Artists that influenced Sakamoto Days?

The artists that influenced Sakamoto Days reflect creator Yuto Suzuki's deep appreciation for action cinema and manga legends who mastered the art of visual storytelling.

Primary Manga Influences

Naoki Urasawa's Impact

Suzuki has cited Naoki Urasawa as a major influence, particularly praising his work on "Monster" and "20th Century Boys." Urasawa's ability to blend ordinary characters with extraordinary circumstances directly inspired Sakamoto Days' premise of a legendary assassin living as a humble shop owner.

Action Manga Masters

Hirohiko Araki, creator of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," significantly influenced Suzuki's dynamic action sequences and creative fight choreography. The over-the-top yet precisely executed combat scenes in Sakamoto Days echo Araki's distinctive style of making the impossible seem believable.

Kentaro Miura's "Berserk" also shaped Suzuki's approach to detailed artwork and intense action panels, though Sakamoto Days maintains a lighter tone than Miura's darker masterpiece.

Cinematic Influences

Action Cinema Heritage

Suzuki draws heavily from John Woo's Hong Kong action films, particularly their balletic gunfights and themes of honor among criminals. The manga's emphasis on brotherhood between former enemies mirrors classic Woo narratives.

Jackie Chan's influence appears in the series' creative use of everyday objects as weapons and the integration of comedy within intense action sequences. This blend of humor and high-stakes combat became a signature element of Sakamoto Days.

Contemporary Inspirations

Modern action films like the "John Wick" series influenced the manga's portrayal of an underground assassin world with its own rules and economy. The concept of a retired killer being pulled back into his former life directly parallels these contemporary action narratives.

These diverse influences combine to create Sakamoto Days' unique identity, blending Japanese manga traditions with international action cinema sensibilities. Exploring these source materials reveals the rich creative foundation behind one of modern manga's most entertaining action series.