Sakamoto Days Season 1 Review: A Chaotic Blend of Action, Humor, and Heart

Yuto Suzuki’s Sakamoto Days, a breakout hit from Weekly Shonen Jump, made its highly anticipated anime debut in January 2025, adapted by TMS Entertainment and streaming on Netflix. The first season, split into two cours with the first part covering 11 episodes and the second premiering in July 2025, introduces us to Taro Sakamoto, a legendary hitman turned chubby convenience store owner. With a premise that’s equal parts absurd and endearing, Sakamoto Days Season 1 delivers a rollercoaster of action, comedy, and unexpected emotional depth, though it doesn’t always hit the mark with the precision of its protagonist’s chopstick-wielding bullet deflections. Here’s a deep dive into what makes this anime a unique addition to the shonen landscape, its triumphs, and its stumbles.

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The Premise: A Hitman’s Retirement Gone Haywire

At its core, Sakamoto Days is a love letter to the action-comedy genre, blending the gritty aesthetics of a crime drama with the slapstick charm of a Jackie Chan flick. Taro Sakamoto, once the most feared assassin in the underworld, retires after falling head-over-heels for Aoi, a convenience store clerk. Fast forward a few years, and he’s a happily married father with a daughter, Hana, running a mom-and-pop shop in a quiet Japanese town. Oh, and he’s gained a lot of weight, transforming from a chiseled killer to an unassuming, rotund everyman. But when a billion-yen bounty is placed on his head, his peaceful life is upended as assassins from his past come knocking, forcing Sakamoto to dust off his skills while adhering to a strict no-kill rule to protect his family’s idyllic existence.

This setup is refreshingly unconventional for a shonen series. Unlike the typical lean, brooding protagonists of Jujutsu Kaisen or Solo Leveling, Sakamoto’s middle-aged, plus-sized appearance subverts expectations, proving that strength and charisma don’t require a six-pack. The show’s ability to balance his domestic bliss with high-octane battles is its greatest asset, offering a narrative that feels both grounded and delightfully unhinged.

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The Good: Action, Humor, and Heart

Dynamic Action with a Creative Twist
Sakamoto Days shines brightest in its action sequences, which are as inventive as they are absurd. Sakamoto’s fighting style is a spectacle of improvisation—think stopping bullets with a gumdrop or snapping swords with his teeth. The show draws inspiration from classic action cinema, with choreography that echoes the environmental creativity of Jackie Chan’s Police Story or the balletic gunfights of John Woo. A standout moment in Episode 7 features a thrilling bike chase that blends fluid animation with clever use of Sakamoto’s surroundings, proving that TMS Entertainment can deliver when it counts.

The action is elevated by the show’s supporting cast, particularly Shin Asakura, a telepathic ex-assassin, and Lu Xiaotang, the feisty heir to a Chinese mafia family. Their unique abilities—Shin’s mind-reading and Lu’s martial arts prowess—add variety to the fights, while their chemistry with Sakamoto creates a makeshift family dynamic that’s both hilarious and heartfelt. A notable arc in the season finale, “Casino Battle,” showcases Lu’s backstory, revealing how her childhood loyalty shaped her mafia connections, grounding the chaos in emotional stakes.

Humor That Lands (Mostly)
The comedy in Sakamoto Days is a mix of deadpan wit, physical gags, and absurd situations. Sakamoto’s stoic demeanor, voiced impeccably by Tomokazu Sugita in Japanese and Matthew Mercer in the English dub, provides a perfect foil for the over-the-top scenarios he faces. Moments like Sakamoto turning a single ball into two for neighborhood kids or his Ferris wheel showdown with the assassin Boiled are laugh-out-loud highlights that capture the show’s quirky spirit. The humor often stems from the contrast between Sakamoto’s mundane life and his extraordinary skills, making even the most ridiculous moments feel oddly relatable.

Emotional Depth Amid the Chaos
What sets Sakamoto Days apart from other action-comedies is its heart. The show doesn’t shy away from exploring Sakamoto’s motivations—his love for Aoi and Hana drives every decision, giving his battles a personal stake. Flashbacks of Sakamoto’s courtship with Aoi are sweet and understated, offering a glimpse into why he abandoned his deadly past. The supporting cast, particularly Shin and Lu, also get moments of vulnerability that add depth to their larger-than-life personas. These emotional beats, though sometimes brief, make the characters worth rooting for, elevating the series beyond a simple gag-fest.

A Unique Protagonist
Sakamoto himself is the show’s secret weapon. His chubby, unassuming appearance challenges the shonen trope of the “cool” hero, yet his effortless competence keeps him magnetic. Yuto Suzuki’s inspiration from Enter the Fat Dragon is evident, as Sakamoto’s physicality becomes a source of both humor and empowerment. The show’s refusal to mock his weight outright (despite some questionable fatphobic jokes) is refreshing, proving that heroism comes in all shapes and sizes.

