Warning: This article contains spoilers for Sakamoto Days Episode 8, "Sakamoto vs. the Lab," now available on Netflix.
In Sakamoto Days, nearly every assassin has their sights set on Sakamoto, yet the elite assassin group known as the Order seems to be an exception. The Order is Japan’s most formidable group of assassins, and Sakamoto’s first on-screen encounter with them is through Yoichi Nagumo, a master of disguise capable of flawlessly mimicking others' appearances.
Back in Episode 3, “Welcome to Sugar Park!”, Nagumo informs Sakamoto that a massive 1-billion-yen bounty has been placed on his head, attracting assassins from across the country. Yet, despite being part of the most powerful assassination organization, neither Nagumo nor any other Order member has attempted to claim the reward. But why?
The Order's Skills and Reputation
The Order is so proficient that many in the assassin world believe it’s nothing more than a legend, as it’s hard to imagine individuals that powerful truly exist. Sakamoto himself was once a part of this elite group, but after leaving the assassin life to marry Aoi, he’s lost his former physique. Though still vastly superior to an average fighter, he’s undeniably not at his peak anymore. Given his current condition, it should be an easy payday for an Order member to eliminate him and collect the bounty—yet none have even tried.
The Order Respects Sakamoto
His Past Membership Works in His Favor
One of the key reasons Sakamoto remains untouched is the respect he commands from his former colleagues. Some members of the Order still hold him in high regard from their shared time together. Nagumo, for example, cares enough about Sakamoto to personally warn him of the bounty so he can prepare for the wave of assassins hunting him.
In Episode 8, Sakamoto encounters two other Order members—Shishiba and Osaragi—neither of whom show any interest in killing him. Shishiba treats Sakamoto like an old friend, without a hint of hostility. Osaragi, a newer recruit who joined after Sakamoto retired, lacks the same level of respect for him. She initially dismisses him as weak, assuming he would lose to Kashima, another top-tier hitman. However, even she doesn’t attempt to eliminate him for the bounty, as it simply isn’t her priority.
As the most powerful assassins in the world, members of the Order likely have more than enough wealth, making a bounty—no matter how large—an insufficient incentive to betray an old ally or someone they respect.
The Order Doesn't Kill Its Retirees
In many fictional works, secretive organizations eliminate former members to protect their secrets or out of a warped sense of honor. However, in Sakamoto Days, the Japanese Association of Assassins (JAA) and the Order (a subgroup within the JAA) don’t operate this way.
This might seem contradictory since, in Episode 1, Shin was tasked with eliminating Sakamoto after his retirement. However, that wasn’t an order from the JAA itself. The organization doesn’t forbid its members from retiring, though it also doesn’t stop others with extremist beliefs from targeting those who leave. Shin was hired by a group that viewed retired assassins as weak and undeserving of life, but they were acting on their own principles, not official JAA policy.
The Order, however, operates differently. They focus solely on high-profile threats and those who disrupt the power balance within the assassin world. At the moment, their attention is elsewhere.
The Order Has Bigger Concerns
Eliminating Slur Takes Priority
Beyond respect for Sakamoto, the Order has far more urgent matters to handle. A mysterious figure known as Slur, or X, has been mercilessly slaughtering assassins across Japan. Regular JAA assassins stand no chance against him, so the Order has taken on the task of hunting him down. With all their resources focused on stopping Slur, targeting Sakamoto would be an unnecessary distraction.
That said, there have been hints throughout the series that Sakamoto’s bounty and Slur’s emergence are connected. If that’s the case, a confrontation between the Order and Sakamoto may be inevitable.
You can find The Order-themed merchandise at sakamotodays-shop.com