better person.
Slur – An unknown and menacing character from the underworld, Slur serves a pivotal role in the narrative as well as being one of the most important characters from Sakamoto’s history.
Hyo – An elite assassin who is one of Sakamoto’s fiercest opponents. Hyo is unyielding, and is a significant foe.
Kumanomi – Yet another savage assassin who encounters Sakamoto and his crew. Kumanomi’s role in the plot makes Sakamoto’s efforts of escaping the world of assassins even more difficult.
Akao: Sakamoto’s former ally turned nemesis. Sakamoto faces Akao’s betrayal during his journey toward redemption. This betrayal only adds fuel to the fire that is Sakamoto’s quest for redemption.
Setting of Sakamoto Days
Citizens of Sakamoto Days unknowingly live among highly trained assassins. Sakamoto owns a convenience store that operates as a peace shelter for the people, but he is in constant danger from adversaries that he made during his previous life that show up from time to time. Constantly facing conflicts, Sakamoto’s store provides him no refuge.
Sakamoto’s world makes peace capturing, yet violence filled life entertaining. By doing mundane tasks such as working in a convenience store fills the mind with new challenges such as working in the world of assassination while trying to maintain the store. This new life finally puts the reader in Sakamoto’s broken shoes and highlights how life is after experiencing excessive violence.
Themes in Sakamoto Days
Sakamoto Days focuses heavily on the theme of identity and redemption. One of the key elements in Sakamoto Days is the struggle for redemption. Sakamoto, actively seeks protection for his family while trying to deal with his past. Sakamoto’s conflict as an ex-hitman who is now a father and a husband is what leads to the story in Sakamoto days.
Family – Throughout this story, Sakamoto’s family’s relationship is the story’s most compelling aspect, enabling us to witness the bond they share despite the danger posed to them. Sakamoto’s bond with Aoi and Hana makes a central theme of the story, which even has a layer of family emotion to it balancing the action.
Action and Comedy – Sakamoto Days is filled with action-packed sequences and fun moments as well, which is often a result of the characters’ eccentric behavior. This combination of action and comedy places the manga at a distinct position among other works of the assassin genre.
Assassin World – This also includes a world of issues within the morally grey assassin world. The reader gets to understand the troubles that Sakamoto goes through with his ex-colleagues, foes, and his past.
Art Style of Sakamoto Days
Sakamoto Days art is very colorful and composively balanced. Action scenes are fluid and character designs shake things up. Yuto Suzuki, the series artist, balances combat with humor, style and tone with both the energetic and funny clips of the series.
The narrative is intricate yet lightheartned, thanks to the skillful execution of visuals accompanying the art. Each character’s distinct traits are vividly brought to life, enhancing the intricacies between them and the story’s complexity.
Serialization and Publication
Sakamoto Days is published in series form in Weekly Shonen Jump and has quickly established a loyal fan base. This manga can also be read on Manga Plus where it is officially published by the well known Shueisha. In the past few years, it has established itself as one of the most loved manga because of how uniquely hilarious and deeply emotional it is.
At the end of the year December 2024, Sakamoto Days had already sold more than 7 million copies, and the numbers keep increasing across Japan and around the world.
Anime Adaptation of Sakamoto Days
Apart from the manga, an anime version of Sakamoto Days was made by TMS Entertainment. The anime was released in January 2025, which means now there’s another chance for the fans to enjoy the Sakamoto Days universe.
The upcoming anime adaptation is definitely something to look forward to as fans of the manga can’t wait for the characters and the action to be animated. TMS Entertainment, the studio behind this series, is well known for popular animes and the fans are excited to find out how the action packed sequences will be animated.
Spin-Offs and Merchandising
Sakamoto Days has grown in popularity alongside its main manga and now has a number of Sakamoto Days franchise spin off. These include Sakamoto Days: Koroshiya no Method and Sakamoto Days: Oyasumi Full Course which expands upon the characters and lore of the series.
Mobile games based on the series exist as well, including a smartphone game by Goodroid. Action figures, clothes, accessories, and many other types of merchandise featuring the characters are available for fans to enjoy.
FAQs About Sakamoto Days
Is the Sakamoto Days manga complete?
No, the Sakamoto Days manga is still being serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.
Is Sakamoto Days like Gintama?
Both do fall under the action and comedy genre but focus on different aspects. Sakamoto Days has a concrete plot about redemption and family whereas Gintama is known for its episodic humor and satire.
Who is the strongest character in Sakamoto Days?
Taro Sakamoto is often cited as the strongest character on account of his unmatched fighting prowess as an assassin.
Is Sakamoto Days for kids?
While many older teenagers and young adults are likely to enjoy Sakamoto Days, it is not appropriate for younger children due to the action scenes, violence, and mature themes present.
Conclusion
Sakamoto Days stands apart thanks to its combination of action, comedy, and heart. It tells the story of a skilled assassin trying to distance himself from his violent past for the sake of his family, a story that resonates with many people. Thanks to the depth of character development, captivating action sequences, and emotional storytelling, Sakamoto Days has been one of the most notable manga series in the recent years. The manga and anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days, similarly, captures the attention of audiences all over the globe.
Sakamoto Days is one of the most versatile mangas that combines deep complex themes of family and redemption with well written characters and action sequence, making it a captivating read for every manga lover. If you haven’t already, now is the best time to experience the fascinating world of Taro Sakamoto and his attempt to protect his loved ones from the dangers of his violent past.
