In 1993, American journalist Jake Adelstein became the first non-Japanese writer on the payroll of one of Japan’s major newspapers. Tokyo Vice recounts a turbulent period from Adelstein’s memoir of the same name.
Ansel Elgort plays Jake Adelstein in 1999, working at the Meicho Shimbun newspaper, going above and beyond the call of duty to present his editors with well-researched evidence, only to be barred from printing, apparently for fear of breaching Japan’s stringent libel guidelines. Nevertheless, Jake learns of tensions brewing between rival crime syndicates, and forms an allegiance with senior detective Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe.) He bonds with fellow American Samantha (Rachel Keller,) a club hostess looking to open her own bar, and finds a source and unlikely acquaintance in Yakuza enforcer Sato (Show Kasamatsu.)
Whilst the series doesn’t claim not to take artistic license with the memoir, or comment on its veracity, it is undoubtedly an engrossing story. Tokyo Vice is available to stream free and legally in Australia.
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