Sakamoto’s Shocking Prime Form Transformation Revealed!

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Summary

  • Sakamoto can transform into his prime form for a significant strength boost, but it’s not a typical power-up he can just turn off.
  • Sakamoto’s prime form is activated by weight loss, increasing his strength by over three times compared to his overweight state.
  • Sakamoto will learn to embrace his regular form’s strengths rather than relying solely on his prime form for combat.

Note: This discussion may reveal plot details from the fifth episode of Sakamoto Days titled “Source of Strength,” currently available for streaming on Netflix. Proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

In the closing moments of episode 4 of “Sakamoto Days” titled “Hard-Boiled”, it appeared that Sakamoto had found a worthy adversary, only for him to reappear from the smoke looking youthful and fit once more. This new incarnation of Sakamoto is recognized as his lean or peak physical form.

I find myself observing Taro Sakamoto, a man who appears to be well beyond his years, though in reality, he is just 27. Over the course of his retirement and living with his loving spouse in abundance, he has accumulated extra pounds, giving him an older appearance. Despite this, his combat skills remain above average compared to most, but it’s clear that he’s not at the pinnacle of his physical prowess as he once was when actively engaged. It’s his peak form we are now witnessing.

What Is Sakamoto’s Prime Form?

No, Smoking Doesn’t Make You Younger Kids

Previously noted, Sakamoto transforms into his prime form when he appears as the youthful, lethal assassin from before his marriage with Aoi. Although he’s currently out of shape, Sakamoto has the ability to swiftly shed pounds, return to his fitter younger self, and experience a significant enhancement in power, speed, and dexterity.

Interestingly enough, neither the anime nor the manga provides a clear answer as to the mechanism behind it; it simply occurs. One moment, he’s a plump shopkeeper, and the next, he’s an assassin in peak physical condition. When Shin inquired about how this transformation took place, Sakamoto casually replied that it was due to him “moving around” and shedding weight. However, it’s evident that this metamorphosis can’t be attributed solely to Sakamoto losing weight through exercise. It’s not just his body weight that changes; he also loses his mustache, suggesting that there’s definitely more to the story than simple calorie burning.

“Moving around makes you lose weight” – Taro Sakamoto

As per the manga, when Sakamoto is overweight, he possesses only 30% of the strength he does in his prime form. Transforming into his younger self, therefore, makes him approximately four times stronger than his already powerful overweight state, which is a significant enhancement given that he’s already quite formidable even when he’s not at his peak.

In contrast to ordinary power-ups that one can activate and deactivate at will, Sakamoto’s prime transformation isn’t that simple. While it appears easy for him to activate this transformation, he can’t simply reverse it by flipping a switch and return to his regular form. Instead, Sakamoto maintains his prime state until he consumes enough food to restore his weight and grow back his mustache. As demonstrated in the fifth episode of Sakamoto Days, titled “Source of Strength”, Sakamoto can regain the weight lost during the transformation in just a day.

Sakamoto Will Learn to Rely on His Regular Form More

In the subsequent episodes of the anime, assuming it stays true to the manga, Sakamoto will gradually grow accustomed to combat in his regular overweight form. A healer character we encounter in the “Every Which Way” chapter 44 of the Sakamoto Days manga imparts or instructs Sakamoto on how to harness more of his former strength without needing to transform into his prime form. The healer does this because it’s wiser for Sakamoto to learn to fight effectively with his current body shape, rather than persistently striving to revert to his past.

Do All the Order’s Assassins Have Super Powers?

Surprisingly, No

It might seem logical to assume that since characters like Shin possess extraordinary abilities, the Order would be comprised of individuals with the most exceptional powers in the series. However, this assumption is incorrect. In fact, numerous members of the Order lack any noticeable superpowers. Yet, it could be argued that they exhibit superhuman speed, strength, and agility akin to Sakamoto’s.

In a magical twist, Sakamoto can transform himself into a younger version, while Nagumo, who first appeared in episode 4, possesses the ability to assume other people’s identities. Conversely, the other Order members displayed thus far – Shishiba, Osaragi, and Hyo – primarily rely on physical combat, using weapons or their bare fists.

  • Shishiba, the long-haired blonde who stabbed the waiter in episode 4, uses claw hammers when fighting or killing.
  • Osaragi, the black-haired woman with a veil, also doesn’t rely on powers and instead uses a collapsible buzzsaw for her work.
  • Hyo, the spiky-haired man with a metal jawpiece, uses brass knuckles. He prefers unarmed combat more than the other members of the Order, but has the raw power to compensate for the lack of range a typical weapon offers.

In upcoming episodes of Sakamoto Days, we’ll encounter more assassins belonging to the Order, some from the past and others yet to come. However, it’s important to note that many of them are exceptionally skilled individuals, but they do not possess any supernatural abilities.

* Sakamoto Days has been made available on Netflix for streaming.
* Mark your calendars for February 15, 2025, as that is when episode 7 will be released, airing at 6:00 AM Pacific Time.

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2025-02-12 18:34