Sakamoto Days | Review, 5 things I liked and disliked about it

Main Cast & Crew:

Manga Created by Yuto Suzuki
Directed by Masaki Watanabe
Tomokazu Sugita as Taro Sakamoto
Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shin Akasura
Hina Kino as Hana Sakamoto
Rosie Okumura as Aoi Sakamoto
Check out the entire cast and crew here…

Review:

Sakamoto Days follows the story of a legendary hitman who was once the best in the business. However, his life takes a turn when he falls in love with Aoi Sakamoto. Leaving behind his action-packed past, he retires to become a devoted husband, running his wife’s grocery store and caring for their daughter, Hana Sakamoto.

Netflix’s adaptation of Sakamoto Days makes the series widely accessible to a global audience, offering high-quality subtitles and dubbing in multiple languages. This allows both anime veterans and newcomers to enjoy the show without barriers. Additionally, Netflix’s streaming model ensures that episodes are easily available for binge-watching, making it convenient for viewers to stay engaged with the story.

I’ve seen a similar premise before in The Way of the Househusband, also available on Netflix. However, Sakamoto Days expands on this idea by fully immersing viewers in the world Sakamoto once ruled. With new characters and challenges introduced in almost every episode, the series keeps the audience engaged, making it perfect for a binge-watch.

For those familiar with the manga, the anime does a commendable job of bringing its fast-paced action and humor to life. While some panel transitions and comedic timing feel different in animation, the adaptation captures the essence of Sakamoto Days, maintaining its balance of high-energy combat and slice-of-life charm. Fans of the manga will appreciate seeing their favorite moments in motion, while newcomers can dive into the world without needing prior knowledge of the source material.

That said, the anime isn’t without its flaws. There are several aspects worth discussing in detail, which we’ll explore in the sections below.

5 things I liked about Sakamoto Days:

1. Sakamoto Days is a fun and engaging anime that keeps viewers hooked with its fast-paced storytelling. The main characters are constantly thrown into new challenges, ensuring that the plot never feels stagnant. With each episode introducing fresh obstacles and dynamic encounters, the series maintains a sense of excitement that makes it easy to binge-watch.
2. The connection between the main characters grows stronger as the story progresses, deepening their relationships in a natural and engaging way. While Tarō Sakamoto remains the central figure, the supporting characters are intricately woven around him, each adding depth to the narrative. Among them, Shin stands out as a true highlight. With Sakamoto being a man of few words, Shin’s clairvoyant ability brings a unique dynamic to the story, offering insight into Sakamoto’s thoughts and making their interactions even more compelling. This balance between characters adds layers to the anime, keeping the overall story arc fresh and engaging.
3. As the anime progresses, each episode introduces new and intriguing characters, each bringing fresh challenges that keep the story engaging. These challenges become increasingly intense—sometimes deadly, sometimes downright hilarious. Not every opponent is out to kill the main characters; some test them in unexpected ways, adding variety to the conflicts and keeping the series unpredictable. This balance of action and humor ensures that every episode feels fresh and exciting.
4. The main lead, Taro Sakamoto, was the character I personally looked forward to the most. Taro Sakamoto’s sheer greatness is astonishing to witness, making him a fascinating figure to follow. Despite his retirement and noticeably larger physique, he remains sharper and more skilled than even the most active hitmen. The lore surrounding him—built through stories and legends shared among his foes—adds to his larger-than-life presence. What makes it even more exciting is that Sakamoto consistently lives up to these tales, proving time and again why he was once the best in the business.
5. The anime thrives on situational comedy rather than relying on punchlines or witty dialogue. The humor comes from the absurd and unpredictable situations the characters find themselves in, making the story both entertaining and hilarious to watch. This approach keeps the comedy fresh, as it blends seamlessly with the action and plot development. Personally, I enjoy this style of storytelling because humor based on dialogue can fade quickly, but a well-crafted, engaging narrative ensures the series remains memorable and enjoyable for a long time.

5 things I disliked about Sakamoto Days:

1. I had previously watched The Way of the Househusband on Netflix, and at times, Sakamoto Days felt quite similar. The premise of a former hitman adapting to a more domestic life shares noticeable parallels between the two. Even from a release standpoint, The Way of the Househusband manga debuted earlier on September 17, 2019, while Sakamoto Days followed on November 21, 2020. While Sakamoto Days expands on the concept with more action and world-building, the resemblance between the two stories can make it feel less original at times.
2. The runtime of each episode feels quite short, especially when factoring in the intro and end credits. Just as the story starts to build momentum, the episode ends within a few minutes, leaving me wanting more. While the pacing is already engaging and precise, it would be great if the episodes included a bit more content—whether by expanding key moments or exploring the surroundings in greater detail. This would not only enhance immersion but also make the anime feel even more engaging.
3. The plot of the anime starts to feel repetitive as the series progresses. While the premise is exciting at first, the episodic structure follows a similar pattern—Sakamoto, a retired hitman working at his wife’s store, is repeatedly targeted by assassins. However, instead of intense, high-stakes battles, many of these encounters end with the hitmen either joining him as employees or simply having a change of heart and letting him continue his peaceful life. While this formula works initially, it becomes predictable and somewhat monotonous after a few episodes, making the story feel less engaging over time.
4. The way Sakamoto instantly loses weight whenever he gets into a fight felt a bit childish and unrealistic to me. Yes, it’s a fantasy world where anything can happen, but this particular detail stood out as odd. The fact that he sheds all his weight just by fighting—only to regain it in a single day after eating—makes it feel more like a gag than a natural part of the story. While it adds to the comedic tone of the anime, it sometimes disrupts immersion, making the stakes of battles feel less serious.
5. This anime, Sakamoto Days should have been released all at once on Netflix. Even if they wanted to space out the release, they should have considered a more consistent schedule—either weekly or with multiple episodes dropping at a time. Sakamoto Days is the kind of series that thrives on binge-watching, making it frustrating to wait between episodes. The decision to split the release was a big turn-off for me, especially knowing that the second part won’t arrive until July this year. At this point, I’m unsure if I’ll keep up with weekly releases or just wait until all the episodes are out so I can watch them in one go.