The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting

Do you enjoy working with children in general? Do you enjoy sincere and wholesome moments with those cinnamon rolls? Do you enjoy shows that make you want to defend and care for others like you would as a parent? Last but not least, do you want to talk about your childhood memories with your parents or any other parental figure? Then prepare yourself, because this is the show for you.

Prepare to be spellbound as this mystical tale takes its time to unravel, where destiny choreographs an intricate dance and the power of connection defies the veils of the unknown. A world of wonder awaits, where the extraordinary journey between a fearsome enforcer and an innocent child will leave an indelible mark upon your heart and soul.

This Anime delves into the depths of an unconventional bond that transcends the boundaries of blood ties. Within the intricate web of the underworld, amidst whispers of fear and reverence, resides a man whose name echoes through the shadows—Tooru Kirishima, known far and wide as "The Demon of Sakuragi." His reputation as an enforcer who wields violence without hesitation precedes him, but fate has a different plan in store for him.

Tasked with an unprecedented mission by his boss, Tooru finds himself thrust into uncharted territory: the role of being the guardian of a seven-year-old girl named Yaeka Sakuragi—the precious daughter of his formidable superior.

The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting is a TV Anime series that was announced on September 8, 2021. Itsuro Kawasaki was the director, and Feel and Gaina produced it. At the same time, Takur Iga composed the music, Hiromi Ogata created the character designs, and Keiichir Chi wrote the screenplay.

The series aired on Tokyo MX and other stations from July 7 to September 22, 2022. "Mirai no Hero Tachi e" by Takeyaki Shou is the opening theme, while "Kaerimichi no Iro'' by VTuber Shibuya HAL is the ending theme. Crunchyroll licensed the series and began streaming an English dub on October 20, 2022.

This lovely series was based on the webcomic of the same name and consists of 12 episodes, each lasting 23 minutes. It belongs to the Slice of Life genre while featuring the themes of Childcare and Organized Crime. It was rated PG-13 for teenagers 13 years of age and up. Tsukiya wrote and illustrated The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting on June 5, 2018, and the series began serialization on the Comic Ride Pixiv website.

It was transferred to Micro Magazine's Comic Elmo manga service in May 2020. On the 24th of December 2018, the first Tankōbon volume was also released. Ten volumes had been released as of July 10, 2023. Kaiten Books has licensed the series in English as well.

The character Tooru Kirishima is many things in the underworld. While he is "The Demon of Sakuragi," he almost jeopardizes a peace accord, and his boss thus assigns him the most challenging duty he has ever had yet: caring for Yaeka Sakuragi, the boss' darling daughter, for seven years. At this point, Tooru finally realizes what it is like to be entrusted with another person’s life.

Tooru honestly has no idea how to connect with Yaeka, and the young girl isn't used to expressing her emotions either, so the two don't seem to see eye to eye at first. But all their differences aside, they eventually grow to understand each other with time. This terrifying right-hand man of a Yakuza leader and the child he was tasked with protecting are about to discover that true family is not always defined by blood.

The show centers around the Tooru and Yaeka tandem, with Tooru in charge of watching Yaeka on the orders of Kazuhiko, the leader of the house, and the Sakuragi Group. As you watch this Anime, you’ll quickly notice the moments where the dynamic two click. When Tooru does something precious for Yaeka, you think, "Awwww, that's so sweet," and then you die from the cuteness overload. You can see how important they are to each other, how they are nearly inseparable, and how they assist each other's progress throughout the entire series.

Tooru, originally known as the Demon of the Sakuragi Group, literally softened out because of babysitting Yaeka and learned to be happier, appreciate life, control his wrath, and have other admirable attributes. Yaeka, on the other hand, was able to express herself more openly, endure her mother's tragic accident, and make friends with others her age. As a viewer, this makes you cheer and be glad for their improvements.

But character growth isn't the only thing this show provides because we also learn about their past, their backstories, their times of joy and sorrow, and get the opportunity to care about them genuinely. The show provides its viewers with a significant emotional investment in this department.

Moving onto the Characters, I very rarely love a cast as much as I loved this one. Every cast member introduced has been an absolute gem and a thrill to watch in their own right. A good Anime only has one or two outstanding cast members, but a great anime has much more than that. I've already mentioned Kirishima, who is entirely legitimate and not to be trifled with. But he also has terrific moments that you will never forget. Even if it is his entire line of work, it is significant on several levels.

Sakugari, on the other hand, will leave the viewer wondering if they’ve ever met such a sweet and gorgeous lady in real life. She is just deserving of everything. Enough said. This is not because of her family, but because she is a sweet angel in her own right. This comic foil is an excellent match for a show, believe me.

The connection between Yaeka and Kirishima is at the center of the plot, as we see Kirishima transform from a cold-hearted and vicious thug to a sympathetic, loving, and kind man throughout the season, thanks to his affinity with his boss' daughter.

The lovely moments the leading duo enjoy throughout the program are well-written and thought out. Their bond feels genuine and organic, and you grow to adore and become devoted to both. I'm also relieved they maintained this father-daughter relationship naturally because series like these tend to corrupt wholesome connections.

They do an excellent job of providing a large amount of information, mainly demonstrated in gloomy scenes. Things appear brighter and more colorful when it comes to the baby. Giving the viewer complete awareness of when and what type of scene is taking place is truly excellent work in an Anime. Meanwhile, the overall sound and voice acting are fantastic, too. Such a fine job all around.

There are undoubtedly tear-jerking moments in this series, so prepare your tissues. These work nicely in conjunction with the hilarious and physical action elements. They did an excellent job of harmonizing everything and then wrapped it up in a lovely box for us to enjoy. The supporting characters, Sugihara, Aoi, Kanami, Miyuki, and Rei, have unique reasons for being just as vital to the tale and have interesting backstories.

The animation style is flawless in conveying Yaeka and Kirishima's feelings. In terms of content, there is nothing I would change about this series. I'm simply disappointed that there were only 12 episodes because I would easily watch hundreds of episodes featuring this family. They just do everything to make Yaeka happy while also running their business.

On the other hand, the Sounds are the anime's worst aspect. This matters little since there is no need for spectacular sounds in a show like this. The OSTs fit the scene and plot well, and that is enough. While I only cared a little for the Opening and Ending themes, they served their purpose well enough. Nothing out of the ordinary, though. The voice acting is excellent, particularly for The Boss. Each character’s personality is perfectly portrayed by their respective Voice Actors, so kudos to them!

I was eager to watch more of this Anime, which I consider among the best series this Season. It reminded me of Hinamatsuri, Barakamon, and Spy x Family, among other shows. There are countless touching moments, and overall, if you're looking to take a trip down memory lane and experience a sincere and pure moment, this show is a must-see.

Just by watching the trailer, you can tell that the visuals and acoustics are above average, and based on the summary, you should know what to expect from the show. The antagonists, who don't leave much of an impression other than that they're there and have a grudge against the Sakuragi Group, notably Tooru, are the story's sole shortcoming. Aside from that, the remainder of the program is wonderfully executed.

If you only have time to watch a few Anime at a time, this should be one of them. It is a definite must-see for everyone who likes wholesome entertainment, well-written characters, or wants to escape the continual flow of Isekai and Fantasy. You will not be sorry. I truly recommend this!