The anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days has finally premiered and is making waves in the anime community. Initial critiques centered around the animation quality showcased in the trailers; however, the series has demonstrated its ability to effectively capture the comedic and action-packed essence of the original manga. Many believe it will stand out as one of the top anime of the Winter 2025 season.
A significant contributor to the series’ success is its lead voice actor in the Japanese version, Tomokazu Sugita. With an impressive portfolio that includes iconic roles in Gintama, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Sugita infuses his performance as Sakamoto with both skill and charisma. Surprisingly, despite his stellar capabilities, Sugita initially showed reluctance to take on the role of Sakamoto. Fortunately, this story has an interesting twist.
Why Sakamoto Days’ Lead Actor Initially Hesitated to Take the Role
The backstory of Tomokazu Sugita’s journey to voicing Sakamoto is both intriguing and enlightening. In an interview, Sugita revealed that when the casting began for Sakamoto Days, he was not well-acquainted with the source material. Initially, he wanted to audition for Kashima, the series’ antagonist, due to his previous experience playing similar roles in Shonen Jump anime. Consequently, Sugita made a conscious decision to avoid auditioning for the main character, Sakamoto, in order to challenge himself with a different type of character.
Upon communicating his intentions to his agency, they strongly urged him to audition for Sakamoto. Initially insistent on only reading for Kashima, Sugita ultimately decided to familiarize himself with Sakamoto’s character by reading the manga. This exploration allowed him to understand that Sakamoto’s mission is to spread joy and positivity, a trait Sugita aims to embody in his own performances. This transformation in perception led Sugita to commit to auditioning for Sakamoto, resulting in him landing the role.
Exploring the Similarities Between Sakamoto and Sugita’s Other Notable Role
A Deep Dive into the Similarities of Sakamoto and Gintoki
Interestingly, the role Sugita was hesitant to take up is reminiscent of his portrayal of Gintoki in the beloved series Gintama. Both characters share notable traits; they are eccentric, white-haired figures acknowledged as top fighters in their narratives. Importantly, both hide underlying emotional trauma that their friendships with supporting characters help heal—Sakamoto’s relationships with Shin and Lu, and Gintoki’s with Shinpachi and Kagura. It’s easy to see why Sugita felt he might be retracing familiar ground.
However, Sakamoto and Gintoki also differ significantly. While Sakamoto Days is generally more grounded in its storytelling compared to Gintama, which frequently delves into the absurd, Sakamoto’s character is more focused on compassion and kindness than Gintoki’s often indirect approach. This focus results in a narrative that combines humor with genuine emotional depth, a distinction Sugita recognized and which ultimately influenced his decision to embrace the role of Sakamoto.
Reasons Why Tomokazu Sugita is an Ideal Voice Actor for Sakamoto
The amusing tale of how Tomokazu Sugita was ultimately convinced to portray Sakamoto highlights how perfectly suited he is for the role. Known for his ability to voice characters ranging from deadpan to wildly eccentric, Sugita’s unique comedic talent complements Sakamoto’s stoic demeanor, making him an ideal fit for the character. This was already observable in episode one, and his performance is likely to shine even brighter as the series evolves.
Voice acting plays an integral role in the success of any animated project. An actor’s performance can dramatically influence a show’s reception. While Sakamoto Days has faced some criticism, Tomokazu Sugita’s outstanding portrayal of Sakamoto stands as a significant strength of the series. His performance is poised to be a major highlight throughout Sakamoto Days, making the fact it almost didn’t happen all the more remarkable.
Source: Comic Natalie.
Sakamoto Days releases new episodes every Saturday on Netflix.
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