The anime/manga “Sakamoto Days” is a Japanese action-comedy manga series made by Yuto Suzuki. The main character is named Taro Sakamoto, a legendary retired hitman who now runs a convenience store with his wife and daughter. When his past as the world’s greatest assassin catches up to him sooner than he thought it would, he must use his past to protect his loved ones from a new generation of assassins.
Episode 1: “Legendary Hit Man”
In the 1st episode of the season we get introduced to our main character named Taro Sakamoto, the former best assassin who is now retired, married and a father. He is trying to live a normal life.. Until an old colleague named Shin Asakura who ends up being someone with clairvoyance. He insists that Sakamoto returns to the assassin’s life or he will face consequences. We see that his peaceful life is now under threat.
I like this episode because it shows us a difference between Sakamoto’s quiet, chill life with his family and his past as an assassin. I also like the word building, it’s pretty good for a ‘pilot’ episode. The comedy is amazing: Sakamoto awkwardly juggles between store duties and out of nowhere threats. Later, the problem is resolved when Shin understands what Sakamoto stands for now: A father who refuses to go back to his past.
Episode 2: “Vs. Son Hee and Bacho”
In episode 2 our main character Sakamoto and his colleague Shin decide to go run errands. While doing so they come across a new character named Lu Shaotang who is hunted down by twin assassins who are responsible for her parents deaths. They intervene to protect Lu.
During the intervention Sakamoto and Shin fight the twins and uses clever and comedic fighting methods to save Lu. Finally, when they are dealt with she realizes she’s safe with Sakamoto and begins to trust him she decides to join his group. The pacing of this episode is perfect. And the new addition of the character adds a new type of fighting style and humor. The ending is very satisfying for those who like Sakamoto as a character.
Episode 3: “Welcome to Sugar Park”
Episode 3 starts off with Shin and Lu bickering about having to start working together, while doing so a fellow old acquaintance of Sakamoto who happens to be a master of disguise and heads down to the store to let him know that there is now a 1 million yen bounty on his head. After that a pizzaman assassin attempts to assassinate Sakamoto, failing quickly. Sakamoto remembers that he promised to spend the day with his family at the Sugar Park amusement park. Shin and Lu take a job to protect Sakamoto so he can focus spending time with his family, and while working together are able to fight off a janitor assasin. But another Hitman named Tatsu manages to fight off Shin’s powers, making him difficult to read.
While Tatsu and Shin fight Shin ends up being temporarily blinded by Tatsu’s poison, but he is able to successfully fight back Tatsu by reading Sakamoto’s mind as he watches the fight and mentally guides Shin. While doing so Shin is in a character costume which adds more of a comedic effect to the episode.
