By Jake Adelstein
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Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Translation quality: N/A
Entertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My recommendation: A worthy and page-turny sequel to Tokyo Vice
If you liked Tokyo Vice, you’re going to love Tokyo Noir
Picking up where he left off after toppling the boss of the Goto-gumi, investigative reporter Jake Adelstein dishes up more true crime drama as he wades into the aftermath of Japan’s devastating 3/11 earthquake and tsunami, shining a bright light on the yakuza’s involvement in the Fukushima meltdown disaster. But this time he casts his net wider, reporting not only on the shenanigans of the criminal underworld, but the even shadier dealings of those who are supposed to serve and protect.
It’ll come as no surprise to Tokyo Vice fans that Japan’s infamous gangsters reap untold riches by profiting from the weaknesses and misfortunes of others, but Tokyo Noir exposes how powerful corporations and government figures made the gangsters look like the good guys by comparison.
Adelstein’s skills as an investigative reporter and his boldness at looking under rocks that the powers-that-be would prefer to leave unturned once again deliver a tale of lies and corruption that is hard to put down.
You can get it right now, or check out the January Japanagram Mini to see if you won a copy! All subscribers are automatically entered to win—if you’re not yet a member of this lucky group, click this button to subscribe, and be automatically signed up to enter.
How I pick the book giveaway winners: At the end of December, I will load all the email addresses of current Japanagram subscribers into an online random name picker and ask it to choose one lucky subscriber to get the book from this month’s review. I’ll publish the winner’s email in the next Japanagram (obscured in a way so only the subscriber will be able to recognize it as their own, of course) so check your January Japanagram Mini to see if you won!
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
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