Sakamoto Days, Vol. 13

SAKAMOTO DAYS サカモト デイズ #13

by Yuto Suzuki

Taro Sakamoto was once a legendary hit man considered the greatest of all time. Bad guys feared him! Assassins revered him! But then one day he quit, got married, and had a baby. He’s now living the quiet life as the owner of a neighborhood store, but how long can Sakamoto enjoy his days of retirement before his past catches up to him?!

In order to avoid expulsion from the JCC, a young Sakamoto, Nagumo, and Akao are assigned a special mission—along with another outcast, Uzuki. The assassins close in on their target at a special department store for hit men, but unbeknownst to them, their actions there will alter the course of their futures forever…

Genres: Manga, Action, Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels, Comics, Shonen

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2023

About the author

Yuto Suzuki (鈴木祐斗; Suzuki Yūto) es un mangaka japonés.

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving the flashback chapters! And also the fact that Sakamoto/Nagumo/Akao were the strongest but also the most annoying assassins in training ever. The school officials HATED them :D

[Pash⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fight scenes in this series are absolutely PHENOMENAL 🤌🏾

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of Sakamoto Days is a straight up adrenaline injection, proving a flashback can be just as FIRE as the main story. Yuto Suzuki pulls the focus entirely into the past to flesh out the Order's history, but don't think for a second this is filler. We get some of the series' best action scenes ever! I'm talking completely badass fights that are insanely well-choreographed. More than just spectacle, this deep dive delivers some essential character development, giving us a much-needed look at Sakamoto and, crucially, Nagumo during their prime.

While it’s true this trip down memory lane doesn't progress the main plot one bit, the payoff in context and pure fighting spectacle is worth every page. The emotional stakes for the current story are cranked way up now that we've seen these legendary assassins in their early days. It's a masterclass in using a flashback to fuel the future. This volume is pure action-packed necessity, which is why it easily lands a 4 out of 5.

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this volume we go back to see Mr. Sakamoto and his buddies’ days of youth, the action scenes are surprisingly excellent and well done, if action is your thing, you will love this volume.

[fulcrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favourite for sure! the fight scenes are brilliant, the character dynamics are super fun, i can really feel the chemistry, and they work so well together. rion akao you will forever be loved.

[Raya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Blake the Book Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

FLASHBACK ARC GOES CRAZY!! THE STUNTS AND ACTION ARE TOP TIER

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not really a fan of the back to school arc. But a full flashback story is acceptable. It helps that the story is interesting, with some good action.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una persecución muy entretenida, con paneles increíbles, pero no se puede terminar el tomo AHÍ.

[Annalise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m OBSESSED with this flashback sequence🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[Munsaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back story on how everything started and we see Uzuki(Slur/X) has actually been working on the other side since back then

[gab!!!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOUHOUUUUU TROP BIEN LA BACKSTORY

[Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

mmmm back story

[el · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Danny™️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this flashback volume

[Christine Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aw i really like seeing sakamoto's school days and old friends:)
And the plot is all connecting now!!!

[Kieran Antoniuk-Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being stuck in a sea of god valley flashbacks for the last two months it’s nice to see a Manga do a good flashback arc

[Lee Roi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My personal favourite Sakamoto Days volume/arc. The character interactions are so funny and the actions are one of the best of the series. Can’t wait for it to get adapted in the Anime.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a a good volume!
It gave me some of the backstory into Sakamoto's early days, and his friendships with Akao and Nagumo, and their meeting with X!

I didn't realize how much I needed these flashbacks because now a lot is making sense!

[Nouran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly can't wait for these fights to get animated because this is insane.

[cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like how yuto doesn’t make the kids in his volumes annoying af. hana and konomi must be protected at all costs

[Icko · Rating 4 out of 5]

banger flashback

[Ilham Muradov · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

Chapter 107:

Chapter 108: I've got one more team member for you! Kei Uzuki. He's a third-year student in the assasination department, same as you.

Chapter 108: You know how to work a register?
No need for you to learn, Sakamoto. You'll never work a register in your life.

Chapter 108: The name's Kindaka. I lead a team known as The Order. Now, which one of you is stronger?
Him.
Me.

Chapter 109:

Chapter 110: I'll do some strategizing.
Is it comfortable?
It's the best!

