Comments on: Jake Adelstein’s Tokyo Vice http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/ Japan News Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:19:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tom http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-389852 Tom Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:36:28 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-389852 Excellent book! I lived in the Roppongi Hills are from 2004-2007 and bumped into these yakuza swine all the time. I stumbled in a club now and then and the mood definitely changed between some of them. The Polish, Russian and Romanian girls were stressed out and edgy. I read the book rapidly to figure out what happened to Helena in the book... buy it. Excellent book! I lived in the Roppongi Hills are from 2004-2007 and bumped into these yakuza swine all the time. I stumbled in a club now and then and the mood definitely changed between some of them. The Polish, Russian and Romanian girls were stressed out and edgy.

I read the book rapidly to figure out what happened to Helena in the book…

buy it.

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]]> By: Eido Inoue http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382367 Eido Inoue Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:32:46 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382367 I'll bite, even though I'm not the author of the blog post. I'm pretty sure that "Speed Tribes", written by Taro Greenfield, contained many fabricated stories. There are scenes described in it, told from a I-was-there point of view, that would not have been possible for a person to have witnessed, or even interviewed after-the-fact. Example: right-wing Yakuza racial supremist. How's a Japanese-American (with Caucasian features and accented Japanese) going to be there? About as believable as an African American infiltrating the KKK. I’ll bite, even though I’m not the author of the blog post.

I’m pretty sure that “Speed Tribes”, written by Taro Greenfield, contained many fabricated stories.

There are scenes described in it, told from a I-was-there point of view, that would not have been possible for a person to have witnessed, or even interviewed after-the-fact. Example: right-wing Yakuza racial supremist. How’s a Japanese-American (with Caucasian features and accented Japanese) going to be there?

About as believable as an African American infiltrating the KKK.

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]]> By: Iago http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382218 Iago Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:10:01 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382218 <q>Not being an expert on organized crime in Japan, I cannot speak for the accuracy of what he is writing...</q> Ask around at some of the English language forums. It's quite remarkable how many English teachers are connected, or have a best drinking pal who is connected or a high-ranking Yakuza, or whose current/ex-girlfriend/wife is the daughter of a senior ranking syndicate member, or... And they're all salt of the earth, apparently. Not being an expert on organized crime in Japan, I cannot speak for the accuracy of what he is writing…

Ask around at some of the English language forums. It’s quite remarkable how many English teachers are connected, or have a best drinking pal who is connected or a high-ranking Yakuza, or whose current/ex-girlfriend/wife is the daughter of a senior ranking syndicate member, or… And they’re all salt of the earth, apparently.

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]]> By: Karisu http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382163 Karisu Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:23:07 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382163 I wouldn't blame the author for this so much as I would the marketing from the publisher. I wouldn’t blame the author for this so much as I would the marketing from the publisher.

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]]> By: tomojiro http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382126 tomojiro Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:19:13 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382126 I have read Adelstein's article in the WaPo and saw his website. I have also ordered the book, so I am planning to read it. I guess it is unfair to comment about his book without reading it, but I have a mixed feeling about it. First, judging from his background, I guess he is qualified to write about this topic. However, living in Ikebukuro for a long time (which is sometimes called “Nest of the Yakuza’s”) I have got the feeling that there is steadily in decline. My concern is that probably this book gives the opposite image to the world even if what he recounts is based on facts. Until 2002, in a vicinity of a 15 minutes’ walk I experienced 3 shootings (in a period of 5 years), in which 2 persons were dead and other 3 wounded in sum. One occurred just the next block from where I live. There were other incidents of violence, kidnapping rival member of the Yakuza group in front of the people in daylights, a car crushing in a video shop (which I used often) because the building was owned by the rival group, all which stopped after 2002. Was it because the law is successful in bringing order to these guys and also because the economy decayed during the latter half of the 90 ties which brought decline to the Yakuza business or is it because (as Adelstein seems to suggest) Yakuza’s are more successful in merging with main street business? Somehow I doubt that Yakuza’s are successful in becoming Main Street business invisibly. What I hear is, be it entertainment business or politics, rumors of connection with Yakuza’s is becoming more lethal and can destroy your reputation. Are they really becoming invisibly successful? Honestly, I doubt that. But I have to read the book first. I have read Adelstein’s article in the WaPo and saw his website. I have also ordered the book, so I am planning to read it.

