Visual media plays an important role in depicting the social environment of different societies. Tokyo Vice is a TV series that does just that as it delves into the criminal underworld of Japan. The critically acclaimed series is based on Jake Adelstein’s novel, which explores the complex criminal networks that exist in Tokyo between organized crime and police enforcement. In this article, we will review the series’ story and its underlying message.
Tokyo Vice: The Narrative
Ansel Elgort plays Jake Adelstein, a young man from Missouri who stands out in the Tokyo crowd. With his fluency in Japanese and easy rapport with those he meets, he quickly adapts to the city’s culture, honing his skills in martial arts and frequenting the local clubs. But the primary focus of his five-year stay in Japan is to prepare for the entrance exam to Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s most influential daily newspaper.
After passing the exam, Jake soon discovers that Japanese journalism is far more complex than he anticipated. He quickly realizes that Japanese crime reporters often rewrite official press releases and avoid any hint of corruption, especially in the police department, in order to maintain the status quo. His editor initially rejects his work, but Jake persists, continuing to investigate recent murders.
While on assignment in Tokyo’s entertainment district, Jake meets Samantha, an American bar hostess. He also strikes up an unlikely friendship with Sato, a volatile gangster struggling to find his place in the criminal underworld. At first, the relationship is thrilling, but it soon puts Jake’s life in danger. Despite the challenges of his budding journalism career, Jake perseveres and finds a mentor in Hiroto Katarigi, a disillusioned detective fed up with his department’s lack of commitment to fighting crime. Katarigi proves to be a valuable asset in Jake’s work.
In Tokyo Vice, Jake Adelstein’s life as a journalist is detailed, as he seeks out and prints sensitive information on the crime occurring in the city. In order to uncover these stories, Adelstein forms relationships with detectives, gangsters, and nightclub employees, all of whom provide essential information. These interactions draw him into the dangerous world of the Yakuza, a powerful crime syndicate that controls illegal activities in Tokyo.
Alongside this, Adelstein’s personal life becomes increasingly complicated when he falls for a woman associated with the Yakuza, forcing him to choose between his loyalty to his job and his loyalty to her. The story follows Adelstein’s attempts to expose the truth of Tokyo’s criminal underworld, even when it puts his life and the lives of those close to him at risk.
Tokyo Vice Synopsis
Set during the 1990s, Tokyo Vice follows Jake Adelstein as he dives into the complex and dangerous underworld of the Japanese yakuza. Jake embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about the yakuza’s swindling tactics, finger-chopping violence, and strutting panache. Along the way, he discovers the rigidly hierarchical structure of the yakuza, built on loyalty and honor, as well as the harsh realities of sexism and xenophobia in Japan, and the pressure to present an illusion of peace in the media. As Jake is drawn deeper into the yakuza’s web of crime, the stakes grow higher and every moment becomes a cliffhanger.
Who Are The Yakuza?
The Yakuza is a highly organized and hierarchical organized crime syndicate based in Japan. Also known as gokudo, boryokudan or ninkyō dantai, the Yakuza have a history dating back to the Edo period in Japan (1603-1868) and are considered to be one of the largest and most powerful criminal organizations in the world.
The Yakuza engage in a wide range of criminal activities, including gambling, drug trafficking, prostitution, extortion, fraud, and money laundering. They also have a code of conduct called the “ninkyō code,” which emphasizes loyalty, honor, and duty. Yakuza members are typically organized into clans or families, each with their own hierarchy and leadership structure. They often use elaborate tattoos to identify themselves and mark their membership in a particular clan.
Despite being an illegal organization, the Yakuza have a significant presence in Japanese society and are known to have connections with politicians, law enforcement, and the business community Thankfully, with the rise of technology, Japanese online casinos have become a regulated and safe environment for people to enjoy Japanese-style gambling, free from the threat of the Yakuza. In recent years, the Japanese government has taken steps to crack down on the Yakuza, leading to a decline in their influence and power.
Final Thoughts
Tokyo Vice follows Jake’s intense and thrilling journey through the intricate criminal realm of Japan, showing the audience the immense power of organized crime and the media’s complicity in its success. Along the way, the series unveils the intricate relationships between the police, media, and Yakuza, as well as the risks of pursuing the truth as a journalist. Through the exploration of these topics, Tokyo Vice paints a vivid and gripping portrait of Japan’s criminal underworld. It is an engaging and powerful series that is sure to captivate anyone who watches it.
