Tokyo Vice

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tokyo Vice
Tokyo Vice book cover.JPG
AuthorJake Adelstein
CountryJapan
United States
LanguageEnglish
GenreMemoir
PublisherRandom House
Pantheon Books
Publication date
2009
Media typePrint
eBook
Pages352
ISBN978-0-307-37879-8
OCLC699874898

Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan is a 2009 memoir by Jake Adelstein of his years living in Tokyo as the first non-Japanese reporter working for one of Japan's largest newspapers, Yomiuri Shinbun.[1][2] It was published by Random House and Pantheon Books.[3] HBO is adapting the memoir into a television series.

Synopsis[]

The account covers Adelstein's career in Tokyo, starting in 1993 when he was hired as a rookie reporter for Yomiuri Shimbun.[3] As a cadet,[4] he describes being taken under the wing of Sekiguchi, an older detective.[5] Adelstein was initially assigned to "tacky" Saitama, and the memoir covers his next 12 years as a staffer for the paper, describing 80-hour work weeks, relationship difficulties, and the interactions between crime reporters and the police. Specific cases involve the search for the killer of Lucie Blackman,[3] and the memoir also details death threats after he published an expose on Tadamasa Goto.[6] He also uncovered that Saitama Prefecture was altering scientific data on dioxin contamination.[7]

History[]

Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan is a 2009 memoir by Jake Adelstein of his years living in Tokyo as the first non-Japanese reporter working for one of Japan's largest newspapers.[1][2] He initially had a deal to release the book in Japan. However, after Adelstein wrote an expose for the Washington Post concerning the FBI granting visas to yakuza members, Adelstein sought police protection[3] in 2009[8] and left the country.[6]

Adelstein wrote in 2013 that: "The book is translated into Japanese but no publisher will touch it. It steps on too many toes."[9] He described how in September 2008,[7] the Japanese publisher "got cold feet and backed out." Stated Adelstein, "a risk assessment was done and the conclusion at the time was that publishing the book could result in unpleasant things like arson, dump trucks being smashed into the (publisher’s) building, and the kidnapping of the publisher’s employees and other acts of violence... I don’t blame them for opting out." He wrote that the English version and Japanese version, which he wrote without a translator, are essentially the same, but with sources "more obscured" in the Japanese version.[3] After trying and failing to have the book published in Japan, it was published by Random House and Pantheon Books.[3] Kirkus Reviews called it "Not just a hard-boiled true-crime thriller, but an engrossing, troubling look at crime and human exploitation in Japan."[10]

Film adaptation[]

In August 2013 a film adaptation of the memoir was announced.[2] Adelstein co-wrote the story for the film version of Tokyo Vice with American playwright J. T. Rogers, and Rogers then wrote the screenplay.[11][12] Anthony Mandler was announced to direct the film, with John Lesher and Adam Kassan serving as producers, and Binn Jakupi serving as an executive producer.[11] The film was expected to begin filming in Tokyo in mid-2015, with Daniel Radcliffe set to play Adelstein.[13][14][15][16] Production never commenced.[17]

Television adaptation[]

In June 2019, a television adaptation of the memoir was announced.[18][19] The ten-part television series is set to star Ansel Elgort playing Jake Adelstein, an American journalist who embeds himself into the Tokyo Vice police squad to reveal corruption. The series will also star Ken Watanabe[20] and will be written and executive produced by Tony Award-winning playwright J. T. Rogers,[21] with Endeavor Content serving as the studio. In October 2019, it was announced that Michael Mann would be directing the pilot episode, as well as serving as executive producer.[21] John Lesher, Emily Gerson Saines, and Destin Daniel Cretton will also serve as executive producers, alongside J.T. Rogers, Mann, Elgort and Watanabe.

In addition to Elgort and Watanabe, the Tokyo Vice cast will also include Rachel Keller and Ella Rumpf.

The 10-episode straight-to-series Tokyo Vice will be on HBO Max.[17] The series is scheduled to premiere on April 7, with the first three episodes available immediately, followed by two episodes on a weekly basis until the series finale on April 28, 2022.

References[]

  1. ^ a b Adelstein, Jake (October 13, 2009). Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. Pantheon Books. ISBN 978-0-307-37879-8.
  2. ^ a b c "The Rumpus Interview With Jake Adelstein - The Rumpus.net". The Rumpus.net. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Schreiber, Mark (October 18, 2009). "Classic tales of newsprint noir". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. ^ Messer, David. "Chilling glimpse of Japan's underbelly". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Banyan (December 19, 2009). "Tokyo Vice—The yakuza benefit from the country's lack of wiretaps, plea bargains and programmes for protecting witnesses". The Economist. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Scheraga, Dan (October 22, 2009). "'Tokyo Vice': American journalist vs. Japanese crime boss". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "On the 'Tokyo Vice' beat with Jake Adelstein". Tokyo Reporter. October 27, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Reynolds, Isabel (October 12, 2009). "Author gets too close for comfort with Tokyo's yakuza gangs". Reuters. Retrieved January 6, 2021.[dead link]
  9. ^ Tokyo Vice Japan Subculture Retrieved January 31, 2016
  10. ^ "Tokyo Vice". Penguin Random House. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Dave McNary (November 5, 2013). "AFM: Daniel Radcliffe's 'Tokyo Vice' Shooting in Mid-2014". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  12. ^ Pamela McClintock (5 November 2013). "AFM: Daniel Radcliffe to Star in Japanese Underworld Thriller 'Tokyo Vice'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Empireoneline.com".
  14. ^ Gavin J. Blair (May 2013). "Daniel Radcliffe to Play American Crime Reporter in 'Tokyo Vice'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Casting Net: Daniel Radcliffe to play American reporter in 'Tokyo Vice'; Plus Reese Witherspoon, more". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  16. ^ "'Harry Potter' star to feature in 'Tokyo Vice' yakuza thriller - The Japan Times". The Japan Times. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  17. ^ a b Merritt, Rachael (June 7, 2019). "Ansel Elgort to star in drama series based on memoir 'Tokyo Vice'". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  18. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 6, 2019). "Ansel Elgort to Star in Drama Series 'Tokyo Vice' at WarnerMedia Streaming Service".
  19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 6, 2019). "WarnerMedia Streamer Orders 'Tokyo Vice' Drama Series Starring Ansel Elgort From Endeavor Content".
  20. ^ Thorne, Will (September 12, 2019). "Ken Watanabe Joins Ansel Elgort in 'Tokyo Vice' at HBO Max".
  21. ^ a b Fleming, Mike, Jr. (October 22, 2019). "Michael Mann To Direct Ansel Elgort & Ken Watanabe In Pilot Episode Of HBO Max Series 'Tokyo Vice'".

External links[]

Retrieved from ""