Yakuza Review The Sega Video Game "Yakuza 3"
The Yakuza video game series from Sega has been tremendously popular in the United States and in Japan but what do the yakuza themselves think of the game? I asked.…
Yamaguchi-gumi members arrested in sumo scandal! But how far can the cops go?
It does appear, at least, that the Yamaguchi-gumi seems to have one of their people inside the sumo association to keep things quiet and has grudging or willing help from…
The Otaku Sex Industry: sometimes, the real thing is better?
We may have sworn off dating, but that does not mean we don’t have sex,” says Hiroyuki Egami, 23, a prominent voice among himote, a catchall for otaku types unpopular…
The Invisible Yakuza And Those That See Them
Maybe it seems like we glorify the yakuza on this website, and perhaps we do a little. But they are called 暴力団 (boryoku-dan –violent groups) by the police for a…
The joys of having people wanting to kill you and other thoughts: ABC interview (Australia)
Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on The Police Beat In Japan was released in Australia this month with a wonderfully bizarre cover–dead fish in an icebox. The title was also…
We take bullets very seriously. Even the fake ones. Part 1.
A few weeks ago, I had to go apologize to a yakuza boss. Always a scary thing, especially when you’re in the wrong. He had agreed to help out with…
24-Hour Tokyo: Tokyo Government To Run Subway Line All Night?!! Scoop!
There is serious talk in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government of running the city managed subway systems Toei Chikatetsu（都営地下鉄) 24 hours a day when Haneda Airport opens to more international flights…
A Maudlin Merry X-mas From Jake, Sarah and Everyone At Japan Subculture Research Center
I wish I could be a little more cheerful around this time of year. I can remember a time when the Christmas season didn’t depress me much but it seems…
Thank You For The Kind Letters About TOKYO VICE (from Jake)
I’ve been heartened by a huge number of letters I’ve received in the last three weeks from people who read the book and were moved by it, inspired by it,…
TOKYO VICE: On sale! Just in time for Thanksgiving?
Amazon celebrated the book’s 10th day in the top 100 best-selling non-fiction books by marking it down considerably. It’s never too late to buy it as a sushi stuffer for…