"Tokyo Vice" By Jake Adelstein

[Christoff]

Steward never disappoints, the interview was pretty funny... see it tomorrow on CC website

[Mulboyne]

Steward never disappoints, the interview was pretty funny... see it tomorrow on CC website

It's pretty good. The full episode is up on the site now but we'll post the interview clip when it comes up separately.

I like the early exchange of words:

Stewart: How long have you been in Japan now?

Adelstein: About twenty years.

Stewart: You're kidding me.

[Captain Japan]

It's pretty good. The full episode is up on the site now but we'll post the interview clip when it comes up separately.

I thought it was really good. It's up on the Comedy Central Web page now. Check it out!

[Mulboyne]

I thought it was really good. It's up on the Comedy Central Web page now. Check it out!

[cc]255711[/cc]

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

[cc]255711[/cc]

Shooting and beheading (8O) the leading causes of yakuza deaths? Er, don't think so....

That's a pretty big statement to make on national TV.

At 100,000 members nationwide (I know there's 20,000-30,000 more than that, but I'm shit at math and I need a simple figure to work from...) and a mortality rate of, let's say, 1% (the yaks are getting old, it's theoretically risky business and I need simple figures) is 1,000 deaths a year.
That's roughly about three dead yakuza a day. To be a leading cause of death, it would mean that on average, someone would have to be getting popped off or their gulliver lopped off at least once every few days for this to be the case.
It may happen nationwide, but in the mob alone it's highly doubtful.

Even with the local Keystone Kops and dysfunctional media, if there was this much shooting and beheading (that's chopping people's heads off, right?), it would be much better known, I'm sure.
I guess Jake must have been a bit nervous on the box....

[omae mona]

Shooting and beheading (8O) the leading causes of yakuza deaths? Er, don't think so....

That's a pretty big statement to make on national TV.

I think he is allowed a little bit of poetic license when he's on a comedy show. I actually thought he was quite funny! (Jon Stewart helped him along, of course...)

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I think he is allowed a little bit of poetic license when he's on a comedy show. I actually thought he was quite funny! (Jon Stewart helped him along, of course...)

Is he? Jake is selling a non-fiction book purporting to be a never-before-seen part of Japan. It doesn't look good to open with such an outrageous claim, comedy show or not.
Certain aspects of poetic license are, I agree, acceptable. But to say the leading causes of yakuza deaths are shooting and beheading is taking a little too much license, I think. It's a big claim when you're talking in terms of what would have to be 100s of deaths every year.
Still, I agree with you that he put up a good show. He was very entertaining.

[Captain Japan]

Is he? Jake is selling a non-fiction book purporting to be a never-before-seen part of Japan. It doesn't look good to open with such an outrageous claim, comedy show or not.
Certain aspects of poetic license are, I agree, acceptable. But to say the leading causes of yakuza deaths are shooting and beheading is taking a little too much license, I think. It's a big claim when you're talking in terms of what would have to be 100s of deaths every year.
Still, I agree with you that he put up a good show. He was very entertaining.

He said that next to health issues (general problems from liver abuse) then shootings and beheadings are the leading causes of death.

I think health problems could take up a large portion of the body count. I mean, if you flip through any of those yak rags in the convenience stores you'll see a lot of guys looking really bad. I don't think the head of the Yamaguchi-gumi can see or walk straight.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

He said that next to health issues (general problems from liver abuse) then shootings and beheadings are the leading causes of death.

I think health problems could take up a large portion of the body count. I mean, if you flip through any of those yak rags in the convenience stores you'll see a lot of guys looking really bad. I don't think the head of the Yamaguchi-gumi can see or walk straight.

No. He says (exact words): "It's (liver problems) the number one cause of death for yakuza, other than being shot or beheaded."

I'd have no problems if liver and health-related problems were the biggest killers (and I have no doubt they are). There are just not that many shootings or beheadings, both of which I have severe doubts about being leading yakuza killers...unless only a few dozen yakuza die every year.

I'm pretty sure it was a slip of the tongue, but it colored my impression of the entire interview, especially as Jon Stewart kept bringing up the topic....

[hundefar]

I read the book. It was a good read. He isn't the worlds best writer, but he has some good stories. If you like the slightly hardboiled reporter thing, then by all means read it.

[Captain Japan]

No. He says (exact words): "It's (liver problems) the number one cause of death for yakuza, other than being shot or beheaded."

I'd have no problems if liver and health-related problems were the biggest killers (and I have no doubt they are). There are just not that many shootings or beheadings, both of which I have severe doubts about being leading yakuza killers...unless only a few dozen yakuza die every year.

I'm pretty sure it was a slip of the tongue, but it colored my impression of the entire interview, especially as Jon Stewart kept bringing up the topic....

I watched it again. Yep, you are right.

[Yokohammer]

Mr. Adelstein is probably going to sell a lot of books, which I think is the real issue here.

Journalistic accuracy and integrity are not high on the priority list, IMHO.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Mr. Adelstein is probably going to sell a lot of books, which I think is the real issue here.

Journalistic accuracy and integrity? Nah.

I think I'm being overly anal. And I hope he does sell a lot of books.
But I am definitely seeing a lot of unsubstantiated claims flying about....

[gkanai]

I thought Jake did well on Jon Stewart.

I'm reading the book now and will post a review to my blog. So far, I'm enjoying it.

[Takechanpoo]

Former(5th) boss of Yamaguchi-gumi singing enka
[YT]66kopx6tj1w[/YT]

Tarentos greeting in a birthday party of Goto-oyabun
[YT]bYUOgQ0_aug[/YT]
Sonny Chiba!!!

[Takechanpoo]

Goto Tadamasa, "legendary" ex-unprecedented-scaled merchant yakuza boss, looks like an ordinary Japanese oyaji....
[YT]fCktnTsBo7g[/YT]

[Christoff]

but he can still kick your ass or have some young punk do it on his behalf