5 Reasons Why Sakamoto Days Is the Most Underrated Manga Right Now
- Sakamoto Days is often overlooked and not considered as a mainstream story despite its amazing twist on the assassin stereotype.
- The series has gained a large fanbase due to its amazing writing and characters, and is considered by them to be one of the greatest pieces of fiction.
- Here are 5 reasons why we think that Sakamoto Days is the most underrated manga out there.
The manga industry produces several works every year that take readers for a wild ride and end up becoming blockbusters. But amid these titans, few exceptional manga often tend to fly under the radar. These tend to be known as underrated manga.
The Shonen series Sakamoto Days is an example of this. It has amazing story beats and characters, but it’s still not as popular as it should be. Here are 5 reasons why Sakamoto Days is the most underrated manga right now.
1. A Fresh take on Assassins
Many forms of media, like movies and stuff often represent assassins as independent contract killers who wear dark outfits while lurking in the shadows with their guns. Sakamoto Days however adds a dramatic flair to it.
The world of Sakamoto Days is one where assassins are all part of an organization known as the Japanese Assassin Association. An assassin in this world comes in all shapes and forms, with everyone wielding a different weapon, from pens to sandblasters.
Each member of this organization has to get themselves licensed to prove that they are an official assassin.
While this concept of assassins being a part of a larger organization has been seen before in movies like John Wick, the amount of detail that Sakamoto Days has put into world-building cannot be seen anywhere else.
2. A one-of-a-kind protagonist
Shonen is full of male protagonists who, during their story, are at their peak, having a sturdy physique that lets them be both strong and agile. The protagonist of Sakamoto Days, Taro Sakamoto however, is an anomaly.
The once legendary hitman fell in love, got married, had a kid, and gained weight. But make no mistake, because he is still pretty fast and will take you out in a second.
The fact that he is a family man also plays a huge role in making him a unique protagonist. Taro is a father and a husband, bringing an unseen angle of maturity and adulthood. And while he doesn’t actively yearn for adventure, he is more than happy to fight for his family.
3. The story is unpredictable
Most manga fail to excite the viewer because of their predictable plot twists and Sakamoto Days ain’t one of those manga.
The story of Sakamoto Days is unpredictable in the best way possible. Every turn in the story is exciting and doesn’t seem like plot armor, instead having a meaningful narrative that serves to explain why a certain plot is taking place.
There is not a single slow moment in the story, and its continuity is second to none, with every plot being interconnected and forming the bigger picture. The dynamic pace of the story makes it a true page-turner and leaves readers wanting more.
4. The action is very John Wick-ish
If a manga based on assassins fails to deliver on its combat sequences, then it’s as good as dead. Luckily, Sakamoto Days masterfully presents action, with every combat being fluid and feeling natural.
Every panel during a fight is drawn with an extreme amount of detail and does a great job of guiding the reader through the various strategies and attacks.
What makes the action in Sakamoto Days even more awesome is its characters, and how each of them has a different personality and how their personalities affect their fights.
For instance, Shin is always thinking more, and fighting in a constricted way when fighting, while Taro’s head is empty and his body moves automatically while adapting to the fight.
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byu/EfficiencySerious200 from discussion
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This Reddit post on the subreddit r/SakamotoDays and a comment by user u/ConQwat perfectly describe the action sequences in the manga.
5. The characters feel alive
Beyond its impressive fights and story, another thing that Sakamoto Days excels in is character development. Every character is allowed to learn from their experiences and the changes in their personality are as clear as sky.
The bond between Sakamoto and his allies grows throughout the story. Sakamoto doesn’t trust Shin out of compulsion, but because he knows that he is a great fighter. He lets Heisuke fight a sniper from the Order because he knows that Heisuke is the better sniper.
Even the antagonist, Slur, and his allies share this, with Kei caring about them and constantly allowing them to support him.
Other than action, what is the best thing about the series?
byu/Odd_Staff_2403 inSakamotoDays
A discussion on the r/SakamotoDays subreddit showed that several fans also think that the characters and their personalities are the best part of the story, with some of them even saying that no other manga has done characters as well as Sakamoto Days.
Sakamoto Days truly distinguishes itself from the rest of the manga through its amazing worldbuilding, unique protagonist, unpredictable story, sleek action, and lively characters. And while these may not have made it mainstream, they did make it a masterpiece.
