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Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter On The Police Beat In Japan (2009)

Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan (2009)

Book Info

Rating
3.89 of 5 Votes: 5
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ISBN
0307378799 (ISBN13: 9780307378798)
Language
English
Publisher
Pantheon

About book Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter On The Police Beat In Japan (2009)

Excellent journalistic insight into the darker side of Tokyo life. The author Jake Adelstein is a blunt, overworked, morally questionable American living in Japan that offers his personal trials and experiences from working as a journalist in Japan. Watching his work affect his personal life is almost as intriguing as following the cases of murder, the sex industry, and yakuza crime rings he covers. He is very open about his relationships with his sources, his wife, and his friends...as well a his descent into the "burnout." On the surface, this is a book about working in journalism in Japan. Beyond that, the insights into a private we-don't-talk-about-that world from the perspective of an ex-pat that almost fully adapted to Japan makes this a unique and memorable read. I am not ambivalent, but it is really hard to explain why I liked this book so much. Adelstein has given us a very good insight into the Japanese culture, but I have to think it is a limited slice - then again maybe not. His job as a reporter puts him at a disadvantage covering the crime beat - and this as an American of Jewish heritage in Tokyo. Yet he makes his mark on those terms. Now, on the crime beat you have to think that he is seeing mostly the less-attractive side of Japanese culture; yet, as he tells it, you come away thinking you know something of this wonderful place and want to know more of the same. Even in facing danger from the Japanese underworld he seems to do us a service.

Do You like book Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter On The Police Beat In Japan (2009)?

I am not ambivalent, but it is really hard to explain why I liked this book so much. Adelstein has given us a very good insight into the Japanese culture, but I have to think it is a limited slice - then again maybe not. His job as a reporter puts him at a disadvantage covering the crime beat - and this as an American of Jewish heritage in Tokyo. Yet he makes his mark on those terms. Now, on the crime beat you have to think that he is seeing mostly the less-attractive side of Japanese culture; yet, as he tells it, you come away thinking you know something of this wonderful place and want to know more of the same. Even in facing danger from the Japanese underworld he seems to do us a service.
—1221

In many ways a good read...I currently am an expat living in Tokyo so could relate to many of the experiences - especially in terms of the culture here. But I thought the series of vignettes seemed awkward and at times confusing - especially in terms of time sequence. Also thought the author was incredibly full of himself - he made sure to describe multiple times his sexual prowess - even after he was married. There is a fair amount of sociopathy here - which he rationalizes away as sort of "when you swim with fish you get wet" kind of thing. By the end I just wanted it to be over....
—Vicki

Very good read, definitely check it out if you're interested in Japan's underground at all.
—popoang

In Japan , make sure your socks match
—bou_bou

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