Chapter 111: Between you and me, Yotsumura's in the Order too. In fact, he and I are the founders.

Chapter 111: I'll make it work.

Chapter 112: Sakamoto. I've got a mini mission for you. Make Konomi laugh.

Chapter 113:

Chapter 113:

Chapter 113:

Chapter 113:

Chapter 114: If it were a regular room full of random stuff, out of hundred fights, he'd win every time.

Chapter 114: I'm the one who knows how to utilize a weapon to the max. Sakamoto knows how to use anything on-site as a weapon. Nagumo does everything with cordination and skill.

Chapter 114: Well, why the sudden change of heart?
No reason. Just, this mission could be fatal and I don't want to have regrets!

Chapter 114: When you said I wasn't cut out to be an assassin, I was a bit relieved. It felt like you were saying I was a decent person.

Chapter 114: Yo, Sakamoto. Who's that guy? Let's jump him!

Chapter 114: If you ever mention my family or chairman's with the door open again, I'll kill you.

Chapter 114: It's me.
Is the mission going as planned?
This isn't what we agreed to. You never said the VIP was a member of a general public.
Oh, that? I figured you'd wimp out if you knew I sent you to kill a defenseless mother and child. I was being nice as your big brother.

Chapter 115: Complate your mission as a spy, Kei. Kill the chairman's wife and daughter.
I can't. I can't hurt innocent people!
I see. Then it's too bad about the Al-Kamar orphanage...
Instead, I'll take out Kindaka.

[Ophélie Regat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flash-back de la jeunesse de Taro à la JCC.

Lors d'une sortie scolaire avec Madame Satoda, Taro, Nagumo et Akao foutent le bordel et vandalisent du mobilier urbain. Suite à cela (et à bien d'autres problèmes qu'ils ont causé par le passé), ils sont virés de la JCC à moins de réussir une sorte d'examen de rattrapage (ils apprendront par la suite qu'il n'était pas prévu qu'ils survivent). Ils seront accompagnés d'un autre élève, Uzuki.

Ils se rendent dans un grand magasin qui sert de couverture à Goryu, un assassin. Il s'agit en fait de Kindaka, le fondateur de l'Ordre (avec Yotsumura, bras droit du Président de la FJA à ce moment-là). Après un combat acharné contre lui, il ne peut plus vraiment se battre et leur propose d'intégrer l'Ordre temporairement afin d'accomplir une mission directement diligentée par le Président de la FJA (qui leur permettra de réintégrer la JCC). La mission consiste finalement à escorter l'épouse et la fille du Président jusqu'à l'aéroport de la FJA afin de les mettre à l'abri à l'étranger. Deux assassins tentent de les en empêcher.

A la FJA, le Président et Yostumura parlent de cette mission. Un autre agent de la FJA, Asaki, entre dans la pièce et parait un peu suspect. On apprend qu'il est le grand frère (spirituel ?) d'Uzuki et qu'il lui a donné l'ordre de tuer la femme et la fille du Président (sans lui avoir dit au préalable qu'elles étaient civiles). Uzuki n'est pas chaud et préfère tuer Kindaka et Yotsumura afin qu'Asaki puisse prendre la tête de la FJA. Asaki accepte mais en cas d'échec de la mission, il tuera les amis d'Uzuki de l'orphelinat, notamment Gaku.

En route vers l'aéroport, les assassins font exploser un pont suspendu. Les protagonistes se font face et le combat va débuter.

[dols]

this first set of the flashback volumes makes me so extremely nostalgic. it hasn’t been long since these events took place but so much has changed in the interim. i understand why this kind of lifestyle was unsustainable for sakamoto especially as someone who has seen firsthand people in the industry start families and always be in danger, but i can’t imagine why he would give up a life that was so well-suited for him. i say this from the point of view of nagumo, who so clearly loved the thrill that he continues to be in the order to this day — i think it’s sad how quickly it can all slip away from you — and as someone who values friendships so much that i get sensitive about change. i just think it’s sad how you think your life will lead you one way then just goes astray. your life gradually changes you in ways that are completely unimaginable. then in the future, when you look at your past in the eye — can you earnestly say you still recognize who’s looking back at you? that’s why this volume hits different for me. i get it, but i also don’t.

