Sakamoto Days Subverts Batman & Robin’s Worst Problem In the Best Way Possible

One of the most engaging facets of Sakamoto Days is how the lead character, Taro Sakamoto, is enjoying a retired life. He left behind the assassin fraternity in Japan, opting to become a husband to Aoi. Now, they’re taking care of their daughter, Hana, and running a convenience store together. It’s a mix of shonen anime action and slice-of-life stories.

To set the tone, the anime debuts with scenes that highlight how brutal and lethal Taro was back in his day. It adds context and frames the duality of his past and present. After just one episode, these poignant sequences build up an interesting direction once his sidekick, Shin Asakura, comes into play years later. As much as it’ll be about Taro staying out of the hitman business, it’s also remixing the DC lore with Batman and Robin in the best way possible: with more depth, heart and soul.

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Sakamoto Days’ Shin and Taro Invert Batman and Robin’s Story

Sakamoto and Shin Become Introverted to Avoid Crime

As far as DC goes, the concept of Batman and Robin has remained consistent across most realities. The Dark Knight almost always trains and works with a Boy Wonder (or Girl Wonder, like Carrie Kelley) to fight crime. The Dynamic Duo actively seek out crime to try & bring fiends to justice. Most of the animated movies, cartoons, video games, TV shows and live-action flicks focus primarily on Batman & Robin taking on their rogues gallery.

In Sakamoto Days Episode 1, Shin is already trained as an assassin. He seeks out the legendary Taro, a hitman who has a mythical aura akin to the Caped Crusader. Taro is a one-man wrecking crew who kills from the shadows, so he’s far more violent and aggressive than Bruce Wayne. In that sense, Taro is Batman’s antithesis. Bruce Wayne may not kill, but he is still a dangerous weapon who hospitalizes many individuals.

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Shin looks up to Taro in “The Legendary Hit Man,” but he eventually tries to kill him for leaving the fraternity behind. In time, Shin embarks on a quest for redemption. He wants to heal from his past trauma, so Taro offers him a job and a spot in the family. Notably, he doesn’t weaponize grief and rage the way Bruce does with his sidekicks’ trauma. While Batman placed his wards in toxic environments that damaged them mentally and physically, Taro comes off selfless and caring.

Taro wants Shin to heal, so he creates a path towards therapy and becoming a ‘normal’ young man. Granted, the cartel and other assassins will come for Taro and Shin, but Taro actually does the right thing by making a bubble where Shin can leave his agony behind. One can only imagine what may have happened if Bruce did this with Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne, Tim Drake, Barbara Gordon (as Batgirl) and Jason Todd. Lives would have been spared and pain erased.

Sakamoto Days Shows How Batman’s Retirement Could Go

Taro Is a Poorer But More Compassionate Bruce Wayne

Sakamoto Days‘ direction so far proves just how clear-headed Taro is compared to Batman. He isn’t consumed by some quest for vengeance. He won’t pursue enemies, but let them come to him. Outside the action and drama, all he wants to do is be a good father and support his wife. Of course, he does have to optimize sales and make money at his shop.

Which is why Taro hopes Shin will turn into a useful hand. He also wants to use this apprenticeship to show Shin how to use his own talents within society. Shin has telepathy and clairvoyance, but rather than using these powers to retaliate against the cartel which tried to kill them, Taro doesn’t mind just being an adoptive father. Shin has already seen Taro use his talents as a handyman, fixing up the neighborhood with ninja-like tactics – Batman wouldn’t resist the urge to use his Robins’ abilities to his advantage.

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Taro is an inspirational superhuman to everyone. Sakamoto Days is like watching a DC Elseworlds tale where Bruce and a sidekick patch up Gotham, fix buildings, and get cats out of trees. In practice, Taro is all about charity and humanitarian work. Taro does what Bruce could be doing with his billions if he didn’t focus so much on fighting crime – something Red Hood’s stories in the Hill spoke of.

Superheroes owe the people and should be alleviating poverty or literally rebuilding infrastructure. This isn’t duty in Sakamoto Days, it’s a social responsibility, teasing Taro passing down more fatherly lessons. This was an arc Superman & Lois’ final season dissected, once Tyler Hoechlin’s Clark Kent began losing his powers. He trained his sons, not only as superheroes, but as young men on how to heal Smallville. Heroism is all about giving the next generation what they need, not what they want.

For whatever reason, DC has always been scared to retire Bruce and give him a happy ending. Taro, on the other hand, is a perfect example of how to lose the rage, violence and darkness from one’s heart and soul – a lesson Shin is learning as his Robin. It’s all about compassion and empathy, not using people as tools.

Sakamoto Days’ Taro Has to Keep Shin in Check Just Like Batman With Robin

Shin Could Turn Wild Like Jason Todd or Damian Wayne

It’s worth noting how Bruce’s anger issues and inability to properly connect with his Robins has caused serious friction in the past. The first and most notable occurred in A Death in the Family, where The Joker killed Jason Todd. Years later, Jason came back to life as the Red Hood, who originally went after Bruce as a villain before becoming an anti-hero. More recently, Damian Wayne had a bloodlust Bruce struggled to quell.

Thankfully, composure and smarter heads prevailed, allowing the proteges to see the error of their ways and understand they couldn’t play judge, jury and executioner in a civil world. Sakamoto Days’ Shin is someone who may run into this problem soon. Taro has to watch his temperament because he of his overwhelming telepathic power. Shin is immature and doesn’t fully understand things concepts endangering innocents or keeping the peace. Once more gangs and bounties emerge, it’d be easy to see Shin going on the offensive.

Shin may well think they need to strike first rather than waiting and laying traps – something the reactive, lax Taro is into as anime’s newest, iconic duo comes to the fore. Shin could end up proactive but hot-headed, just like Jason and Damian, with his life bifurcating to a scary liminal point. In the process, he’d become a liability and a magnet for trouble. This paints a nuanced tale of revenge, but the fact he can read minds may help him find his path to atonement without Taro – unlike in DC stories where Batman regularly drives his Robin’s growth. With Shin, Taro is laying the path for him to walk, listen and discern what being a true, genuine hero is about on his own. Shin is ultimately destined to be his own man instead of just a sidekick obeying orders.

Taro Sakamoto, once the most feared hitman in the underworld, has left his violent past behind to live a quiet life as a convenience store owner. However, his peaceful days are disrupted when old enemies resurface, forcing him to use his deadly skills to protect his new life and loved ones. Balancing the mundane aspects of daily life with his dangerous past, Sakamoto faces a series of thrilling and humorous challenges that test his resolve and ingenuity.

Release Date

January 11, 2025

Creator(s)

Yuto Suzuki

Cast

Matthew Mercer
, Dallas Liu
, Rosalie Chiang
, Rosie Okumura
, Xolo Mariduena
, Aleks Le
, Alexa Bliss
, SungWon Cho
, Dushaunt Fik-Shun Stegall
, Toru Uchikado

Seasons

1

Studio

TMS Entertainment

Creator

Yuto Suzuki

Based On

Manga

Character(s)

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

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