If you’re a long-time Sakamoto Days reader, it’s a safe bet that you have always enjoyed the dynamic between Shin and Sakamoto—the eager, hothead psychic apprentice learning the ropes from his perfectly mellow, ex-assassin mentor.
He returned home without the polished physical skills or versatility needed to survive against crafty, out-of-control killers. But the Lab Arc quickly became a trial by fire for this supporting character in Sakamoto Days, and that too in the course of just three episodes.
In combat with enemies impervious to his world-class psychic abilities, he was forced to work on his fundamentals, reinforcing his hand-to-hand training, refining his instincts, and mastering the mental resolve to think clearly under duress. This arc features his growth from a powerless sidekick into a skilled and diverse fighter.
How did Shin undergo a dramatic change in Sakamoto Days?
Prior to the Lab Arc in Sakamoto Days, Shin relied on his telepathic abilities to outwit his enemies. His psychic ability gave him a precognitive advantage in most fights. This overreliance, however, left him vulnerable against unpredictable foes. In the Lab Arc, he encountered opponents such as Amane, whose unreadable mind rendered Shin’s powers ineffective.
Deprived of the psychic safety net, Shin had to contend with raw skill. This was an important inflection point. He honed his close-quarters combat skills and learned to dodge quickly and strike more accurately, also making him one of the most admired characters in this anime adaptation.
The reckless fighter of yore began to lean on timing, accuracy, and, occasionally, creative tactics over raw telepathic prediction. The Lab Arc proved that Shin was not merely becoming a mind-reader; he’d become a bona fide assassin.
The Lab Arc was the one to change everything for Shin in Sakamoto Days. In the span of only three episodes, he transitioned from a dependent psychic to a physically and mentally adept fighter.
Shin also becomes a much more competent and independent assassin!
The Lab Arc didn’t just enhance Shin’s physical strength, but it also bolstered his mental fortitude, which required quick and emotional control when his life was on the line throughout the arc. In previous battles, he always had Sakamoto to back him up, which forced Shin to think for himself and act on his own.
His split-second choices grew smarter and more tactical, evidence of his increasing maturity as a fighter. And perhaps no quality defined Shin’s growth more than his ability to keep cool under pressure.
His experiences with morally ambiguous foes influenced his worldview too, leaving him shrewder and less starry-eyed. By the end of the arc, Shin had become a much more competent and independent assassin, able to face down even the fiercest enemies.
Through brutal fights, mental reconfigurations, and emotional endurance, Shin’s DNA as a fighter was rewired, and he became a much more terrifying and efficient assassin. This arc did more than sharpen his skills — it solidified his metamorphosis into a true force of nature.
Sakamoto Days is available for streaming on Netflix. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
