Shin faces off against Tatsu on the rails of the rollercoaster. He can’t read Tatsu’s mind. He tells Tatsu that It’s “Mr. Sakamoto’s day off and he’s covering for him.” Tatsu is confused why Shin is even telling him that. Suddenly, a rollercoaster speeds towards them. Tatsu and Shin manage to jump out of the way. However, Tatsu is able to take advantage of the disruption and hits Shin with poisonous knives. Tatsu accuses Sakamoto of being a coward who’s “afraid to die.” His theory is that “when a person isn’t prepared to face death, they become weaker.”
Shin takes advantage of another rollercoaster and proceeds to knock Tatsu off. They both land on stage where a children’s show is being preformed. Shin quickly put on a bunny suit claiming he can now “see.” The two fight in front of a bunch of kids who think they’re all part of the show. Sakamoto and his family are in the audience. Sakamoto is into the scene, trying to predict the moves of Shin (who he thinks is another actor). While in costume Shin movement improves and his ability to read Tatsu’s movement increases. Tatsu cuts Shin’s mask revealing that his eyes are closed. Shin defeats Tatsu with his attack: Deadly Dynamite Rabbit Shock.
Day 9 – Boiled and Obiguro
Tatsu is tied up, while Lu applies the antidote to Shin’s eyes. Sakamoto asks Tatsu “who hired him?” After Lu threatens him, he shares that he was hired by the Dondenkai LTD. Assassin Agency. Tatsu is a member of JAA (Japanese Association of Assassins) which Mr. Sakamoto and Shin use to be members of. The association features just under 400 assassins in Japan. The organization seems very professional as Shin even has a ID card from them. Tatsu asks Sakamoto if he’s “ex-order.” Sakamoto doesn’t respond but Tatsu takes it as a yes.
With Tatsu defeated, two new assassins arrive, Boiled and Obiguro. Boiled has a motto: only take the lives of their targets, he even stops Obiguro from stepping on some ants. The two assassin bother Tatsu in the bathroom. He reveals that together they massacred over 200 people during the “Ronriko Incident.” Sakamoto, Shin, and Lu try to balance avoiding assassins while having fun with Sakamoto’s family. So far it has lead to comedic moments but it may become a problem at some point. As the group enter the haunted house, Boiled and Obiguro prepare to attack.
Day 10 – Hard-boiled
Shin and Sakamoto are attacked by an assassin but quickly dispatch him. The assassin was a rookie and Shin isn’t impressed. In the security room, Obiguro and Boiled watch. Boiled recalls his encounter with Sakamoto at Assassin Training School. Boiled’s resentment was built on a petty misunderstanding. In school, Sakamoto was popular with the girls in the school. Boiled not so much.
Shin and Sakamoto continue to defeat assassin after assassin. A horde of zombies appear blocking the view of Sakamoto. This allows Boiled to get a hit on Sakamoto. Despite his attack Sakamoto is unphased and simply asks him to “move.” Boiled asks him if he remembers him. Sakamoto claims he doesn’t and asks for his family. Elsewhere, Obiguro faces off against Shin. She’d disappointed that she’ll have to face the “small fry.” Suddenly, a drunken Lu comes and kicks Obiguro in the face. Sakamoto tells Boiled that he needs to “prepare to experience hell.”
Day 11 – Sakamoto vs Boiled
Sakamoto becomes annoyed at Boiled’s refusal to tell him where his family is. Boiled is in his feeling, clearly hurt that Sakamoto apparently finds him so forgettable. He tells Sakamoto that “if he lost something, find it yourself.” Sakamoto attacks Boiled in a rage but it’s dodged and hit with “bombs.” Boiled’s fist are enforced with what looks like engine parts. He strikes Sakamoto in the face. Hearing the noise form the other room, Obiguro decides that she “play” around with Shin and Lu.
Obiguro has her goon tie Shin up. She tells Lu that “every ten seconds she must attack and make contact,” otherwise she’ll have Shin “cut up.” Lu starts crying and apologizes to Shin. Meanwhile, Boiled tells Sakamoto that five years out of retirement has made him soft. Sakamoto attempts to hit him from behind but Boiled recache his Super Ball Bombs and hits Sakamoto. As Boiled unleashes a series of attacks, he calls Sakamoto a “fatty,” and tells him he can’t “even protect his family.”
Suddenly, Boiled has a vision of his death. Sakamoto remembers the components of Boiled’s bombs. Sakamoto has remembered Boiled and has lost weight, claiming that he going “all out.”
Day 12 – Source of Strength
Boiled is not impressed by Sakamoto’s transformation. However, Sakamoto’s speed has clearly increased. Meanwhile, Lu is still fighting Obiguro, who has sent the limitation that if Lu doesn’t attack her “every ten seconds,” then she’ll cut Shin. Lu drunk and tired doesn’t seem to be taking the fight too seriously though. When she hits Obiguro with her braid, the assassin takes it personally. She responds with an Emperor Killing Style Karate Secret Technique Heel Drop. What appears to be a devastating blow, isn’t as Lu gets up mocking Shin for his “shrill,” screaming.
