Jake Adelstein on the Daily Show

Jake Adelstein, author of Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan, appeared on Monday’s episode of the Daily Show to talk about his encounters with the yakuza:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

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Jake Adelstein

www.thedailyshow.com

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12 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - November 18, 2009 at 8:03 am

Categories: General Japan Tags:

Kumaji

For being a journalist, this guy’s ability to tell a story is that of a 5 year old. I guess we could say that he was nervous, but after that interview my interest in the book diminished by 75%.
- jd
  
  sure he was tense at first, then gradually became more natural as the interview progressed. i think he concluded it pretty well.
http://bensescapefromny.blogspot.com Ben

I guess it goes without saying, but the NPR interview was so much deep, and had samples of some really awesome stories and some really interesting stuff about the Yakuza. Of course that was 40 minutes and not on Comedy Central…
http://relaxedfocus.blogspot.com Rob

Not the greatest interview ever, but decent. Having finished reading the book, I highly recommend it.
William

He came off as very juvenile (and dorky), so I hope the book is better than I would expect from the interview.
- ZoneDaiatlas
  
  What do you expect it’s “The Daily Show”. Everybody with a Che Guevara shirt who attends a taping of “The Daily Show” is juvenile and dorky…
Ele

I am wondering how can he still be alive… something fishy here, a white guy writes a book about a yakuza boss telling all kinds of stuff and nothing happens to him?
If I was a journalist and had all the information he is supposed to have, even in my wildest dreams I would try to be quiet….
I think he is bringing too much media attention to himself , Ok it seems that it is to protect himself but will that be enough? some years from now will he be as safe as now? and above all, is it worth to write a story at such a high price?
Sincerely I don´t think so.
- http://www.japansubculture.com Jake Adelstein
  
  I’m hoping some years from now the yakuza are a shadow of what they are now. If not, sooner or later there will be retribution. But I’d rather live in the open and be a public nuisance to some of these guys than cower in the shadows and wait to snuffed out.
  As my mentor Detective Sekiguchi used to say, “A hero is just someone who has run out of acceptable choices.” And I’m no hero either.
  Read the book, some of the things the G-gumi was involved in were so vile that it’s hard to imagine this wasn’t a cult rather than a gang.
  
  PS. Yes, I was pretty goofy on the Daily Show–but it’s a comedy program and six minutes or so doesn’t lend itself to thought-probing discourse. Actually, I’m kind of dorky when not on television either. I have moments of seriousness.
  - Ele
    
    Thank your for your answer, you are very kind even when I was doubting about you. I will read your book, I believe it has to be very interesting.
    I agree with that description, “A hero is just someone who has run out of acceptable choices.”:-)
    I really hope you really have no trouble with those people man, have a nice day.
    Ki wo tsukete kudasai ne? o negai shimasu.
Tom

Is the book being printed in Japanese ?
I think what you’ve done is a very noble thing by bringing to light, the shady business that the Yakuza get up to.
Alphonse

I thought the interview was great. A piece was done on this on ABC TV (Australia) – feel free to dig that up if you want your info presented in a more serious manner. Good on you Jake, I’ll definitely be giving your book a read.
dave

yea, it was interesting. i thought it was funny, cuz he obviously was doing what we all do and fighting the impulse to correct peoples funny pronunciation of japanese stuff, lest we look like jackasses. YaKUUUUUUza

Jake Adelstein on the Daily Show

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