"Tokyo Vice" By Jake Adelstein

[Mulboyne]

[jingai]

This looks like fun- into my wishlist it goes!

[IkemenTommy]

I was just looking for something to wipe my ass with.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I was just looking for something to wipe my ass with.

I, er, gather you'll read it first, right?

[IkemenTommy]

:rofl:

I, er, gather you'll read it first, right?

Why would I need to read it when I live in the heart of it?

[jingai]

Why would I need to read it when I live in the heart of it?

Are you a cop or a gangster (or both)?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Why would I need to read it when I live in the heart of it?

Lucky you!

[Mulboyne]

[Catoneinutica]

Interview with Adelstein on Seattle's KUOW:

http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=18611

[Samurai_Jerk]

[osopolar]

[Mock Cockpit]

[Yokohammer]

Read the excerpt ... and it just doesn't fly.

The chances that a 50-something boss of a major Yak outfit doesn't know who's dobbing him in, especially someone that close, are pretty darn slim. And the idea that he'd need a foreign reporter to get the information for him falls pretty close to the ludicrous line (not to mention the fact that he'd stick out like a sore thumb – how about "obvious informant"). Plus, all the "indebted for life" nonsense is a little too over the top for an interchange of that scale.

If the reporter is telling the truth (as he sees it), it sounds more like a case of the Yak wanting to develop a contact in the foreign press. Keep an eye on things, and possibly exert a little control over the flow of information. All the offers of favors point in that direction as well. If the reporter accepted, there'd be even more leverage. No harm in offering, eh?

Either Mr. Reporter is not telling the whole story, is making shit up as he goes, or he's missing a few essential basics regarding Japanese communication and strategy.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Either Mr. Reporter is not telling the whole story, is making shit up as he goes, or he's missing a few essential basics regarding Japanese communication and strategy.

Try all of the above.

[IkemenTommy]

Either Mr. Reporter is not telling the whole story, is making shit up as he goes, or he's missing a few essential basics regarding Japanese communication and strategy.

I never considered Metropolis to be a legitimate news source to begin with.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I never considered Metropolis to be a legitimate news source to begin with.

He's not a Metropolis reporter. Metropolis is running an except from his book. He used to be a Yomiuri reporter. Not that that's much better.

[omae mona]

He's not a Metropolis reporter. Metropolis is running an except from his book. He used to be a Yomiuri reporter. Not that that's much better.

One publication is weekly, in English, with a circulation of about 30,000. One publication is daily, in Japanese, and has a circulation of about 14,000,000 (largest in the world if I am not mistaken). No clue which is "better", but it is pretty hard to claim Jake Adelstein is part of the "foreign press" as Yokohammer called him. I am certain Adelstein was extremely unusual (if not one of a kind) as a foreigner writing in Japanese, for Japanese readers, about Japanese topics, in a Japanese newspaper.

FYI, for those who didn't see it last year, Adelstein visited us here on FG. You can see the thread where he answered some of our questions here (he is user "jla"). Unfortunately he hasn't appeared since then, but I hope he shows up again sometime. I thought his comments were quite interesting.

[Samurai_Jerk]

One publication is weekly, in English, with a circulation of about 30,000. One publication is daily, in Japanese, and has a circulation of about 14,000,000 (largest in the world if I am not mistaken).

It wasn't a serious comment.

[omae mona]

It wasn't a serious comment.

I know, I know. My response was mainly directed at those confused about the guy's professional credentials.

[Yokohammer]

... but it is pretty hard to claim Jake Adelstein is part of the "foreign press" as Yokohammer called him. I am certain Adelstein was extremely unusual (if not one of a kind) as a foreigner writing in Japanese, for Japanese readers, about Japanese topics, in a Japanese newspaper

I didn't realize he wrote in Japanese. That's commendable, but I'd still consider him linked to the "foreign press" since he apparently publishes in English as well. The 60 Minutes video in another thread is one example, even though it is he who is being interviewed. On examining his creds I also find that he is linked to the U.S. State department. All of this would be interesting to a cunning high-level Yak.

But regardless of Mr. Adelstein's credentials, the story as told in the excerpt that is the subject of this thread simply does not hold together under close examination, for the reasons previously stated. That, of course, is just my opinion, but there it is.

One other issue I forgot to mention is that, from the excerpt one can only draw the conclusion that the conversation and subsequent relationship with Mr. Yak was supposed to be confidential ... which it obviously isn't now. That leads me to a number of possible conclusions that I won't bother to go into here, other than to say that it is another hole in the story that makes me uncomfortable.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

One publication is daily, in Japanese, and has a circulation of about 14,000,000 (largest in the world if I am not mistaken).

Slightly OT, but a Yomiuri employee once told me that the paper took over the title of having the world's largest circulation from (the Soviet-era) Pravda "but still maintained the same journalistic standards."

[Greji]

Slightly OT, but a Yomiuri employee once told me that the paper took over the title of having the world's largest circulation from (the Soviet-era) Pravda "but still maintained the same journalistic standards."

When you consider Japan only essentially has three daily nationwide newspapers and with the comparative population base, it is not hard to have great circulation stats.

[Captain Japan]

When you consider Japan only essentially has three daily nationwide newspapers and with the comparative population base, it is not hard to have great circulation stats.

I've got an interview with Adelstein up on my Web page now.

[Greji]

I've got an interview with Adelstein up on my Web page now.

Already read it Capt'n. You know my position there....

[Mulboyne]

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Jake Adelstein has posted a couple of comments over on Japan Probe, most recently this:


I think it might be difficult for people to take a lot of what he says at face value because we've all met bullshiters in Japan who claim to know more or be better connected that they really are. At the same time, though, there are people who genuinely do get access which the average gaijin joe wouldn't have a chance of achieving. It's undoubtedly true that Adelstein was employed for many years as a reporter for the Yomiuri, a pretty rare achievement for a white foreigner, and I'm looking forward to reading his book. His writing style seems a little off-putting if that excerpt is any guide. Perhaps he can wisecrack with gangsters he has only just met but there's a hint of artistic licence there. After all, he's writing a book and wants to make the narrative racy so it wouldn't make sense to faithfully transcribe an actual dialogue even if he could remember it all. I think he just wants to convey a sense of what went on and how it felt to him which you can take or leave.

Jake's interview with the Captain was interesting, so were his comments on Japan Probe, as are Mulboyne's points mentioned above.
I hope his book sells like hotcakes and that he and his family stay safe. He's not getting much help, though, with the ever-friendly 2-Channelers apparently causing him some danger.

[Mulboyne]

Jake Adelstein is on Monday's Daily Show. The clips will be up shortly.

[GuyJean]

Jake will be Stewart's guest on the Daily Show:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/guests

Video should be available in a few hours..

GJ

[GuyJean]

Jake Adelstein is on Monday's Daily Show. The clips will be up shortly.

Ha, ha.. Beat me by a Yakuza pinky..

GJ

[Captain Japan]

Is that in the studio? If you folks aren't tired of this stuff here's another story from his visit to the FCCJ last week.