Taro Sakamoto, the protagonist of the Sakamoto Days anime, is a former legendary hitman who now lives a peaceful life as a convenience store owner. However, his past catches up to him, forcing him to use his once legendary, and still deadly skills to protect his wife and daughter. With me? Taro Sakamoto is portrayed in three distinct forms – prime Sakamoto, fat Sakamoto, and JCC Sakamoto. This article will explore the differences between these forms, analyzing their powers, abilities, and skills based on clues given in the anime and manhwa.
Table of Contents
Prime Sakamoto
Prime Sakamoto represents Taro Sakamoto at the peak of his physical abilities, fitness, and assassin skills. In his prime, Sakamoto was widely regarded as the greatest hitman in the world, feared by enemies and idolized by peers. That’s the Sakamoto you see in the opening scene of the first episode. He was known for his unmatched speed, strength, agility, and reflexes, as well as his mastery of various weapons and fighting techniques. He was an exceptionally talented killer, capable of dodging bullets.
Powers and Abilities
- Unmatched Fighting Skills: In his prime, Sakamoto possessed superhuman physical abilities. He could move with incredible speed, making it difficult for opponents to react. He was also incredibly strong and agile, able to deliver devastating blows and perform acrobatic maneuvers with ease. As a master combatant trained in Aikido, Sakamoto could take down multiple opponents simultaneously with his hand-to-hand combat skills.
- Weapon Mastery and Adaptability: Sakamoto has mastered a wide range of weapons, from traditional firearms and blades to everyday objects. He can turn anything into a deadly weapon, including cough drops, pens (think John Wick), and even a store banner. This adaptability is a testament to his creative and out of the box thinking. He is one of the top five shooters in assassin history.
- Heightened Senses and Instincts: Sakamoto possesses incredibly sharp instincts and enhanced senses, allowing him to react to threats he can’t even see. He once blocked an attack from someone using an invisibility suit. He also has a photographic memory, which allows him to remember complex details, such as the composition of bombs he only glanced at years ago.
- Mental Fortitude: Notably, Sakamoto is the only character who can completely hide his thoughts from Shin, a telepathic assassin. This demonstrates his exceptional mental fortitude and control.
It’s ironic that Sakamoto is considered the greatest assassin despite his preference for non-lethal combat and his ability to use anything as a weapon. This unconventional approach highlights his unique skills and adaptability as an assassin.
Fat Sakamoto (Fatmoto)
After retiring from his life as an assassin, Sakamoto settled down with his wife, Aoi, and opened a convenience store. He gained a significant amount of weight and adopted a more laid-back personality. However, despite his appearance, he retains much of his skills and abilities, albeit at a reduced level. Interestingly, Sakamoto’s face is drawn differently in his fat and prime forms to emphasize the contrast between his comical and serious sides.
Powers and Abilities
- Retained Skills and Adaptability: Even in his fat form, Sakamoto is still a formidable fighter. He retains his incredible speed, reflexes, and fighting skills, though Granny Miyo once said Sakamoto has only 30% of the power he had in his prime. He is highly adaptable and can use his surroundings to his advantage in combat. He can turn everyday objects into weapons, such as using a frying pan to destroy an opponent’s weapon.
- Durability and Resilience: Sakamoto is surprisingly durable, even in his fat form. He has survived explosions, sniper bullets, and has been thrown through walls. This resilience is a testament to his strong physique and determination.
- Transformation: When pushed to his limits, Sakamoto can transform into his prime form by burning off his excess fat through intense physical exertion. This transformation grants him a massive boost in power, speed, and agility. Some fans theorize this transformation is simply an anime trope of a “second form” similar to All Might from My Hero Academia.
Sakamoto’s weight gain is not a sign of weakness but a symbol of his newfound happiness and dedication to his family. He chose to leave his life of violence behind and embrace a peaceful existence. His current form allows him to connect with people and be underestimated by his enemies, which can be a tactical advantage.
JCC Sakamoto
JCC Sakamoto refers to Taro Sakamoto during his time as a student at the Japan Clear Creation (JCC) assassin training school. At JCC, Sakamoto honed his skills and became one of the most promising assassins of his generation. He was known for his exceptional talent and creativity in combat. During the JCC infiltration arc, Nagumo disguised Sakamoto as his wife Aoi to gain access to the school. This highlights Sakamoto’s ability to adapt to different situations and his willingness to go undercover for a mission.
Powers and Abilities
- Creativity and Adaptability: Sakamoto’s ability to use anything as a weapon was already evident during his time at JCC. He could turn everyday objects into deadly weapons, taking his opponents off guard. His adaptability and quick thinking were also apparent during his JCC days. He could analyze situations and come up with solutions on the fly, even in intense situations.
- Developing Physical Prowess: While not as physically strong as in his prime, JCC Sakamoto still possessed above-average strength, speed, and agility. He could traverse multiple buildings at once while fighting and was faster than trains.
- Durability and Resilience: JCC Sakamoto displayed impressive durability and was able to withstand multiple slashes from a knife without significant injury. This resilience suggests that he already possessed a strong physique during his training.
Sakamoto’s experiences at JCC shaped his unique fighting style and his ability to think outside the box. He learned to adapt to different situations and use his creativity to overcome challenges.
What About Slim Taro Sakamoto (Skinnymoto)
Here is the low down on Taro Sakamoto when he goes from fat to fit, like we see when he beats the crap out of Boiled. We have two theories around this:
Theory One
As Granny Miyo highlighted, Taro Sakamoto is at 30% of his peak power. He is around 6’2 and weighs about 308 pounds in the manhwa. The average weight of a 6’2 athletic male should be somewhere between 180-220 pounds. By that logic, we can deduce that Sakamoto must have lost somewhere around 100 pounds when he is slim Sakamoto. Since he’s at 30% power at 300 pounds, losing 100 pounds may increase his power by 33.3%. But this is just speculation and could be wrong. We will have to wait until the writer shares more details.
Theory Two
Another theory is that since Sakamoto is at 30% of his strength and power when in fat form, going back to skinny prime form makes him 3 times stronger. Either way, Sakamoto’s greatest strength and power is his ability to change shapes and use anything around him as a weapon it seems.
Taro Sakamoto is a complex and dynamic character whose powers and abilities evolve throughout the Sakamoto Days series. His transformation from a ruthless assassin to a loving family man to a slimmed-down version to protect them is reflected in his physical changes. While his prime form represents his peak physical condition and assassin skills, his fat form and JCC form showcase his adaptability, creativity, and enduring strength.
