With Sakamoto Days Ending, Can Shonen Jump Fill That Void?

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For over a year now, one manga after another from Weekly Shonen Jump has been wrapping up its story. Last year, it was “My Hero Academia” that ended, followed closely by “Jujutsu Kaisen”. Now, the turn comes for “Sakamoto Days“, another of their battle mangas. From next week, this manga will begin its “Final Battle”, and with the groundwork for the final arc set, it seems clear that the series is nearing its end. It’s a bit disappointing because the manga has just begun to gain a wider audience, particularly after its anime premiere. However, what sets “Sakamoto Days” apart in Weekly Shonen Jump’s collection is its distinct character and style.

In my opinion, Sakamoto Days stands out among contemporary manga, particularly due to its rare absence of supernatural elements. Apart from Shin’s unique mind-reading talent, the characters and action sequences are remarkably grounded in reality. This realism gives the series an authentic feel that makes the occasional foray into exaggerated or fantastical elements, like the viral “Tunnel Effect,” all the more jarring.

However, despite these brief departures from the norm, Sakamoto Days has made a significant impact with its unwavering quality and originality. It’s worth noting that it’s had a longer run than Demon Slayer, if you compare them. This series has left an indelible mark on readers due to its consistency and uniqueness. As a result, the bar has been set quite high for any future series that might follow in its footsteps. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Shonen Jump Will Have a Hard Time Filling the Void Left Behind by Sakamoto Days

In addition to Sakamoto Days, being a well-liked manga in the magazine, there are other series that are equally significant, such as the worldwide phenomenon of 2023, Kagurabachi, and the second place winner for last year’s most popular manga on Manga Plus, Ichi the Witch. It seems these two titles are on track to join One Piece as the new “Top Three” of the upcoming generation. They are predicted to fill the spots once held by Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia, which shared this position with One Piece prior to their conclusions. While Kagurabachi offers a grittier, revenge-focused storyline, Ichi the Witch embraces classic shonen themes, featuring a protagonist who is deeply invested in his craft and faces obstacles head-on.

Building on its solid base of acclaimed series, Shonen Jump has a promising lineup of upcoming titles, but none quite match the unique appeal that Sakamoto Days brought to the table. With its assassin underworld backdrop and fights that, while still over-the-top, maintained a relatively realistic atmosphere, Sakamoto Days provided a flavor that’s becoming increasingly scarce in the magazine. The series often felt more akin to a seinen title in its execution, and given that Yuto Suzuki’s past one-shots were clearly intended for mature audiences, it seems likely that Sakamoto Days was initially envisioned as a seinen series without any supernatural elements.

It seems like Suzuki might have been tasked with incorporating Shin’s psychic powers and scaling down the violence to align with the Shonen Jump style. Given that the magazine predominantly publishes action manga with a strong supernatural flair, it’s challenging to find a series that could effectively replace Sakamoto Days. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Shonen Jump is in trouble, as it still houses numerous successful titles. Some of these might even eclipse the popularity of Sakamoto Days in the future.

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2025-07-29 06:09