Sakamoto Days: Real Reason Yuto Suzuki Created Shin Gives the ‘Handsome’ Assassin a Level of Depth Even the Anime Will Have Trouble Exploring

Sakamoto Days is jumping on the bandwagon of the new-age anime with its cult popularity. The hitman-themed series has gained traction for its riveting yet unconventional plot and an outlandish protagonist. It is a step away from conventional shonen storytelling.

This also ties well with the mangaka’s positioning of characters in his series. Apart from Taro, Yuto Suzuki’s introduction of Shin as a “handsome” character isn’t merely for aesthetic purposes.

Taro Sakamoto in a still from the anime | Credit: TMS Entertainment

Interestingly, the clairvoyant character has more depth and gravitas to his character. To the point that most readers deem him the second protagonist alongside Taro. But most of all, he is far-fetched from the good-looking second lead stereotype.

Above all, Suzuki went above and beyond in his conception of the deuteragonist. Despite his good looks, he adds substance and depth which is often overlooked. Moreover, this extends to the anime’s possible flatlining of these details that fans are worried about.

Shin’s characterization by Yuto Suzuki speaks volumes

Apart from being a charming blonde guy, Shin Asakura is a skilled assassin and a protege working under Taro Sakamoto. The 20-year-old former hitman is seasoned and sensible in several aspects, especially relationships. His bond with Taro is one such example but there’s more to his character than meets the eye.

Shin Asakura in a still from the manga | Credit: Shueisha

As a former hitman and assassin, he assists Taro and looks up to him. In his conception of Shin’s character, Yuto Suzuki outlined several layers and complexities that add further depth to his character.

His clairvoyance, along with Taro’s killing intent, is the running gag in the manga. But most of all, Shin’s past and his emotions are pivotal in understanding his profundity as a character. His sensibility and compassion set him apart in most aspects, as the editor Sousuke Ishikawa noted.   

In an interview with MangaPlus, Ishikawa revealed the process and reasoning behind the character’s conception. He quoted:

Since Sakamoto is reserved, having a mind-reading character makes the story move smoothly. With Shin there, we can also have the running gag of “Don’t kill me in your mind!” which brightens up the story.

Barring the comical element, Shin’s maturity and perceptive nature are what make him different from other characters. His abandoning Asakura while harboring guilt reflects a spectrum of emotions.

Suzuki captures these complexities brilliantly yet beautifully in his manga. The anime, however, seems contentious among fans for several reasons including this one. From animation to details, fans are on the fence regarding the series’ trailer.

Sakamoto Days anime seems contentious for the most part

Sakamoto Days isn’t just popular but a well-received shonen manga that has its unique take on the assassin genre. Suzuki blends humor with action and slice-of-life themes to accentuate its wholesomeness. But that is not all considering its power-packed action scenes.

With the anime’s premiere in January, fans are worried about the manga turning into a humdrum of all sorts. This is especially true for the battle choreography along with Suzuki’s detail-oriented art style.

Sakamoto, Shin, Nagumo, Shaotang, and Heisuke in a still from the manga | Credit: Shueisha

The trailer itself raised skepticism among readers who fear the flatlining of core elements from the manga. While TMS Entertainment has an impressive roster of anime, at most the visuals seem subpar according to most fans.

Along with visuals and battle choreography, pacing seems to be a major issue with new-age anime. It is a hit-or-miss situation considering the richness of the text. And while the teaser seems promising, fans can only sit and hope for the best.

By and by, the meticulous nature of manga isn’t easy to capture in an anime. TMS Entertainment’s teaser of the series seems to live up to the hype nonetheless. As for battle choreography, fans would have to wait and bear witness to it.

Sakamoto Days is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app. The anime will be premiering on January 11th, 2025 on Netflix.