Tokyo Vice
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gritty Japan-set noir has violence, sex, cursing, smoking.
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Tokyo Vice
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What's the Story?
Based on a memoir written by Jake Adelstein, TOKYO VICE centers around the Missouri-born journalist who took on one of Tokyo's most powerful crime bosses. In the early 1990s Adelstein (played by Ansel Elgort) is the first Westerner to be hired at the prominent (and fictitious) Meicho Shimbun newspaper. A foreigner on the crime beat, he's learning how to navigate the tough Japanese work culture and cultivate relationships with other journalists, the police, and his supervisor (played by Rinkio Kikuchi), all of which prove difficult. But when Adelstein begins investigating a mysterious death of a man found on a bridge, he soon finds himself digging deep into the Japanese yakuza (underworld). As he continues to work the story, the rookie reporter gets help from veteran Chief Detective Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe). He also finds himself making friends with a rookie gangster named Sato (Sho Kasamatsu), and Samantha (Rachel Keller), a savvy American club hostess with a past.
Is It Any Good?
This suspense-filled, gritty crime noir adaptation tells the story of a Western journalist who is committed to writing about Japanese organized crime during its heyday. Offered in part as a flashback, the story follows Jake Adelstein at the start of his newspaper career in Tokyo, and follows him as he continues to research and work a story that few want to tell. It also reveals, through Detective Katagiri, the complicated dynamic between Tokyo law enforcement and the yakuza, who were largely tolerated by police during that time. But Tokyo Vice is also a "fish out of water" story, and parallels Adelstein, Sato, and Samantha's very different lives to highlight their personal struggles when trying to fit into their own respective circles. Unfortunately, other strong characters aren't as well fleshed out, leaving you wanting to know much more. Nonetheless, the series is excellent overall, and offers an entertaining viewing experience for folks looking for a new hard-boiled detective series to sink their teeth into.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the yakuza. What is its history? Does it still exist today? How does it differ from organized crime in the United States?
If you have read the book: What changes to Jake Adelstein's story were made when it was adapted into a series? How different would Tokyo Vice be if it had simply stuck to the details offered in the book? Would it be less entertaining?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 7, 2022
- Cast: Ansel Elgort , Ken Watanabe , Rachel Keller
- Network: Max
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Communication , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: April 18, 2022
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