Once feared in the underworld as the strongest, legendary hitman Taro Sakamoto fell head over heels for a woman named Aoi, retired, and married her after vowing never to kill again. Now thoroughly out of shape, he runs a small neighborhood store, Sakamoto Shoten, as an ordinary family man.
But when a massive bounty is placed on Sakamoto's head, skilled assassins come after him one after another. Together with Shin, an esper boy who can read minds, and Lu, the daughter of a mafia family, Sakamoto throws himself into a fight to protect his beloved family and everyday life — all without killing anyone.
Airing from January 2025, animated by TMS Entertainment. A hit celebrated for its stunning action animation and razor-sharp comedy. 🔫
📝 Highlights & Appeal Light spoilers
01① No-Kill "Handicap" Action
Having vowed never to kill, Sakamoto disables assassins non-lethally — and it's exhilarating. The constraint breeds inventive, creative fights that are the best.
02② Stunning, Fluid Action Animation
TMS's smooth, weighty action animation is jaw-dropping. The camerawork and sense of speed bring the manga's appeal to life beautifully.
03③ A Perfect Balance of Comedy and Tension
The gap between tense assassin battles and heartwarming family comedy is addictive. Funny yet thrilling — its distinctive tempo is habit-forming.
04④ Assassins Bursting with Personality
Every assassin who appears before Sakamoto — friend or foe — is unforgettable and full of quirks. Watching their techniques and beliefs clash is a highlight.
05⑤ Shin, the Mind-Reading Partner
The combination of Sakamoto and Shin, an esper who reads minds, is fantastic. The brainy battles and teamwork built on mind-reading are thrilling.
06⑥ Sakamoto's Legendary Power
Sakamoto's absurd physical ability, unimaginable from his plump appearance, is a delightful gap. When it counts, the menace of the "former strongest" is electrifying.
07⑦ The Preciousness of Protecting Daily Life
Sakamoto's warm family and everyday life — the very things he abandoned the ruthless underworld to protect — are moving. The "reason to protect" beneath the battles brings tears.
08⑧ Binge-Worthy Shonen Jump Entertainment
With strong cliffhangers and a stream of powerful foes, you can't stop wondering what's next. Its great pacing makes this royal-road entertainment a must-binge.
💡 Key Points & Predictions Some spoilers
Ahead, ever more powerful assassins and organizations rise up chasing the bounty on Sakamoto's head. With allies like the mind-reading Shin and the ex-mafia Lu joining in, the bonds of the "Sakamoto Shoten" team deepen. Eventually the Assassins' Association's ORDER unit and those who know Sakamoto's past begin to move, and the story escalates into battles of far greater scale. Watching how Sakamoto protects his precious daily life while upholding his "no killing" creed is impossible to look away from.
🧾 Story So Far Contains spoilers
Taro Sakamoto, once feared as the underworld's strongest hitman, fell in love with Aoi, retired, vowed never to kill, and built a family. Living peacefully as a plump shopkeeper, his everyday life is upended when the assassin organization the "Assassins' Association" places a huge bounty on his head. Together with Shin — an esper who first opposed him by reading his mind and then became his partner — and Lu, an ex-mafia daughter who ends up joining the shop, Sakamoto repels the incoming assassins without killing them. Before long, the Association's elite ORDER unit also stirs, and Sakamoto's fight grows ever larger.
✅ Recommended Viewing Points
Highly recommended for anyone who wants both high-tempo battle action and laugh-out-loud comedy at once. Fans of a "no-kill" aesthetic like Rurouni Kenshin, or of stunning action animation, will be especially hooked. Assassins with intense personalities appear one after another, and the battles — brains and brawn alike — never get old. Yet beneath it all runs the warm theme of "protecting a precious family," giving it depth beyond mere spectacle. A royal-road entertainment perfect for bingeing.
👀 Trivia & Fun Facts
💫 Unresolved Foreshadowing Contains spoilers
- What exactly happened during Taro Sakamoto's days as the "strongest" hitman — the full picture of his past.
- The true aim of the Assassins' Association that placed the bounty on him, and the shape of the organization as a whole.
- The intentions of the ORDER unit — including Sakamoto's contemporary Nagumo — and their relationship with him.
- The identity of the mysterious figure "Slur" who targets Sakamoto, and the shadow his ambition casts over the story.
💌 Predicted Viral Quotes for Next Season
— Taro Sakamoto. A line that embodies his whole way of life, upholding the promise to his wife.
"Are you really THE Sakamoto?"
— The staple reaction of assassins shocked by Sakamoto's transformed appearance.
"I'm strong because I have something to protect."
— A stirring line showing that his love for his family is the very source of Sakamoto's strength.