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The Not-So-Good: Stumbles in Execution

Inconsistent Animation Quality
While Sakamoto Days has moments of brilliance, its animation is a frequent point of contention. Fans of the manga, known for its detailed art and dynamic choreography, were disappointed by TMS Entertainment’s uneven adaptation. Some episodes feature fluid, well-choreographed fights, but others rely on static images or lackluster compositing, failing to capture the manga’s kinetic energy. Compared to contemporaries like Dandadan, which boasts vibrant visuals, Sakamoto Days feels restrained, with muted colors and inconsistent polish. The tight production schedule, reportedly involving TMS’s Detective Conan team, may explain these shortcomings, but it doesn’t excuse the missed potential.

Pacing and Storytelling Woes
The pacing in Season 1 is a mixed bag. The first episode sets a promising tone, but subsequent arcs can feel meandering, with some episodes dragging and others rushing through key moments. The mystery of who placed the bounty on Sakamoto’s head is intriguing but underdeveloped, leaving viewers waiting too long for meaningful progression. The season finale, while fun, feels more like a side adventure than a climactic resolution, hinting at bigger stakes to come but not fully satisfying as a standalone cour.

Underdeveloped Antagonists
The villains in Sakamoto Days are a hit-or-miss affair. While characters like Boiled and Obiguro bring quirky charm, many assassins feel like disposable obstacles rather than fleshed-out threats. This lack of depth makes some battles feel repetitive, as the show leans heavily on Sakamoto’s overpowered nature to carry the action. A stronger focus on the antagonists’ motivations could have elevated the stakes and made victories more rewarding.

Tone and Voice Acting Challenges
The show struggles to balance its comedic and serious tones, sometimes leaving viewers unsure whether a scene is meant to be funny or dramatic. This is compounded by the voice acting, particularly in the English dub, where Matthew Mercer’s performance as Sakamoto feels oddly monotone in early episodes. While Tomokazu Sugita fares better in the Japanese version, Sakamoto’s limited dialogue—often filtered through Shin’s telepathy—dims the vocal charisma. The supporting cast, including Nobunaga Shimazaki (Shin) and Ayane Sakura (Lu), fares better, but the inconsistent tone can make emotional moments feel abrupt.

Fatphobic Humor
A significant misstep is the show’s occasional reliance on fatphobic jokes, with comments about Sakamoto’s weight like “tub of lard” or “out of shape.” While the series generally celebrates Sakamoto’s strength regardless of his appearance, these moments feel jarring and unnecessary, detracting from its otherwise inclusive spirit. For a show that thrives on subverting stereotypes, this is a disappointing oversight.

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Standout Episodes and Moments

• Episode 1: “The Legendary Hit Man” – A strong introduction that sets up Sakamoto’s dual life with humor and flair, highlighted by his gumdrop bullet-block.
• Episode 7: Bike Chase Sequence – A visually impressive chase that showcases the show’s potential for creative action.
• Episode 11: “Casino Battle” – The finale delivers a fun mix of gambling shenanigans and emotional flashbacks, though it lacks a definitive climax.
• Sakamoto vs. Boiled – The Ferris wheel fight is a perfect blend of absurd comedy and intense action, with Sakamoto’s ingenuity stealing the show.

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Reception and Impact

Sakamoto Days Season 1 has polarized fans, with some praising its charm and others lamenting its failure to match the manga’s artistry. It spent 10 weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (non-English) list, a testament to its broad appeal. On X, reactions range from enthusiastic praise (“that was FIRE 🔥”) to criticism of its “lackluster direction” and “average” execution. Critics have given it a mixed bag: Rotten Tomatoes reports an 83% audience score but no official Tomatometer due to limited reviews, while outlets like IGN call it “serviceable” but not groundbreaking.

The show’s unique premise and infectious character chemistry have carved out a niche, distinguishing it from heavier shonen like Jujutsu Kaisen. However, its animation and pacing issues have sparked debate, with some fans hopeful that Part 2, teased with higher stakes and new villains, will address these flaws.

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Final Verdict: A Wildly Watchable Work in Progress

Sakamoto Days Season 1 is a chaotic, endearing ride that doesn’t always live up to its potential but leaves a lasting impression. Its blend of action, humor, and heart is a refreshing departure from the shonen norm, anchored by a protagonist who’s as lovable as he is lethal. While inconsistent animation, uneven pacing, and occasional tonal missteps hold it back, the show’s charm and creative fight scenes make it a compelling watch for fans of action-comedies like The Way of the Househusband or Spy x Family.

Rating: 3.5/5
With Part 2 set to raise the stakes in July 2025, Sakamoto Days has the chance to refine its formula and become a standout in the shonen genre. For now, it’s a wildly entertaining, if flawed, adventure that proves even a retired hitman can steal the spotlight—one gumdrop at a time.

*Watch *Sakamoto Days* Season 1 on Netflix, with new episodes of Part 2 airing weekly starting July 14, 2025.*