Obiguro attacks Lu with a barrage of kicks and punches. Lu manages to dodge each one with ease. Obiguro begs Lu to “try and kill her.” Lu refuses because it’s against the rules of the Sakamoto family. She includes Shin, Sakamoto, Mrs. Aoi, and Hana in the “family.” Obiguro doesn’t understand because their not blood related. Lu becomes angry after Obiguro calls her “stupid.” She lands a punch but has sober up and the hit does no damage. Obiguro assumes this is deliberate and is excited to meet someone strong. Meanwhile, Sakamoto is wrecking Boiled. The later cannot comprehend how the retired assassin can still be this strong. Sakamoto tells him his strength comes from his desire to protect his family.
Day 13 – Video Rental
Mrs. Aoi overhears Sakamoto and Boiled’s conversation when they discuss the “price,” that’s currently on Sakamoto’s head. She’s pissed. She reminds him of Sakamoto family rule, article 12: No Secrets. Aoi tells him to “take care” of the assassin problem. Sakamoto decides the best way to do this would be to “get the bounty lifted.” They will head to see the “Dondenkai Boss.” Obiguro and Boiled have no idea where their boss is bur Sakamoto has an idea, Shinjuku.
Sakamoto leads Lu and Shin through an alleyway towards a video rental place. Sakamoto asks the clerk if they had a “movie about the Dondenkai.” The clerk tells him the it “should be in the violence section.” The video rental shop sells information in the form of movies. Shin, Sakamoto, and Lu watch the Dondenkai movie. It’s revealed that the assassin agency has more than 50 professional assassins, started by it’s first assassin Dondenkai. The building that they’re headquartered in is shown.
Sakamoto, Shin, and Lu heads to the Dondenkai HQ but instead of talking the assassins head-on they try to avoid a fight by going on a “stealth mission.”
Day 14 – Stealth Mission
Shin and Sakamoto swiftly dispatch several assassins inside the Dondenkai HQ. Their goal is to get to the boss on the top floor. They choose to climb up the side of the building using suction cups. The re-enter through a window taking out two more men. Sakamoto warns them that some of his more dangerous former colleagues might be around. Elsewhere, at the white tower, a number of assassin meet five hours prior to Sakamoto’s inflitration.
Four assassins, three men and a woman mention Sakamoto. They bicker and when the assassin Mr. Shishiba almost eats risotto with onions he kills the head chief. The violence isn’t shocking but the murder makes it explicit that assassin that aren’t Sakamoto have very little regard for life. An elderly man named Iriya welcomes the members of the “order.” However, four of the members are missing.
Iriya presents their new assignment. They’re responsible for eliminating the “unknown killer,” taken out more than 30 assassins. They have cost the association more than 300 million yen. In the present, Sakamoto, Shin, and Lu realize that they isn’t a lot of resistance. As they approach the bosses door they a greeted by one of Sakamoto’s old associates and order member, Nagumo. The order and the boss are introduced to set up they main enemies of the series. Considering, Sakamoto’s no killing policy and how he extends this limit to his “family.”
Day 15 – Initiation
Nagumo greets the crew, pretending to be responsible for the massacre. He even “attacks,” Shin with great speed appearing to stab him in the neck. It’s implied that Sakamoto knew he wasn’t series, so it likely he would have stopped Nagumo had he been serious. Nagumo says that he wasn’t present when they assassin was killed. He was investigating the string of murders on assassins by a mysterious person.
He believes that the killer is trying to send the association a message, often leaving a ‘X’ at the scene of the crime. They have already killed a quarter of the assassin industry. We get a more specific definition of what the “order” is. The elite killing squad is charged with “maintaining the order of the assassin world.” Nagumo warns Sakamoto and the others that they might be targets considering the fact that the killings started when the bounty was placed on Sakamoto’s head.
Sakamoto is concerned that they’re not in shape and decides to work out to prepare. Shin plans on improving his telepathy. Lu tries to improve but has difficulty controlling herself after drinking to get stronger.
Day 16 – Department Store War
Sakamoto and Shin are heading to the department store on a new mission: acquire backpack for Hana. After watching a commercial, Hana wants the limited edition Sugar Backpacks. Sakamoto goes as far as calling an informant. When they arrive at the store they see a riot. Parents are throwing hands over the 20 remaining backpacks. Shin tries to grab one but is elbowed by an elder woman.
Sakamoto determined to get Hana the last one, springs into action. He’s assaulted by a number of grandparents. One elder lady begins choking him from behind. Sakamoto struggles to breathe and flashbacks to his assassin training when he had to fend off sharks at 100 meters. Beaten and bloodied, Sakamoto wins the tug of war.
When he tries to pay for it the clerk tosses the backpack in horror at his bloody face. He and Shin rush of to grab the backpack as it bounces of various surfaces. Shin is surprise how much effort Sakamoto is putting in. When he sees Sakamoto’s memories he finally understands how much Sakamoto loves his daughter. Hana is happy, so mission accomplished. However, it backfires when the backpack inspires a boy to ask Hana to be his girlfriends.
Volume Opinion
Volume 2 of Sakamoto Days expands the universe introducing us to some of Sakamoto’s past enemies and colleagues. The order and the murder called ‘X’ are also introduced but with the twist that it’s not the assassination association that’s the primary enemy. Sakamoto Day’s continues to impress me, the art style, the comedy, action, and the theme’s of family born or found being important. As I’ve mentioned earlier, I wonder if Sakamoto can maintain his don’t kill belief in the future. Also would Sakamoto’s “family,” increase in size over the series?