Sakamoto’s Relationship to Shin, Explained

Even in the underworld, a lot of coworkers form strong bonds with each other, as they work together on a daily basis and begin to build strong trust among themselves. In the anime Sakamoto Days, Shin is a young man who gets caught in the assassin world after running away from home, and finds Taro Sakamoto, who becomes his mentor and somewhat of an older brother figure.

Both Sakamoto and Shin had known each other for quite some time, even before Sakamoto chose to retire as a hitman and leave everything behind. However, the two men in Sakamoto Days eventually cross paths again, and their bond becomes even stronger than before.

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Sakamoto and Shin’s Background

Who Are These Two Well-Known Hitmen?

Taro Sakamoto’s story is one that those in the underworld are very familiar with. He had been working as a hitman since he was only 14 years old, having joined the Japanese Association of Assassins. During this time, he befriends a few classmates and works with them on a secret mission that eventually winds up with Sakamoto joining the Order. After losing some of his friends to another classmate named Uzuki, he becomes much more focused and continues his work, becoming incredibly well-known in the Order. As time passed, he eventually met Aoi, his future wife, who worked at a convenience store he visited. Though they began dating when he was still a part of the Order, she soon became tired of his profession which led him to choose to retire.

As for Shin, he was left behind by his biological father to be taken care of by Asakura, who worked as a researcher. Shin often got himself caught up in the experiments Asakura was conducting, and even accidentally took a serum that Asakura created that gave him telepathic powers. Despite being happy with the outcome and the abilities he now possessed, Asakura felt differently, which led Shin to run away from home at a young age. Eventually, he met Taro Sakamoto, and they began to work together as assassins, forming a strong bond that would eventually stand the test of time when they meet again.

How Did Sakamoto and Shin Meet?

The Origins of the Two’s Relationship

Many years before the start of the Sakamoto Days manga and anime, Shin and Sakamoto had crossed paths during Sakamoto’s prime as a hitman. It was clear that their first encounter had completely changed Shin’s world and made him look up to Sakamoto in a way that he had never done before. Not only was Sakamoto already well-known in the underworld for his impressive talents, but getting to see his work in action was a sight to behold for Shin.

Soon after they met, Shin joined Sakamoto in the assassin world, especially due to his unique telepathic powers that made him an incredibly useful asset to the Order. Shin was already quite eager to join the underworld as an assassin, and his enthusiasm was multiplied after seeing first-hand what Taro Sakamoto was capable of. He desired to be just like Sakamoto, who ended up being his biggest inspiration and someone he looked up to greatly, like an older brother.

Since Sakamoto saw great potential in the young man with his telepathic abilities, he soon took Shin in and worked as his mentor in the underworld. He taught him everything he knew, and they worked alongside each other for quite some time, and slowly they began to form a bond. However, during their time together, Sakamoto decided to quit his hitman profession unexpectedly, which surprised Shin and left him alone for some time. At the beginning of the first season of the anime, Shin is tasked by the Order to locate Sakamoto and eliminate him, since those who join are not allowed to leave. However, his attempt fails, and he soon takes Sakamoto’s side again.

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What Is Their Relationship Now?

Shin and Sakamoto Have Become Like Family

Shin’s attempt to eliminate Sakamoto in the first episode was only based on following what he was told by the Order, rather than actually wanting to eliminate his former mentor. After losing in battle to Sakamoto, Sakamoto takes Shin into his home and patches him up, and Shin begins to work at his convenience store, while occasionally participating in assassin jobs together when needed.

After the two reunited, Shin’s admiration for Sakamoto grows even stronger, and they become closer than they ever were. Shin admires Sakamoto for choosing to leave his profession to protect his family and live a simple life with his wife and daughter. He becomes increasingly loyal to Sakamoto, and essentially becomes a part of the family and a close friend to Sakamoto.

While Shin always looked up to Sakamoto, their current relationship is much stronger than it ever was in the past, despite Sakamoto no longer being in his prime and part of the assassin world. They build a friendship that is much less surface-level, caring deeply for each other’s wellbeing and looking to protect one another when up against formidable enemies. Outside of just professional respect, Shin and Sakamoto have become brothers, and Shin has even grown a strong bond with Sakamoto’s family over time, proving his true dedication.

Sakamoto Days is available to stream on Netflix.

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.

Release Date

January 11, 2025

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Character(s)

Taro Sakamoto
, Shin Asakura
, Lu Shaotang
, Aoi Sakamoto
, Heisuke Mashimo
, Obiguro
, Boiled
, Son Hee
, Bacho