I guess it is unfair to comment about his book without reading it, but I have a mixed feeling about it.

First, judging from his background, I guess he is qualified to write about this topic. However, living in Ikebukuro for a long time (which is sometimes called “Nest of the Yakuza’s”) I have got the feeling that there is steadily in decline. My concern is that probably this book gives the opposite image to the world even if what he recounts is based on facts.

Until 2002, in a vicinity of a 15 minutes’ walk I experienced 3 shootings (in a period of 5 years), in which 2 persons were dead and other 3 wounded in sum. One occurred just the next block from where I live. There were other incidents of violence, kidnapping rival member of the Yakuza group in front of the people in daylights, a car crushing in a video shop (which I used often) because the building was owned by the rival group, all which stopped after 2002.

Was it because the law is successful in bringing order to these guys and also because the economy decayed during the latter half of the 90 ties which brought decline to the Yakuza business or is it because (as Adelstein seems to suggest) Yakuza’s are more successful in merging with main street business? Somehow I doubt that Yakuza’s are successful in becoming Main Street business invisibly.

What I hear is, be it entertainment business or politics, rumors of connection with Yakuza’s is becoming more lethal and can destroy your reputation. Are they really becoming invisibly successful? Honestly, I doubt that. But I have to read the book first.

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]]> By: Tully http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382116 Tully Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:19:26 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382116 I think the original comments regarding the hype/self-promotion ring true. Especially the part where he seems to be eager to tell everyone how a particular Japanese mobster has a contract out on him and his family. O RLy? If so, then why chose to hide out in Tokyo Japan? Hmmmmmmm. Makes no more sense than hiding out in Howard Beach if I knew some idiot friend of the Gottis had put a price on my sorry ass. Working as a beat reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun covering the police and the organized crime division are two different things. I think there is a deliberate attempt to blur the distinction to a largely ignorant audience who don't know the difference. I think the original comments regarding the hype/self-promotion ring true. Especially the part where he seems to be eager to tell everyone how a particular Japanese mobster has a contract out on him and his family.

O RLy? If so, then why chose to hide out in Tokyo Japan? Hmmmmmmm. Makes no more sense than hiding out in Howard Beach if I knew some idiot friend of the Gottis had put a price on my sorry ass.

Working as a beat reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun covering the police and the organized crime division are two different things.

I think there is a deliberate attempt to blur the distinction to a largely ignorant audience who don’t know the difference.

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]]> By: Dave http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382109 Dave Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:42:16 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382109 I'm really looking forward to reading this. I’m really looking forward to reading this.

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]]> By: James http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382080 James Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:18:08 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382080 Nobody in particularly, but if you want me to name books about the dark side of Japan I think are written by authors that lack expertise and end up making lots of errors, here are two: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767904974?ie=UTF8&tag=japanprobe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0767904974 http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Masako-Prisoner-Chrysanthemum-Throne/dp/1585426105/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top Nobody in particularly, but if you want me to name books about the dark side of Japan I think are written by authors that lack expertise and end up making lots of errors, here are two:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767904974?ie=UTF8&tag=japanprobe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0767904974

http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Masako-Prisoner-Chrysanthemum-Throne/dp/1585426105/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

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]]> By: steve http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382069 steve Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:43:30 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382069 <blockquote>Unlike other authors of English language books about the dark side of Japan, Adelstein at least has a resume that gives him some authority to speak about organized crime.</blockquote> May I who this is in reference to?

Unlike other authors of English language books about the dark side of Japan, Adelstein at least has a resume that gives him some authority to speak about organized crime.

May I who this is in reference to?

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]]> By: k http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/10/15/jake-adelsteins-tokyo-vice/comment-page-1/#comment-382030 k Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:43:59 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=13305#comment-382030 Looks pretty cool, I'm reading Living Carelessly in Tokyo and Elsewhere: A Memoir by John Nathan right now, but I'll make sure to give this one a read. Looks pretty cool, I’m reading Living Carelessly in Tokyo and Elsewhere: A Memoir by John Nathan right now, but I’ll make sure to give this one a read.

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