- Paperback
- Publisher: Scribe (2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1921640286
- ISBN-13: 978-1921640285
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The best of some truly fine Western books detailing the dark underbelly of Japanese society
5 Dec 2010
Jake Adelstein's is a book unlike any other. Yes, there have been truly fine Western books detailing the dark underbelly of Japanese society. Top of mind for me are Alex Kerr's Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Japan and Michael Zielenziger's Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation (Vintage Departures). These are both superb. I've not read yet Robert Whiting's Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan, but I have no doubt it, too, is excellent reporting. Whiting is the long-time king of American journalists in Japan. Adelstein gracefully acknowledges him here as a great friend and inspiration.
But none of those three is what Adelstein is here: the protagonist in his stories, and, more to the point, someone who has consistently put himself in harm's way in the gathering of these tales. First of all, just getting to where Adelstein gets - police beat reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun - is a world-class feat in itself...that this "Jewish kid from Missouri" could learn the language, wield it in the most street-savvy way, cross cultures and penetrate the most "Japanese only" sectors of society..alone those are head-shaking feats.
Beyond that, Adelstein keeps diving in. Not content to simply observe, Adelstein questions, scratches and digs. What he finds is eye-opening for even the most jaded of readers. It's so explosive, Adelstein is eventually put in a position where he needs to quit his job (to save his skin), retreat to the US and hire bodyguards. But true to his nature, he keeps plugging away. One manifestation of this doggedness: this excellent book. I encourage everyone to read it.
Hey, Hollywood: how about a movie from this book? There's no less then three separate threads in here that I'd pay top dollar to see on screen. Rising Sun and guilty pleasure Black Rain would pale in comparison to what you'd be able to do with Jake Adelstein's tale.
But none of those three is what Adelstein is here: the protagonist in his stories, and, more to the point, someone who has consistently put himself in harm's way in the gathering of these tales. First of all, just getting to where Adelstein gets - police beat reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun - is a world-class feat in itself...that this "Jewish kid from Missouri" could learn the language, wield it in the most street-savvy way, cross cultures and penetrate the most "Japanese only" sectors of society..alone those are head-shaking feats.
Beyond that, Adelstein keeps diving in. Not content to simply observe, Adelstein questions, scratches and digs. What he finds is eye-opening for even the most jaded of readers. It's so explosive, Adelstein is eventually put in a position where he needs to quit his job (to save his skin), retreat to the US and hire bodyguards. But true to his nature, he keeps plugging away. One manifestation of this doggedness: this excellent book. I encourage everyone to read it.
Hey, Hollywood: how about a movie from this book? There's no less then three separate threads in here that I'd pay top dollar to see on screen. Rising Sun and guilty pleasure Black Rain would pale in comparison to what you'd be able to do with Jake Adelstein's tale.
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