Take a sip every time you hear that jazzy little theme and, depending on what you are drinking, you will either be very well hydrated or completely smashed long before the end. In other words, yes, it’s a bit repetitive, and a bit monotonous in the latter-middle, but it’s still so much fun!

Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto! That’s the title, in English, translating from Sakamoto-kun, desu-ga?! For brevity’s sake, I will just say either “Sakamoto” or “the show.” 😉

The show is a slice of life comedy and follows it’s titular character through a number of zany adventures, wherein he overcomes every problem with absurd levels of style! That is his thing: style! Everything he does, he does with style! I realized early on that one had to toss out all the rules of believability when dealing with Sakamoto and his style during the first episode, when they had him rescuing a flailing bird in a storm by flying upwards with an umbrella. That drove home, very nicely, that there was going to be no logic whatsoever to his superhuman deeds, he was going to get things done with style and make us laugh the entire time.

The goal of this show has nothing to do with realism, only laughter.

Sakamoto himself is, of course, entertaining. Nothing, and I mean nothing, ruffles him or his style, yet he demonstrates a capacity to quietly care for others which makes him all the more focused on what needs doing for their sake. His presence shines in glamorous style (have I emphasized that word enough yet?) and his deeds elevate those around him, or, rather, help them to elevate themselves. One classmate learns the value of hard work and fighting to keep what he has earned; another makes friends with other girls, instead of focusing only on wrapping boys around her finger; another becomes more open and healthy in her admiration of him, instead of lurking around like a creepy stalker. And so it goes.

The show actually deals with some important life lessons, in that sense, but it makes us laugh all throughout.

“Laughter is good for the soul,” he stylishly says.

Now, it must be said, it does get a little monotonous and repetitive. Whatever the problem, it is solved, and with style, the moment Sakamoto hits the scene. His inhuman abilities and endless “secret techniques” get a little old by the end, as does his jazzy theme song. The plot obviously goes nowhere, we can safely and accurately expect everything to work out perfectly, there’s not much tension to be found. Which makes the ending all the more strange.

Though Sakamoto has dealt with a few detractors and opponents, it’s not until later in the series that an actual antagonist appears. Said antagonist makes very little sense in and of himself, as do his unnatural abilities of persuasion. But he is overcome, again with style, and sent on his way to go waste his life elsewhere and leave good folks be in their happiness. With that done, it ought to be a happily ever after, as per usual. Yet… when Sakamoto leaves, it seems to be forever, and nothing about it is ever truly explained. The show, which has almost never had much plot or tension in the midst of all the laughter, ends on a somber note, and we don’t know why.

It’s a little frustrating, to be honest. The antagonist and the ending both feel out of place and befuddling. The happy note one would expect the show to end on just isn’t there. I’m not sure what they were trying to get at, but whatever it was, it has been entirely lost.

That said, there’s still a great deal about the show to enjoy. 🙂

If you want to just kick back and have a good time, laugh at some absurd antics for a few hours, or for twenty minutes at a time, with some humble life lessons couched amidst that laughter, then you have found the right anime in Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto!

“Your words, they flatter me, sir,” he stylishly says.

Rating: 8 stars out of 10.

Grade: B-Plus.