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oddroad's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
4.0
kozumethan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
aangelinee's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
3.0
The author reminisces his time in Tokyo, working as a journalist in collaboration with the police and sometimes gathering information from criminals. A lot of focus is on the illegal sex industry in Tokyo, as well as other parts of the Japanese criminal underworld, which is quite interesting. However, sometimes the story is hard to follow, as the author jumps from one subject to another and sometimes the writing feels like the introduction of a Wikipedia page rather than a story. All in all, this is a decent book, I have enjoyed a lot of parts, as I was not entirely familiar with Yakuza or working as a journalist who writes about crime.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
There are definite aspects of this book I enjoyed, and others that were just out of step. The author is an ass more often than not, and really honestly explores that, but is both good and bad. Overall, there is value in reading this book, but I found I preferred the HBO version. It removes some of the "look at me" bloat and is more direct.
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely a page-turner. It was interesting to learn about the yakuza and Japanese nightlife. But Adelstein did not seem like the most reliable narrator; I sometimes felt like his primary interest was in making himself seem like a badass (e.g. recounting his sexual exploits).
ayaktruk's review against another edition
3.0
Another hand-me-down from my teacher/mentor, Dr. Johnson. Up to page 65 and so far it's riveting. He picked it up after hearing about it on NPR. Have to find that interview.
Post-read
Very enjoyable from a gaijin (Japanese for foreigner) pov. Having been to the land of the rising sun on numerous occasion as a tourist/visitor, many of the situations hit nerves and create twangs of memories in my gray matter.
Did make me extremely hungry for some J-food, however.
Post-read
Very enjoyable from a gaijin (Japanese for foreigner) pov. Having been to the land of the rising sun on numerous occasion as a tourist/visitor, many of the situations hit nerves and create twangs of memories in my gray matter.
Did make me extremely hungry for some J-food, however.
mudslide's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Illuminating, powerfully sad yet humbly honorable.
Tokyo Vice is a no holds barred look at the seedy underworld (and at times overworld) of Japanese vices in Tokyo.
This book pulls no punches but lacks a bit of pop and panache. It was interesting to have a new perspective on Japanese society and see some of its flaws laid bare.
This memoir dives into a dark world in need of protection from itself. Adelstein acts as a guide so passionate it hurts his personal life.
I did not love the narrative and style but it was an easy and interesting read that inspired me to want to read Adelstein's follow up work on the Yakuza.
Tokyo Vice is a no holds barred look at the seedy underworld (and at times overworld) of Japanese vices in Tokyo.
This book pulls no punches but lacks a bit of pop and panache. It was interesting to have a new perspective on Japanese society and see some of its flaws laid bare.
This memoir dives into a dark world in need of protection from itself. Adelstein acts as a guide so passionate it hurts his personal life.
I did not love the narrative and style but it was an easy and interesting read that inspired me to want to read Adelstein's follow up work on the Yakuza.