Tokyo Vice

Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan by Jake Adelstein, Pantheon Books, 2009.

American Crime Reporter in Tokyo

An American reporter covers crime in Tokyo. The way he obtained information from the police as to befriend particular policemen, including buying gifts for the cop’s children. Most of the crimes he investigated were committed by organized crime. 1990s and 2000s. Also domestic violence. Yakuza has a strong presence in real estate. The author learned information from a police officer by showing an interest in his family and by eating and drinking with him. Unlike in the United States, the Japanese government is not trying to eliminate organized crime, but tolerates it. In fact, there is not a sharp dividing line between organized crime and legitimate businesses and political parties. The author worked for the Yoniuri Shinbone newspaper. He has a chapter on Lucie Blackman, the subject of a whole book by Richard Lloyd Perry. 

Some of the Larger Yakuza

• Sumiyoshi-kai

• Yamaguchi-gumi

• Takada-gumi

• Kodo-kai

• Goto-humi

• Matsuba-kai

• Kyoyou-kai

• Kokusui-kai

• Inagawa-kai

Businesses tied to Yauza:

• Real estate

• Finance

• Motion pictures