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jrl1221's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Fascinating story about the underground crime world in Japan.
hylian_pirate's review against another edition
4.0
I wouldn't say that this book is important but it's very entertaining. Jake Adelstein, a journalist, who studied and worked in Japan, tells his story of how he joined Japan's biggest newspaper, the Yomiuri. He became a reporter and slowly got himself involved in the Yakuza affairs which almost resulted in his death.
The first third of the book is about his early life in the newspaper and gives an interesting perspective, albeit a singular one, about the workplace culture in Japan. How the juniors are treated by the seniors, the excessive work hours, and the relationship between journalists and their sources. The later chapters delve into the politics of Japan and how the criminal underworld is run, including hostess clubs, loan sharks, and human traffickers.
The author felt genuine and well-engrossed in Japanese culture. Sure, he made me cringe sometimes, but overall it's well-written and enjoyable.
Real page count: 383
The first third of the book is about his early life in the newspaper and gives an interesting perspective, albeit a singular one, about the workplace culture in Japan. How the juniors are treated by the seniors, the excessive work hours, and the relationship between journalists and their sources. The later chapters delve into the politics of Japan and how the criminal underworld is run, including hostess clubs, loan sharks, and human traffickers.
The author felt genuine and well-engrossed in Japanese culture. Sure, he made me cringe sometimes, but overall it's well-written and enjoyable.
Real page count: 383
dayne's review against another edition
4.0
Really fun book. His life sounds too exhausting for me but I'm happy he shared it.
dkmode's review against another edition
4.0
One of the more page-turning non-fiction books I've read. Equal parts memoir, true crime, and cultural study, this is an engaging look at the seedier parts of Japan, even though its focus is a bit different than I expected.