This article contains slight spoilers for the first two episodes of Sakamoto Days
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With the release of its new anime,Sakamoto Days, a beloved manga, is finally reaching the forefront of anime culture. Although currently there are some debates about the quality of the show’s animation, so far, many people are enjoying the strange antics of Sakamoto and Shin as they navigate the dangerous world of hitmen. In fact, so far, one of the most enjoyable elements of the series is the quirky dark comedy that comes with having an overweight master assassin as the protagonist.
Due to the goofy, yet still emotional and action-based, atmosphere thatSakamoto Daysbrings to the table, many fans have started comparing the show to the legendary animeGintama. While both shows are incredibly different in their concepts, tonally they both bring a familiar brand of comedy and emotional storytelling to the table. Although it isn’t too apparent at first, it seems likethe newSakamoto DaysanimeandGintamaare connected in many ways.
Sakamoto Days And Gintama Are Two Very Different Premises
Their Tones And Characters Help Link The Two Together
Sakamoto Daysis a new action-comedy animethat follows the exploits of a hitman, Taro Sakamoto, after he decides to quit the business of being a killer and settle down with a family. After putting on a substantial amount of weight, Sakamoto is forced back into the world of killers when his past quickly starts to catch up with him. Now, Sakamoto must defend his family from the criminal underworld.
There was once a hitman, said to be the greatest, and his name was Taro Sakamoto.
As forGintama, the story follows an unemployed samurai who does odd jobs for money. Set in a version of Japan that was forcefully opened to a galactic level by aliens,the legendary anime series,Gintama,shares a world where the way of the samurai is slowly dying out, with Gin being one of the last of his kind. However, despite the nature of this premise, the show is generally a goofy comedy, often parodying other anime. Still, there are a fair number of emotional moments in the series, as well as some incredibly high-stakes arcs randomly scattered throughout the show.
Gin And Sakamoto Are Similar Protagonists
They Are Both Lazy Heroes Who Know When To Get Serious
Firstly, many fans have noticed that Gin and Sakamoto, despite having incredibly different personalities, fill similar roles asunique protagonists in anime. Both are incredibly good at what they do, whether being a samurai or a hitman for Gin and Sakamoto respectively, yet choose to hide their true talents under a relaxed demeanor. However, when things get intense, both characters are prone to showing off their true nature as amazingly competent fighters. This provides a similar style of humor, as well as a satisfying moment when the hero steps in to save the day, which is apparent in bothGintamaandSakamoto Days.
At the same time,the day-to-day premise ofSakamoto Daysalso feels eerily similar toGintamaas well. With the main cast of characters working at Sakamoto’s Store, it feels close to the main cast ofGintamaworking at Gin’s Odd Jobs. At the same time, the cast ofSakamoto Daysis also reminiscent ofGintama, with Sakamoto acting as a Gin-esque figure, and Shin filling a similar role as a sidekick as Shinpachi, and Lu Xiaotang filling a similar role as Kagura.
Gintama And Sakamoto Days Have Some Major Differences
Both Of These Shows Take Two Wildly Different Directions
However, of course, although the shows have a similar cast and tone, the premise of the series is where the main differences lie. WhileGintama,with it’s many characters, is full of emotional moments and hilarious parodies, these moments aren’t as apparent as they are inSakamoto Days.Gintama, to many, is a series that emulates the wacky ups and downs of life, whereasSakamoto Daysis closer to a pure battle shōnen, focusing on incredibly choreographed fight scenes.
Until one day, Sakamoto fell in love.
In the end, being compared to an anime likeGintamais far from a bad thing. AlthoughSakamoto Daysis still currently releasing, at its core, it’s a strong show that reminds fans of other amazing shows they enjoyed. Hopefully, soon,Sakamoto Dayswill stand on its own as a great anime for people to enjoy. Until then, the comparison to a legendary anime won’t hurt its chances of becoming even more popular.
Sakamoto Days
Cast
A 2025 anime, Sakamoto Days is an action-comedy based on Yuto Suzuki’s shonen manga, which debuted in 2020. The series follows Taro Sakamoto, a retired hitman who has been enjoying the family life for years. He spends his days running a small store alongside Shin, but his peaceful existence is regularly interrupted by ghosts of the past.
