Tokyo Vice
Excited about watching the series
1.
I am a big fan of Jake Adelstein and his book Tokyo Vice.
I’ve read his book multiple times since it first came out in 2009, and I recently wanted to re-read it since I am taking two classes on Memoir (one is at Stanford Continuing Education, taught by Rebecca Schuman, and the other a masterclass at UCLA Extension, taught by Shawna Kenney).
I have three favorite memoirs: Emanuel Carrere’s The Kingdom, Daniel Mendelsohn’s The Odyssey, and Adelstein’s Tokyo Vice. I think these three books exemplify the best in specific types of memoir. And of the three, Adelestein’s is certainly the most original.
Put another way, only he could have written this book—since how many people in the world can learn a language as tough as Japanese starting as an adult and become good enough to join one of the conservative national newspapers as a reporter working all in Japanese? Also unique is he specializes in organized crime. He is a wonderful storyteller with "gallows" humor and a very charming and self-deprecating writer's voice.
The first time I read Tokyo Vice, I thought "When is the movie coming out?" and so was not surprised to learn Tokyo Vice is coming to HBO—actually it is here! Part of me hesitates to watch since I loved the book so much, but the other part of me is very excited.
2.
In my last newsletter, I mentioned an essay I wrote for a class I took at Stanford Continuing Education on art plundering with Patrick Hunt (a scholar whose work I have admired for a very long time). The essay was published at Electrum Magazine. As I was writing it, I was thinking of Tokyo Vice, because during our class, Dr. Brian Daniels, National Vice President in Cultural Heritage for the Archaeological Institute of America gave a short talk and discussed the way human trafficking and arms are tied to the trade in illegal artifacts. He specifically mentioned Japan. I was surprised but then remembered Adelstein’s book. The Yakuza…. I wondered if it is Khmer art or Afghan or everything…
In a Ted Talk Jake Adelstein gave
Hard Lessons Learned From Tough People: Jake Adelstein at TEDxKyoto 2012
he discusses various codes of conduct. Not just how even gangsters have them, but the way having and living up to a code of conduct is directly tied to human flourishing. This was also mentioned in Thieves of Baghdad: One Marine's Passion to Recover the World's Greatest Stolen Treasures, by Matthew Bogdanos, William Patrick.
Codes of conduct and an honor code. These have come to feel like throwbacks to another day. Hospitality/guest codes, manners, filial piety… when these things disappear everything is possible, but having one’s own feelings always serve as a person’s bottom line is the surest way to unhappiness as I can picture. Adelstein in his talk laments the way even the gangsters have lost their old fashion honor codes. And now they have become a true pestilence on Japanese society.
My Goodreads review of Tokyo Vice
I watched the first episode and it was great! The episode was directed by Michael Mann and has the feel of a film. I recommend it!
I met Jake on Facebook in 2010 right after Tokyo Vice came out and invited him (via FB messages!) to come give a talk to my students at UNH. And he did, even though I could only rustle up a pittance of a stipend for him. I loved how he came in and blew everyone's minds by telling them the whole 芸能界 was under yakuza control. We've been friends since then.
Speaking of honor cultures, have you read Eiko Ikegami's "The Taming of the Samurai: Honorific Individualism and the Making of Modern Japan" ? It's fascinating. (Even though we share a surname, unfortunately I have no relation to her. I think she's brilliant.)