CREDIT: TOKYO VICE

Let me begin this review by putting this out there: Tokyo Vice is probably one of the most interesting books you'll read. Yes, that's a pretty bold claim, but anyone who reads this book will be sucked into the hardboiled and gritty world of post-recession Japan, circa the mid-'90s.

While at first glance the book seems to be just another ho-hum, purely clinical account of some journalist living abroad, Tokyo Vice proves itself as anything but. At its heart, Tokyo Vice is pure neo-noir (the book even begins in media res with Jake Adelstein staring down the barrel of a gun, cementing its neo-noir tone), and deftly paints that image with a mix of well-worded and entertaining narrative, in tandem with the various bits of trivia scattered around the book for the purpose of better explaining the story. Every element within the story that may seem foreign to a Westerner is explained concisely, everything from Yakuza traditions to vending machines that sell girls' used panties is expanded upon (with a nice touch of humour).

Although it was marketed as a book about an American reporter's encounter with the Yakuza (Japan's Mafia), they are only mentioned and met with in passing until the last part of the book. Tokyo Vice is really a book about Japan's culture and crime, told from the perspective of one who is in touch with the sensibilities of both the Western world and Japan. Thrown into the mix of the book's story are mini-history lessons scattered here and there with the intent of supplementing the author's examinations of Japan's culture. Not everything explained within the book necessarily paints a wholly pretty image of said culture, but the disarming and darkly humourous way the negatives are described proves that Adelstein doesn't go out of his way to embarrass someone who may come from his second home.

Rather than forming a continuous plot, the book's narrative is, more than anything, a string of loosely connected stories from the various highlights of Adelstein's career as the first gaijin (foreign) Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) press club reporter for the Yomiuri, one of Japan's largest and oldest newspapers. You'll read about sleepless reporters, screaming editors, cops and politicians both respected and crooked, posh gangsters and serial killers, among other classic noir characters. Tokyo Vice follows the author from his humble beginnings as an intern writer for the Yomiuri to his various capers as an investigative journalist. Alongside covering the Yakuza (which, in itself, is a force so ubiquitous that it blankets nearly every aspect of business and media, much to the chagrin of the police), Tokyo Vice also highlights Adelstein's role as an investigative journalist involved with some of Japan's most sensationalist cases. Some of the book's more entertaining moments include Adelstein's various undercover stories, from disguising himself as an Iranian immigrant to get the scoop on a murder case to trying to flare up his charm and suaveness as a host at a kyabakura (cabaret club). Edelstein himself proves to be a likeable character, nerdy from self-admission, occasionally hard-nosed for a chance at the big scoop, but ultimately with a strong ethic.

Ultimately, Tokyo Vice serves not only as an exposé on organized crime and the story of a journalist's many endeavours, but as an analysis and critique on Japanese culture. Tokyo Vice gives the reader an interesting insight on Japan's male-dominated, boys' club professional world, and how the few women of their respective fields handle the presence of their gender. Along with this critique comes the insight on investigative journalism and going undercover for the scoop. More than anything, Tokyo Vice almost serves as an unofficial travel book for Japan, where the things you learn aren't always happy and positive, but are nevertheless fascinating. I could gush on and on about this book at this risk of giving too much away, but if I had to use a single word to describe this book, it would be "cool."

Reading Between The Lines explores books that you may have missed out on that are worth your while. If you have a book to suggest, email Eshaan at e_gupta@fanshaweonline.ca.