Tokyo Noir, in and out of Japan's underworld By Jake Adelstein

In Dark Shadows in Tokyo, Jake Adelstein returns in 2008, navigating a world far more complex than when he was the sole gaijin crime reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun. With the global economy in turmoil and the formidable yakuza boss Tadamasa Goto now banished, Jake finds a momentary reprieve. But as he delves into due diligence work, he grapples with an insidious foe—his own psyche.

Amidst the shifting landscape of the Japanese underworld, Jake uncovers unsettling truths: corporations masking yakuza ties, pachinko parlors becoming battlegrounds for Korean Japanese and North Korean schemes, and the negligence of TEPCO, which ultimately led to the catastrophic Fukushima disaster. The layers of corruption within the Japanese government are stark, revealing a landscape where the yakuza appear almost altruistic in comparison.

Interwoven with historical insights and personal tragedies, this darkly comic sequel blends true crime and memoir, painting a vivid picture of a society steeped in hidden agendas and moral ambiguity. As Jake confronts these revelations, he realizes he is inextricably tied to the stories he chases, with every twist of fate leading him deeper into a labyrinth of deception. In this ambitious exploration, Adelstein reveals the cost of truth in a world where the lines between hunter and hunted blur, forcing him to confront the shadows lurking within himself. 📚❤️