REVIEW: ‘The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting,’ Episode 2 – “A Kind Person”

The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting is a slice-of-life anime produced by Gaina and feel. Having helped Yaeka get settled into her new home last episode, Kirishima and Sugihara have a new assignment from the boss that requires their attention, but before they can do that, Yaeka wants them to take her to the fireworks festival. Also, we learn about what has happened to the girl’s mother in The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Episode 2.

The episode opens with the upsetting news that two hoodlums are going around claiming to not only be Sakuragi family members but none other than Kirishima and Sagihara themselves. Not wanting the family’s reputation tarnished with the locals, the boss orders the duo to find their impersonators and end the matter. How anyone could be daft enough to impersonate yakuza in their territory is still a head-scratcher to me.

As stated above though, the duo takes a bit of a detour to take Yaeka to a fireworks festival. Sweets, carnival games, and beautiful fireworks are all in store for the trio. Not even a rigged game can ruin the night. Much like the show’s pilot episode, this entry’s biggest selling point is its adorable interactions between Kirishima and Yaeka. But while the numerous moments the two have together are always adorable treats, The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Episode 2‘s best aspect to me is how it has begun addressing the show’s biggest hurdle, Kirishima himself.

The styled Demon of Sakuragi, Kirishima is initially introduced as an overly violent man who goes beyond the norm of brutality, even for someone in his line of work. This makes it hard to see him as the loveable protagonist the show wants him to be. Happily, the character’s transformation, due to the influence of the Little Lady, has already begun to show in his approaches to his work. I’m glad that the show hasn’t wasted any time in establishing that Kirishima is going to develop into someone more easily liked than he is in the inaugural episode.

Outside of sharing sweet times at fireworks festivals, The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Episode 2 also reveals to the viewer where Yaeka’s mom is. Her mother’s situation is a difficult one for anyone to bear, especially a small child. The constant reminders of her mother’s absence in her day-to-day life are all around the young girl and it is difficult for her to handle. While the episode can’t give an actual resolution to the scenario, the way that it wraps up its look at Yaeka’s family situation is a beautiful one.

The visuals throughout this episode deliver all the heart of the story wonderfully. There is a lightness to the show’s presentation that always lifts the emotions within the many heartfelt scenes right to the forefront.

When all is said and done, The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Episode 2 delivers more cozy feels with a fair sprinkling of humor added to it. I look forward to seeing Kirishima’s continuing development as the episodes go on.

The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting Episode 2 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.