Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto

Episode 10

Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto delivers another strong episode this week by telling two stories that take the titular character out of the usual school setting. At this point, the show has its basic formula down-pat: a guest character (or two, or three) tries to take advantage of our hero, Sakamoto deftly reflects each of their efforts, characters display comically overblown (though in many cases, perfectly understandable) reactions to Sakamoto's awesomeness, and the villain du jour is thoroughly defeated. Fortunately for the audience, the series continues to make this by-the-books premise funny enough to warrant revisiting every week.

This week's first segment, which finds Sakamoto participating in a mixer with college students, is probably the stronger of the two stories. While making an active effort to control crowd density around Christmastime (like you do), Sakamoto is approached by two college-aged men who are in need of a third guy to round out a group date. Of course, it should come as a surprise to no one that the three female attendees quickly fall under Sakamoto's spell and regard his lofty aspirations (he wants to work for NASA and spearhead planetary migration) and colorful quirks with great admiration. (“Slope Book” Sakamoto is the most hastily constructed pseudonym I've ever heard—but who knows? It may even be his real name.) Not wanting to be shown up by a teenage upstart, the boys attempt to sabotage Sakamoto by tricking him into chugging a mug of cola and singing karaoke. However, this is their first rodeo with Sakamoto—and they didn't bank on God's Gift being able to use a soda burp to his advantage. Only Sakamoto could make German opera appealing to uncultured young'uns and turn a potentially image-ruining belch into an act of high culture.

Although this story features its share of top-shelf Sakamoto gags, the real humor lies in seeing how the other characters react to them. At this point, Sakamoto seems to have matched wits with all of his school's would-be antagonists, so it makes sense that the series would branch out and let him work his magic on guest characters outside of Gakubun's walls. While sleazy in their own right, the college dudes who initially enlist Sakamoto's assistance seem more grounded than the outright cartoonish adversaries he usually finds himself pitted against. Somehow, this serves to make their reactions to Sakamoto's behavior even funnier, since the shock they experience seems more in line with how a “normal” person might react to someone as unbelievably amazing as Sakamoto.

Continuing the “outside-of-school” theme, episode 10's latter half gives us a glimpse into Shou Hayabusa's home life. Within the first minute of this segment, we learn that Hayabusa's mother (who, judging by the photo we're shown, appears to have been a delinquent in her youth) passed away some time ago, leaving her meek husband to raise the couple's three children. Even though Hayabusa plays an active role in raising his younger brothers (identical twins Ryuu and Sora), his father wants the boys to have a mother figure, prompting him to arrange a dinner date at an upscale French restaurant with a lady of refined taste. After being asked to tag along, Hayabusa enlists the aid of Sakamoto, who claims that educating his frenemy in the ways of the bourgeois over a few short hours is beyond even his capabilities. Still, Sakamoto would never leave a bro hanging. Hayabusa is able to sneak Sakamoto into the restaurant via tent-sized dress coat, which enables the more refined Sakamoto to act as his hands throughout the evening. Despite a few setbacks, everything seems to go off without a hitch—until it's revealed that Daddy Hayabusa's prospective partner is an extortionist with some hired muscle in her arsenal. At that point, Sakamoto and Hayabusa switch places, using the enormous coat to make it look like Sakamoto is displaying Hayabusa's enviable combat prowess and making short work of the lumbering thugs.

I liked the way this story reaffirmed Sakamoto and Hayabusa's quiet respect for one another. Unlike Acchan, whose admiration for Sakamoto waxes and wanes, Hayabusa has been solidly in the Sakamoto camp since their encounter in episode 5. I wasn't crazy about Hayabusa's father trying to lure a woman into marriage under false pretenses (however well-intentioned he may have been) or Shou's complicity in the whole affair, but he ultimately got his just desserts—and then some. It's also interesting to learn that there's one thing Sakamoto, by his own admission, can't do: fight. (This actually shines new light on his initial skirmish with Hayabusa.) Still, he's able to move his body with grace as Hayabusa acts as his hands. It's almost as if he's taken a vow to not get too directly involved with the subjects he observes. With each passing episode, I'm increasingly convinced that Sakamoto fancies himself an observer of human behavior. I might even regard him as an alien if not for the fact that nothing he's done has strained the limits of human ability. (Not that I think anyone on Earth could ever be as flawless as Sakamoto.)

This week's Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto starts strong and never lets up. Sakamoto always shines when paired with characters who are unfamiliar with his exploits, or when he's taken outside of his usual surroundings. Although potential master villain Fukase is once again noticeably absent, he isn't exactly missed.

Rating: A+

Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for over two decades.