re: Tokyo Vice season 2 starts Feb 8 (next Thursday)

Excellent finale. Excellent season.

Just made it through Episode 5. WOW. That was...unexpected. I assume I am due for some hard times in the next few episodes.



Also, was the wedged in gay subplot, complete with graphic sex scene, really necessary? Also...gay dudes do missionary?

Great show.

I actually picked up the book last week. As one might expect given his career, the book has been highly entertaining and very narrative. I only just started it a couple of days ago so it'll be interesting to see what is taken from the book and what isn't. All I can say is that the scene where Tozawa's right hand tells him not to publish the story or they'll kill him and his family is nearly verbatim from the book.

Only being in the first couple of chapters, it's interesting to note that when he started his career a veteran of the industry gave him 8 rules to live by as a reporter - the #1 rule was to never give up a source. I'm fascinated to see if the real Jake gave up a source to get his biggest story or if that was just part of the show.

I haven’t heard anything but this wrapped up nicely whereas season 1 was clearly poised for a second season.

The only threads that aren’t fully tied now are Jake and his closeted colleague and what Samantha will do next.

However, season 3 would be veering way past the source material, as far as I can tell.

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Speaking of which, are there any murmurings one way or another about the possibility of a season 3?

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the finale certainly felt like a series finale, and frankly, I think it would be hard to top the Tozawa storyline. As much as I'd love to see more, I'd be content if this was it.

Lucky enough to go to Tokyo for work a few times a year and the show nailed the late night vibe you feel. Great show, good plot, and characters you were vested it. Never tried to be more than it was, just delivered on being what it knew it could be.

10+ no notes

I would not be surprised if it was included so that it could be qualified for awards. DEI requirements are a thing now

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The chess match between Tozawa and his wife has been one of the best sub plots.

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I think for Japanese viewers it's all the better because that actress is ultra famous in Japan. Using her so sparingly is awesome if that's the case. Great series, just finished it.

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Well now you gotta tell us more.

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Nothing worth note really. The prefecture I lived in was Oita and a lot of the Portuguese trade happened in the village one over. Usuki. So they had an annual festival where they got any gaijin to participate, and we dressed up as the Portuguese and then they took us to an island for sashimi and a big party.

At the festival a drunk dude started walking next to me and we were all laughing because he was such a clown. Turns out he was a tatted up yakuza. I lived with the mayor and he told me to tread lightly and the guy kept showing up at places I would be. I never did piece it together what his goal was . I think he just wanted to be able to say he had a gaijin friend, which in rural Oita might have amused his friends or something.

As for Bosozuku, I lived right next to Tsukumi Eki ( train station) and they would hang out there at night. In those days they would carry swords on their bikes and scream up and down the streets in a game with the police. Most were like in a pre- Yakuza stage.Outside of society but not yet in the real criminal life. Every night I would pass these guys and talk to them on my way home. Being Japanese they were just friendly and polite to the gaijin.

So, nothing dramatic. Wish I had a better story but let’s face it, half of what was happening in a cultural sense went right over my head. It’s very difficult for gaining to get the nuances even if immersed as I was for a couple of years in a Japanese home. I arrived confused and left confused. They are an inscrutable people. Which I admire. I find them to be culturally superior in many ways.