Sakamoto Days: Anime Success But Manga Sales Sluggish

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Summary

  • Sakamoto Days has found success as a top anime on Netflix globally and in Japan for weeks.
  • Despite anime success, manga sales for Sakamoto Days have slightly decreased recently.
  • While sales may not be surging, anime adaptations can still bring profit through merchandise licensing.

Sakamoto Days has undoubtedly emerged as a standout anime on Netflix, consistently ranking among the top 10 most-watched shows globally for five consecutive weeks.

In Japan, the television show “Sakamoto Days” has been exceptionally popular, consistently ranking as one of the top-viewed series for six consecutive weeks. Moreover, it has taken the leading position in the majority of those weeks.

Great Streaming Audience, But Manga Performance Seemingly Not Following

Despite the overwhelming praise and exceptional ratings my series has received, it seems that this acclaim hasn’t quite translated into manga sales at the same rapid pace. In fact, if you take a look at the latest Oricon weekly chart for manga sales, my series is currently sitting comfortably in third place – not too shabby! However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the sales have been on a slight downward trend. It’s a bit disheartening, but I remain hopeful and dedicated to keeping the momentum going!

Oricon figures represent approximations derived from sales data that the company accumulates. Although these numbers may not be entirely accurate or precise, they serve as valuable tools for identifying trends within the market.

A Twitter account dedicated to sharing Oricon weekly charts data notes an interesting trend: About 90% of sales come from people purchasing volumes 1-19, whereas just 10% are from those buying Volume 20. This isn’t surprising because new fans who start reading the manga after watching the anime typically begin with the initial volumes.

Despite the anime’s success and its ongoing broadcast, it was anticipated that sales would gradually increase. A 7% drop in sales isn’t particularly concerning, but considering that Sakamoto Days was supposed to establish itself as a significant title for Shonen Jump following the anime’s release, the results could be underwhelming.

Is Sakamoto Days Doomed?

Once more, these figures aren’t negative. While they might be slightly lower than anticipated, selling 75,000 copies in a week isn’t a disappointing outcome. Yet, it fuels concern among some parts of the fanbase who are often dissatisfied with the anime adaptation, and their disappointment prevails.

There’s still a chance that Sakamoto Days could see a surge in sales. Demon Slayer, too, gained popularity during its first season, but it wasn’t until after the show ended that it experienced an unexpected boom. Unlike Demon Slayer, which saw a significant increase in sales while airing, this is a different scenario because Demon Slayer’s sales growth was unforeseen (as many had expected sales to decrease once the show stopped airing on TV).

Keep in mind that currently, Sakamoto Days isn’t experiencing a boom in sales. If, by chance, it were to suddenly become a bestseller, it would come as quite a surprise.

It’s also significant to keep in mind that an anime adaptation isn’t just beneficial through manga sales; it can lead to profitable ventures as well. If the anime manages to draw companies interested in selling Sakamoto Days merchandise (and customers eager to purchase them), the initial investment could prove to be worthwhile – licensing agreements and royalties play a crucial role in how both the anime and manga industries operate today.

Since the number of such contracts is rarely available, manga sales often serve as an effective indicator to gauge or forecast the overall commercial success of a series. However, the current data indicates a performance that’s somewhat underwhelming compared to initial expectations.

You can read the most recent installments of “Sakamoto Days” without charge on platforms like Manga PLUS and Shonen Jump. Meanwhile, the animated version is accessible on Netflix for streaming.

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2025-02-13 20:53