Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Sakamoto Days Season One Part One has finally ended, and unlike how most people were complaining about how awful the anime is, I quite liked it. Sure, some episodes and scenes were disappointing, but overall, this still manages to be fresh, since it breaks the mainstream norm of having a hot, fit, muscle-y action protagonist, who usually doubles up as a Casanova or heartbreaker. But dude can stop bullets with chopsticks and break swords with his teeth.
The plot follows Taro Sakamoto, an adorable middle-aged chubby convenience store owner, who used to be the world’s deadliest hitman, but has retired to live a ‘happily married’ life. So, the series kicks off by establishing Sakamoto’s dual life, juxtaposing his formidable past with his domestic present. The rest of the series is about how someone puts out as staggeringly big bounty of Sakamoto’s head, so every second day, a new hitman or assassin turns up at Sakamoto’s store to kill him. These include both former colleagues and new adversaries, challenging Sakamoto’s peaceful existence with his wife and little daughter.
Based on the Japanese manga series by Yuto Suzuki, the 2025 anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days is directed by Masaki Watanabe and produced by TMS Entertainment, the studio behind popular titles like Anpanman, Detective Conan, and Fruits Basket. Throughout the first eleven episodes of ‘Sakamoto Days’ Season One, the series blends over-the-top action sequences (very Rajinikanth style or well ‘Mission Impossible’ style) with humorous character interactions.
Every second episode, a new character is introduced in the tale, and most of them end up being recurring additions. But the two primary action protagonists that are second to only Taro Sakamoto in the show are Shin Asakura and Lu Xiaotang, while the former is a young assassin who can read minds, Lu is the feisty heir of a Chinese mafia family.
While Shin is introduced in the very first chapter of ‘Sakamoto Days’, Lu makes her way into the tale in Episode 2. The two become employees at Sakamoto’s store, so it’s usually the trio of Sakamoto, Shin, and Lu, who are constantly getting into violent face-offs with people who want Sakamoto dead. But while they are not out nearly killing their enemies, the Sakamoto gang loves to eat, and hangout together.
The animation quality of ‘Sakamoto Days’ is definitely not at par when compared with contemporaries, but I think the artwork is adequately entertaining and doesn’t disrupt the storytelling. The animation is inconsistent, and the creatives rarely play with styles or colors like the recent hit ‘Dan Da Dan’, where the visuals really stand out and immerse viewers. But some sections in series are quite exciting, like a surprisingly well executed bike chase sequence in Episode 7.
The weirdest thing about the show is how in some episodes, the chubby Sakamoto reverts to his former ‘fit, hot self’, and it makes no sense. Not like him being able to take on all kinds of lethal assassins without breaking a sweat have any logic, but at least we know this show is an exaggerated action-comedy about a fat hitman versus the world, not a shape-shifting fantasy.
Sakamoto otherwise is a highly likable protagonist, who rarely talks, and can beat the shit out anybody who tries to harm those close to him. Shin and Lu are his hot-headed young sidekicks, who bring on the laughs with their energetic personalities and arguments. There’s also some mild romance in the show, which is largely some cute flashbacks about how Sakamoto met and fell in love with his wife.
Well, overall, Sakamoto Days Season One Part One offers a quirky blend of action and comedy, anchored by a unique protagonist whose attempts to leave his violent past behind lead to endless entertainment. While there are areas that could benefit from tighter pacing and more consistent animation, the series remains a worthwhile watch for those seeking a fun and action-packed anime experience.
Rating: 3 on 5. You can watch Sakamoto Days on Netflix.
Read Next: Sakamoto Days Season 1 Part 2 Review: It’s a Bloody Shin-Show
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