Spoiler Content: Episode 9 of SAKAMOTO DAYS marks the explosive debut of the series’ antagonist “X,” also known as Slur. Here’s what we know about Kei Uzuki, his complex ideology, and why “X” is pronounced “Slur.”
Summary
- Kei Uzuki, aka “X,” is the mastermind villain in SAKAMOTO DAYS with a mission to destroy the JAA.
- He pronounces “X” as Slur to symbolize censorship, identity erasure, and personal dissociation.
- His name and alias reflect a deep philosophical divergence from typical hero figures—one rooted in seeing, not just knowing.
The Rise of “X”: SAKAMOTO DAYS’ Main Antagonist Steps Out of the Shadows
With the Lab Arc concluding in Episode 9, SAKAMOTO DAYS officially introduces its enigmatic central antagonist—“X”, aka Slur. Long rumored, feared, and whispered about, X emerges as the man responsible for the assassinations of numerous JAA agents and the bounty on Taro Sakamoto’s head.
But who exactly is he? Why is he called “X”? And why on earth is it pronounced “Slur”?
Who Is “X”?
Real Name: Kei Uzuki
Alias: Slur
First Appearance: SAKAMOTO DAYS Episode 9 / Lab Arc Conclusion
Kei Uzuki is a former JAA assassin and alumnus of the same elite killer school that trained Sakamoto, Nagumo, and Boiled. He was raised in a JAA-run orphanage and eventually turned against the organization that molded him. His mission? To dismantle the JAA’s monopoly over the assassination industry, which he views as a corrupt system that exploits its agents and silences dissent.
This ideological rebellion has earned him both notoriety and support, especially among the new generation of assassins at the JCC, who are disillusioned by the JAA’s tight grip.
Why “X”? What’s in a Symbol?
The letter X has long symbolized the unknown, the erased, the unquantifiable, and the rejected. It’s no coincidence that:
- X denotes the unknown in math, thanks to Descartes.
- X is used to censor profanity, removing identity from something explicit.
- X replaces a name—Malcolm X used it to reject a slave name.
- X often denotes death or danger, fitting for a killer who marks his hits with it.
For Uzuki, X is both a rejection of his past and an attempt to erase the world as it is, so he can rebuild it in his image.
So Why Is “X” Pronounced “Slur”?
The pronunciation “Slur” instead of “Ecks” is layered and deliberate.
- Slur = Censorship: Slurs are offensive words that often get bleeped or erased—fitting for a character whose goal is systemic erasure.
- Slur = Speech distortion: In speech, a “slur” is a muddling of words, symbolic of Uzuki’s fractured identity and Dissociative Identity Disorder.
- Slur = Obscured identity: A slurred name is one you can’t clearly identify—just as Uzuki hides behind layers of personas.
- Two syllables = Two strokes of “X”: In Japanese, “Slur” may phonetically line up better with the writing and cadence of the symbol X.
It’s a genius subversion: X, a minimalist mark, becomes Slur, a word that inherently resists clarity and identity.
The Genius of the Name “Uzuki Kei” (有月憬)
His real name also isn’t just cool—it’s philosophically loaded:
- 「有」(U) = “Existence”
- 「月」(Zuki) = “Moon”
- 「憬」(Kei) = “Awakening” or “Vision”
Unlike other “enlightened” anime names like Goku (“悟空” – Enlightenment + Sky) or Gojo Satoru (“悟”), which center around internal realization, Uzuki’s “Kei” uses 「憬」, a kanji derived from vision and external realization—as in seeing the world differently.
This subtle shift reflects his ideological difference from traditional “heroic” awakenings. Uzuki doesn’t just gain insight—he rebuilds reality through that insight.
Dissociation and Rebirth Through “X”
Uzuki’s trauma and his accidental killing of Rion Akao, a key figure in his past, catalyzed a splitting of identity. Rion survives in his mind as an alternate personality—his DID becomes the framework for “X,” allowing him to shed his identity and take on new ones at will.
“X” becomes not only his mask, but also a mirror, reflecting back a distorted version of the world that wronged him.
Slur as a Statement
By choosing to be called “X”, and having it pronounced “Slur”, Kei Uzuki does more than go undercover—he makes a philosophical statement.
- X is erasure.
- Slur is distortion.
- Together, they represent a warped clarity—a character that sees the world with terrifying precision, yet moves through it as a ghost, untouchable and unknown.
Do you think “Slur” is a villain—or a visionary?
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