Can a former assassin and his family go camping without someone sleeping with the fishes? Maybe not, if Shin and Nagumo's fishing contest has anything to say about it. Then, join elite assassin Shishiba and his disciple Osaragi's foodie ramen adventures, puzzle out Kashima's remote-work situation, and enjoy more Sakamoto Days antics in this collection of short stories.

Sakamoto Days: Assassin's Method has a story by Renka Misaki, based on an original concept by Yūto Suzuki. English translation is done by Casey Loe. Published by Viz Media (July 28, 2026).

Erica Friedman
Rating:

Up front, if you are a fan of Sakamoto Days and really enjoy these characters and their relationships with each other, just ignore this review and go read this spin-off novel. You'll have a lot of fun with it. You don't need me to tell you that.

On the other hand, if you are not a big fan of the series and are either looking to get into the story in the first place or a casual fan, maybe skip this and read the original manga.

I found it hard to enjoy, as Sakamoto's acquaintances are all one-joke types, and frequently the joke is just to be irritating or to be irritated. Several chapters rely on a character being unaware of or uninterested in the chaos they cause for the humor. I'll be honest, a chapter in which Osaragi repeatedly ruins Shishiba's ramen at a ramen festival was just…tiring.

The stories here are wrapped around a specific kind of humor-based-on-frustration that strikes me as humorous interruptus. Every story follows a supporting character being frustrated at doing whatever they are supposed to be doing by another character whose relationship with them is annoying. The story ends with Sakamoto being a practical superhero in his speed and ability and thus saving the day, whether it's to save an innocent person from harm or to get his daughter's gym clothes to her at school.

The art here is pencil sketches, which fit the depth of the stories rather well. These are scenarios, rather than fully developed ideas. If you like the formula and/or you love the characters and world of Sakamoto Days, you'll love this book. This light novel will give you the pleasure of spending off-hours and even an alternate universe narrative, with characters you want to spend time with.