Sakamoto Days Episode 1 recap – a promising start for Shonen’s larger-than-life hitman

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The highly-anticipated anime series, Sakamoto Days, for the Winter 2025 season, is now available for streaming on Netflix.

Since November 2020, this manga has been running in Shonen Jump magazine, and it’s currently one of their most popular series. Notably, major titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia concluded last year, but this story still stands out. The writer, Yuuto Suzuki, is the same person who wrote Garaku and Locker Room for the Shonen Jump+ app, earning him the title of mangaka. This previous success led to him being given the opportunity to write Sakamoto Days.

The first chapter, spanning 55 pages, of the manga Sakamoto Days deviates from the typical 20-page length found in Shonen Jump mangas. This initial chapter combines lighthearted, everyday stories with action sequences. The protagonist is a man who was once employed by a criminal organization as a hitman, and his narrative explores his struggle to protect his family while the underworld continues to press him into his old ways.

The first chapter of Sakamoto Days manga is longer than usual (55 pages instead of 20), blending action with everyday life stories. The story follows a man who used to work for a criminal organization as a hitman, trying to keep his family safe while the underworld keeps tempting him back to his old ways after he tries to leave that life behind.

What we see in this episode is the beginning of a promising Netflix hit.

Former gunman living a quiet life

In the initial installment, we’re acquainted with the principal figures in the narrative: Shin, a past colleague of Sakamoto; Sakamoto and his kin; and certain unsavory mob characters who provide a hint of the turmoil yet to unfold.

Five years ago, Taro Sakamoto, an esteemed assassin who once operated within the criminal world, decided to leave it all behind for a peaceful family life after experiencing true love and establishing a convenience store. However, Sakamoto’s old employer seems reluctant to let bygones be bygones.

In a twist of events, Shin – gifted with mysterious mind-reading abilities – is instructed to eliminate Sakamoto because he departed from the organization without their permission. Instead of confronting him directly, Shin decides to execute the act at Sakamoto’s legal establishment. However, upon encountering Sakamoto who had evidently put on weight, Shin was taken aback by his unexpected prowess. Unable to follow through with the assignment, Shin leaves the task incomplete.

Although there’s no understanding of the source or reason behind his abilities, they enable Shin to predict and anticipate his opponents’ actions so precisely, it seems as if he’s peeking beyond the boundaries of the fictional world.

Later on, Shin contemplates speaking to the boss about saving Sakamoto, but their talk doesn’t turn out as he expected. In a tense showdown, the mafia cornered Sakamoto, who then arrives to save Shin in an exciting action scene. With newfound determination, Shin vows to emulate Sakamoto and embark on a fresh path by taking up a sincere job at Sakamoto’s store – one that even includes overtime pay.

Based on the manga’s latest developments, it appears Shin will grasp the family’s guidelines in the upcoming episode. As hinted in the previews, the primary rule seems to prohibit any further acts of violence. It’s possible, though not certain, that we might encounter another major character before Episode 3. This could be Lu, another individual who is expected to join the family soon.

Addressing the animation’s quality

Ever since the initial trailer dropped, viewers have been expressing apprehensions regarding the quality of the adaptation’s animation, particularly noting an apparent scarcity of seamless action sequences in the previews.

While observing, some action scenes may appear less smooth, yet it’s questionable whether this affects the overall impact significantly. This could be due to a deliberate creative choice to present the action sequences with minimal dependence on 3D animation instead.

The final output seems to emphasize effect rather than motion, yet the animation strives to preserve the manga’s distinctive aesthetic, while a suspenseful soundtrack builds up the tension.

In general, introductory episodes of Shonen anime are usually quite strong. We’ll need to wait and see if there will be a noticeable decrease in quality in the next episode.

If the studio chooses to use simpler shots to maintain an action-packed feel throughout the series while avoiding excessive workload for their team, this is indeed a favorable choice. So far, the transition of Sakamoto Days from comic book pages to the screen has made a promising debut.

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2025-01-12 16:02