SAKAMOTO DAYS - First Episode
As a fan of this genre, I always get excited when a new anime hits Netflix, and SAKAMOTO DAYS was no different. The anime, based on the popular manga by Yuto Suzuki, immediately caught my attention with an engaging and funny trailer. And now, about two weeks after the series hit Netflix, I finally watched the first episode.
The first episode introduces us to Sakamoto Taro (Tomokazu Sugita), a legendary assassin whose name strikes fear into the underworld and inspires admiration among his colleagues. However, Taro’s life takes an unexpected turn when he finds the love of his life and leaves his violent existence behind to embrace a new family life. He lets himself go, trading his slim, deadly physique for a more plump appearance. He trades bombs and grenades for custard cakes and ramen, and becomes the modest owner of a small convenience store. But of course, just when you think all is well and good, Taro’s past comes back to haunt you. A series of entertaining situations and exciting action scenes unfold.

Like Taro’s personality, the animation of SAKAMOTO DAYS is modest but effective. The studio behind the anime, TMS Entertainment, stays true to the visual tone of the manga and effortlessly translates the manga’s charm to the screen. They steer clear of the flashy animation often seen in anime like My Hero Academia or Jujutsu Kaisen, and instead focus on conveying the characters’ expression and humor. This results in a style that stands out in its simplicity and fits in well with Taro’s mundane yet bizarre life.

The first episode of SAKAMOTO DAYS pleasantly surprised me. The calm, slice-of-life tone combined with humor and dynamic action scenes gives the series something quirky. Although the characters haven't completely grabbed me yet, the anime certainly shows potential. So far, it seems like a more light-hearted option for those who don't want intense and flashy fights, but still like some action. SAKAMOTO DAYS is definitely worth a try for those looking for something different.
The first episode introduces us to Sakamoto Taro (Tomokazu Sugita), a legendary assassin whose name strikes fear into the underworld and inspires admiration among his colleagues. However, Taro’s life takes an unexpected turn when he finds the love of his life and leaves his violent existence behind to embrace a new family life. He lets himself go, trading his slim, deadly physique for a more plump appearance. He trades bombs and grenades for custard cakes and ramen, and becomes the modest owner of a small convenience store. But of course, just when you think all is well and good, Taro’s past comes back to haunt you. A series of entertaining situations and exciting action scenes unfold.

© TV Tokyo
Like Taro’s personality, the animation of SAKAMOTO DAYS is modest but effective. The studio behind the anime, TMS Entertainment, stays true to the visual tone of the manga and effortlessly translates the manga’s charm to the screen. They steer clear of the flashy animation often seen in anime like My Hero Academia or Jujutsu Kaisen, and instead focus on conveying the characters’ expression and humor. This results in a style that stands out in its simplicity and fits in well with Taro’s mundane yet bizarre life.
I have mixed feelings about the characters so far. Taro himself is fascinating. He is quiet, unassuming, but still carries an interesting aura. The contrast between Taro as an assassin and a family man adds a touch of humor that fits the anime well. Shin (Nobunaga Shimazaki), the young assassin with psychic powers, brings extra energy and humor and almost acts as a polar opposite of Taro. However, I miss the mystery that gives the characters more depth. The first episode feels like a completed story, in which the characters seem to have achieved what they wanted. As a result, a sense of ambition or motivation is missing. While they are not boring, there is definitely room for more growth.The style of the animation is striking in its simplicity and fits perfectly with the everyday, yet bizarre life of Taro.

© TV Tokyo
The first episode of SAKAMOTO DAYS pleasantly surprised me. The calm, slice-of-life tone combined with humor and dynamic action scenes gives the series something quirky. Although the characters haven't completely grabbed me yet, the anime certainly shows potential. So far, it seems like a more light-hearted option for those who don't want intense and flashy fights, but still like some action. SAKAMOTO DAYS is definitely worth a try for those looking for something different.
About the writer, Karzal

Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
View profile of Karzal