Comments on: Welcome!

By: DJ

DJ — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:18:47 +0000

“Survivor” indeed! I’m pleased to say I went on to better things. Still in Japan, though.

Ordered your book today. Looking forward to reading it.

By: Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:59:43 +0000

Thank you. I still crave those cigarettes–now and then. Please also pray that I stay an ex-smoker (or at least most of the time).

By: Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:57:36 +0000

Any survivor of the Daily Yomiuri is a comrade in arms. I was in the Saitama office until 1999 (I think) which is why we probably never overlapped.

By: DJ

DJ — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:52:56 +0000

Jake,

I worked at the Daily Yomiuri in the mid-1990s, but unfortunately never had the pleasure of meeting you. Anyway, it’s nice to see a success story emerge from that place! Best of luck with the book.

By: JDS

JDS — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:07:27 +0000

Bought the book online and now in the middle of the book. Looks like you had an affection to a clove cigarette from my country.

My prayers are with you.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:25:42 +0000

That’s the part that is difficult to reconcile – they aren’t all evil, in fact, some that I have met are downright decent.

Coffee is fine too. I will refrain from smoking in front of you…for as long as I can, anyway.

By: Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:56:29 +0000

Chris,
Thank you for thanking me. I have to confess I thought hard about taking the cash. I’d say at least one clove cigarette. Doing the right thing isn’t always an easy choice, especially for me.
I’ll take you up on that drink offer sometime. I might just have a cup of coffee. Stopped smoking in February and my alcohol consumption is way down as well. Still have a craving for cigarettes now and then.
I’m guessing you work in real estate but that’s just a guess. Yeah, the “necessary evil” argument gets a little old after a while. However, not all of the yakuza are “evil”. That’s what makes it hard. There’s some grey in there.
I appreciate you writing in. Good luck with your work.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:48:30 +0000

Jake, just finished the book. Thank you. For not taking the cash.

I work in one of the industries you mention where the yakuza have a historical foothold. I have always accepted the “necessary evil” argument, and at times even found that the whiff of danger present spices up what is otherwise a pretty mundane career choice.
I am not sure I will be able to do that any longer. Thank you for having the balls to go through with your book. When you are able, I’d love to buy you a drink.

By: David Ross

David Ross — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:21:57 +0000

Well, just keep thinking about it. I’m looking at this situation and I think you may be overthinking it… I know nothing about these guys, but the impression that I get is that it’s less about logic and more about honor. These don’t seem to be the type of folks who just let something slip by. But maybe I’ve just been watching too many hollywood movies.

W.r.t. debts owed – Sure, I understand this, but if you’re six feet under you’re not going to be repaying those debts very well either.

Maybe it’s not my place to tell you how to live your life. But you should understand that the conclusion to this story seems pretty obvious to outside observers. You’ve done your job and exposed the events that took place, I don’t think anyone would say you’re letting the jerks off the hook.

In any event, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you for bringing this story to light.

By: Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:30:57 +0000

David-san,
Thanks for writing in. A lot has happened since that 60 Minutes interview was taped. I go back and forth between Japan and the United States. I think my family is off limits. I can’t say the same for myself but that’s an occupational hazard of being a pesky investigative journalist.
I haven’t lost perspective. The problem is I owe people in Japan. I owe the people who helped me write the story and who stuck out there neck for me and frankly, I get tired of running. I’m cautious and that will have to be enough.
I’m calculating that the saner people in organized crime don’t want to make a martyr out of a journalist–because that might mean a lot more heat on Japan to ban the existence of the organized crime groups completely. So let’s hope that gives people an incentive to leave me alone.
I feel like Japan is as much my home as is the United States. I truly believe that if we run from the jerks of the world than sooner or later the jerks are going to be running the world.