Sakamoto Days: Who Is Sakamoto?

The upcoming anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days has been highly anticipated since the manga first started serializing. Now, a little over four years after the first chapter’s release, we finally have a promising-looking adaptation of this comedic action-thriller premiering on Netflix in January. The trailers have been garnering millions of views and boosting manga sales nationwide, growing the already dedicated fanbase into a bigger beast to be reckoned with.

The manga has been highly praised for it’s characters, but none have quite captured the hearts of the manga’s fans as the main protagonist, Taro Sakamoto, has. But what is it about this protagonist that has enraptured fans? It lives much deeper than his lovable, round, and kind-looking appearance; it’s much deeper than that. Underneath his soft appearance is a complex character full of a dark backstory, insane abilities, and even more mysteries that have yet to be unveiled.

Who Was Sakamoto In The Past?

Sakamoto’s Life As An Ex-Hitman

Sakamoto wasn’t just any hitman; he was the best in the business. He was feared, respected, and unparalleled in his craft. His abilities were so legendary that even the most skilled assassins would hesitate to challenge him. His precision, tactical thinking, and calm under pressure made him a living myth among assassins. Despite being at the top of the food chain, Sakamoto wasn’t driven by greed, hatred, or ambition like others in his field. He was cool-headed, efficient, and treated killing as a job rather than a passion. This professionalism added to his mystique and his reputation in the field.

Despite his success, the hitman’s life left Sakamoto isolated and unfulfilled. His fame was built on violence, and he lacked meaningful human connections or a sense of purpose beyond survival and mastery of his craft. Eventually, Sakamoto met a woman who saw beyond his deadly reputation and into the man he could be; the man he was inside underneath his gritty past. Her kindness, compassion, and vision for a non-violent life struck a chord with him. She made him promise to leave his violent past behind if he wanted to be with her. For the first time, Sakamoto found something he valued more than his career—love and family. He left his career as a hitman behind him and started a new life with this woman, Aoi Sakamoto, and had their child Hana together. They opened up Sakamoto’s Store in the bottom half of the abandoned building Taro Sakamoto lived in, and run the store together as a family to this day.

What Are Taro Sakomoto’s Motives In The Anime?

Why Does He Do What He Does?

Taro Sakamoto’s main motive is his family. Of course, he loves them. His wife is the light of his life. His daughter is equally important to him. They also, plot-wise, represent the peaceful life he’s built and the future he’s determined to preserve. His willingness to return to his deadly ways, when necessary, highlights his protective instincts. Despite wanting to avoid violence, he will go to any lengths to shield his family from harm.

Sakamoto’s decision to leave his past behind isn’t just for his family; it’s also an act of self-reclamation. He wants to atone for his violent past by living a life of kindness and service. Sakamoto struggles to balance the man he once was with the man he’s become. He wants to preserve his peaceful existence, but his assassin instincts are deeply ingrained, and his past constantly finds ways to catch up with him. He desperately wants to live a normal, peaceful life with the family he loves, and is unfortunately forced to relive parts of his past to maintain his present life.

What Are Sakamoto’s Abilities and Strengths?

Sakamoto was the top assassin in the underworld for a reason—his combat prowess is unmatched. He’s a master of hand-to-hand combat, proficient in multiple martial arts styles, and capable of disarming even the most skilled opponents. His moves are clean, efficient, and deliberate. He wastes no energy, which makes his fighting style both elegant and terrifying. Even with his present appearance, he can react to gunfire, dodge bullets, and counterattacks with insane speed and agility.

Sakamoto possesses immense physical strength that seems almost superhuman. Despite his bulky appearance, he can lift heavy objects, overpower multiple enemies at once, and deliver devastating strikes that incapacitate foes instantly. This gives Sakamoto an extraordinary ability to endure physical punishment. He can take blows, gunshots, or knife wounds and continue fighting as if unaffected.

Likewise, one of Sakamoto’s defining traits is his ability to use his surroundings to his advantage. He turns everyday objects—like frying pans, rubber bands, chopsticks, and even aprons—into deadly weapons. This resourcefulness not only showcases his creativity but also reflects his assassin training, where improvisation is key. Sakamoto hasn’t lost his edge when it comes to stealth. Despite his size, he can move silently and avoid detection, sneaking into high-security areas with ease.

And lastly, but obviously to those who have read the manga, he can transform into the physical form of his former, younger, skinnier self. There isn’t really a solid explanation for this yet, but it’s something he can do when needed.

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A 2025 anime, Sakamoto Days is an action-comedy based on Yuto Suzuki’s shonen manga, which debuted in 2020. The series follows Taro Sakamoto, a retired hitman who has been enjoying the family life for years. He spends his days running a small store alongside Shin, but his peaceful existence is regularly interrupted by ghosts of the past.

Release Date

January 5, 2025

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Studio

TMS Entertainment

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Based On

Manga

Creator

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Yuto Suzuki

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