The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting is an endearing slice-of-life anime about the adventures of the fictional Sakuragi yakuza family. Specifically, the series follows First Lieutenant Kirishima as he is tasked to babysit the yakuza boss’s seven-year-old daughter, Yaeka. Kirishima is known as the ruthless “Demon of Sakuragi,” so at first, he seems like a dicey choice to babysit. However, the violent character softens with each episode, growing with his newfound sense of humanity.
The series has so much going for it: sweet interactions between diverse characters, the development of multiple characters in a short span of time, and so many threads to pull on your heartstrings. I didn’t know what to expect when first going in, but I loved each episode of the series.
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting is an anime adaptation of the manga series of the same title by Tsukiya. It consists of 12 episodes, each one moving the story forward in heartwarming and funny ways.
While many of the episodes focus on the ups and downs of the babysitting life for Kirishima and the boss’s daughter, episode four provides a comedic escape from the rest of the story. In it, the boss instructs his underlings to take up streaming to bring in revenue. Little does he know that the masked trio would go on to accidentally become viral sensations, and more shenanigans ensue. This episode was a fun break, but each episode of the series is filled with lots of laughs, great character development, and sweet moments that keep the story going outside of the more lighthearted elements.
At times, this anime isn’t your usual slice-of-life anime, with yakuza fights and violence sprinkled in here and there. However, these scenes are in the minority of the show’s screen time. The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting mostly revolves around the endearing story of a once hardened man growing into someone with something to live for—and someone to protect. It provides all the slice-of-life elements that we love to see, feel, and hear every time we peruse a new series in the genre.
We get to see the lives and backgrounds of the various characters, understand them better, and root for Kirishima in his new role. If you are looking for a new feel-good anime or are a fan of Spy x Family, don’t miss out on The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting.
The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting is available to stream now on Crunchyroll in both sub and dub versions.
Title: The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting
Studio(s): feel., Gaina
Director: Itsurou Kawasaki
Original Creator: Tsukiya
Rating: PG-13