- nagumo with kids i get why he’s so popular now lol and the tattoos are kinda dewing eht for mi
- rion :((( RION??! RION!!!! her dynamic with uzuki was nice i love-hate that they’re so fundamentally different, because they could have worked but also totally clashed. it’s one or the other lang talaga
- RIONS FIGHT SEQUENCE AT THE DEPARTMENT STORE TANGINA ANG ANGAS MO MADZAM
- the rion-nagumo-sakamoto dynamic is so :((( MY HEART BRING THEM BACK TO ME I KNOW IT WON’T BE THE SAME ANYMORE BUT GIVE THEM BACK

[Eduardo Cortez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love good backstories, and this entire book is just backstory. The plot for this volume revolves around a mission Sakamoto and gang had to take after being expelled from school. What makes me happy about this volume is the dynamic that is shown between Sakamoto, Rion, and Nagumo. We see them in their youthful years before Sakamoto quit and you can very clearly see the amount of skill each individual carried.
Without spoiling too much about the plot, the trio's lives are going to change drastically with the people they encounter in this volume.
That being said, it's refreshing to see the skillset everyone carries.
You can see Sakamoto is skilled with making use of anything as a weapon. He knows how to make a weapon out of anything in a room no matter how silly it may seem. Randomness is his forte
Then we have Nagumo who is a master as disguising himself. However, that's not the only ability he carries. Apart from what I just mentioned, Nagumo is also very well coordinated (as mentioned in the book).
As for Rion, she has the ability to use wide range. What that means is she is, effectively, GOATED at seeing the path she must take to reach her target. It honestly feels like cheating but OH WELL.

Overall, I love the narrative this backstory brings, and I can't wait to see the end of the flashback.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume sees the start of a flashback to Sakamoto's youth with Nagumo and Rion, I guess to set up how Slur becomes a bad guy. The shift in focus to actual storytelling over previous chapters of PEOPLE FIGHT shows that Suzuki-sensei is making a greater effort at a longer-lasting legacy for his manga, but it comes at a bit of a price: Sakamoto is thin this entire time, which strays from the original gag premise of the manga, and makes the series feel like Fat Sakamoto was a Trojan Horse to trick the editors into greenlighting a comedy series instead of another battle manga. Now, Suzuki-sensei is kind of better at action than he is at comedy, but still.

It's funny how dudes in the comments section on MangaPlus keep saying they want Rion to step on them.

[Ja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to read an entire volume on Sakamoto's flashback with Nagumo and Akao, but here we are. And it all works. As we learn about their time at the JCC and how they were introduced to the Order, they find that they have to rely on one another to complete an assignment. What works particularly well here is that they all work together well as a team and are able to hold their own against their enemies. Too often in the main story, Sakamoto has to come in and save the day. While I've always appreciated Nagumo, his personality gets to shine a lot more here and I find him to be a lot more likable. Likewise, Akao is a new character here and she has quickly become a favorite of mine.

Curious where the story is going to go next.

[Andrew Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried to get into this series as it was coming out. The comical tone of both the dialogue (only at times, of course) and the combat threw me off and I stopped reading it as it was coming out. Well, I picked it up back again, and it only grows in readability the deeper you go; in fact, I think the first few chapters are rather weak in terms of the shock factor, which isn't what you might expect from a story centered around the assassin society dwelling within our otherwise normal world. Assassins being contracted to kill one another.

Man, the type of killers Suzuki introduces in the last forty chapters or so of the circulated chapters are GAS, the matchups are GAS, fight choreography and fight art quality up there with the best of them, I don't care bro. I was actually thrown by a twist. As a cherry on top, Osaragi is one of the best designs I've ever seen, Sakamoto is absolutely adorable while being a very respectable protagonist, albeit if Sakamoto is a little "plot armor-y."

I am reading now, Suzuki Yuto.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
A great volume of Sakamoto Days that delves into Sakamoto's backstory. Leading up to going after Slur, Sakamoto begins to share about his history with Slur. This provides some great backstory to a number of characters, including Sakamoto, while providing important information about their youth. I'm interested to see how the rest of this arc plays out as we continue to explore Sakamoto's past.