An American Journalist In Japan: “Tokyo Vice”

 Caught the new HBO MAX mini-series TOKYO VICE, based on the book “Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan", the real-life memoirs of an American reporter named Jake Adelstein who worked for the Yomiuri Shinbun covering crime in Japan, specifically the dealings with the Yakuza.

Ansel Elgort stars as reporter Jake Adelstein, who begins working for the newspaper where he is met with some resistance, including a curt and strict supervisor named Eimi Maruyama (Rinko Kikuchi)  and a loud and unabashedly racist editor (Kosuke Toyohara) who calls him “Gaijin”  and singles him out for beration.

He is assigned to the lowest of levels, covering the police beat, where he is assigned mundane crimes to cover and is given no help by the police, though he tries to ingratiate himself with them, like trying to befriend abrasive cop Miyamoto (Hideaki Ito) who only gives him dead-end tips.

But when he is assigned investigating a routine suicide, he finds things aren’t quite as they seem. The victim was heavily in debt, and Adelstein is further confused when he tries to follow up on the creditors and finds an empty building. When a second “suicide” turns up with another person in debt to the same creditors, Jake feels he has a real story to pursue. But his superiors won’t let him run with it and is told to stick to the basics.

It’s only when he happens to catch the attention of a hard-as-nail veteran detective named Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe)  that his work begins to get traction.  Katagiri takes Adelstein under his wing and slowly the real underworld of Japan is revealed to him...

There he finds a whole world full of ruthless and colorful thugs as well as slick and charming vipers like Sato (Sho Kasamatsu), and while trying to investigate the suicide debts, falls into the middle of a burgeoning power war between two Yakuza clans!

At the halfway point of Tokyo Vice and so far it’s been pretty engaging, though I must admit I’m not too interested in the parallel story of the American hostesses which takes up a good portion of the show,  following American Samantha (Rachel Keller) dealing with her slimy bosses and Yakuza suitors while she tries to get out and start her own business…

A show like this is guaranteed to get names like Ken Watanabe and Rinko Kikuchi (names that most American audiences know well) but I was glad to see a whole bunch of other Nihongo actors here, Hideaki Ito, Sho Kasamatsu, Ayumi Ito and Yuka Itaya, even Tomohisa Yamashita as a rival club owner (!!!)

Below: Yamapi with Ella Rumpf

First episode was directed by Michael Mann (who also serves as co-producer) so you knew you were going to get a gritty crime drama, and so far it hasn’t disappointed!!

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered: The Dizzy Side of Airi Matsui in "Eroi Kareshi ga Watashi wo Madowasu"

 Story of a very naive and ditzy girl named Hitomi Sakaino (Airi Matsui) whom, on the verge of her wedding day to an affluent businessman Keigo (Yuki Kousei) , crosses paths with the stoic construction worker Manabu (Sho Kasamatsu) when a playful wind steals her scarf and leads her to him, where the wide-eyed girl is immediately captivated by him and his sweaty, rugged looks!

Despite her being already engaged,  Hitomi can't get him out of her thoughts even when she's being fitted for her WEDDING DRESS, and Mom Mariko (Sayuri Kokusho) and Sis Ruri (Rio Kanno) as shocked to see tears roll down her eyes!

Seeing her doubt, Mom and Sis Ruri try to assure Hitomi that her temporary indecision is nothing but Marriage Blues and that everyone has thoughts like hers when they are about to marry. 

They expect Hitomi to rise out of her funk herself soon enough. But when they spy on her with her fiance the next day..and see her nervously push him away when he tries to kiss her, they know this is a bigger problem than they thought!

Mom decides to take things into her own hands- With information gained by the Construction Company, they track down the guy Hitomi is infatuated with at his place to see how serious he is about her.

When he answers the door, Manabu makes no reply as the entourage bursts into his house for a few terse words! 

Once inside, the outspoken Mom assaults the guy about his intentions toward Hitomi…and of course they’re taken for a loop when they discover Hitomi has never even SPOKEN to the guy and doesn’t even know his NAME! She’s been obsessed with a practical STRANGER!

It's here that Mom and Sis realize how absolutely ADDLED Hitomi can be!

When asked what she sees in this guy she only saw once before, Hitomi dizzily sums up..."I guess...his SEXINESS??"

"WHAAAA!!!" Mom and Sis can't believe it and beat a hasty retreat!

Hitomi, however, still feels fate has brought them together and uses this opportunity to finally talk to this guy and get to know him better! She introduces herself and asks his name...

When from behind him a door slides open and a GIRL (Minori Hagiwara) stumbles out!

? ? ? ? ?

"Hey Manabu, who's this chick?" she asks, glaring at the confused Hitomi!

Gulp! Maybe this fated love of hers isn't QUITE as fated as she thinks!

LOL, another wonderfully wacky drama from Airi Matsui in another delightfully addled role, SO thankful since she’s been playing such a frumpy chracter in “Tsumari Suki tte iitai n Dakedo” and it’s good to see her back to her comedic roots!

Grabbed this for the Airi love but the scene stealer of the show has GOT to be Sayuri Kokusho as Hitomi’s spazzy Mom Mariko. Oh My GOSH, she and daughter Ruri have got to be the funniest comedy duo since DOWNTOWN, they are hilarious!

The back and forth between the mom and daughter as they try to assess the problem of Hitomi throwing away her marriage is great, with Mom crying that she’s going through menopause any time a situation upsets her, LOL

This drama is short on logic but long on silliness and I’m totally along for the ride! How did I miss this one when it was airing??? A FUN little show!!!!