This television crime drama, based on the memoirs of Jake Adelstein, is set in 1990s Tokyo, a period of significant change in the city.
Michael Mann is the director of the first episode.
Adelstein's perspective of Tokyo is reflected in the decision-makers of the Yakuza organized crime syndicate, which is based on the city's social, business, and cultural environments.
HBO Max Tokyo Vice Episode 1 Recap
The first episode of Tokyo Vice begins with two men readying themselves for a meeting. One is Japanese; the other is a foreigner.
They wear jackets and are instructed to sit at specific places and only eat the food brought by one of the waiters. The hostess informs the other party when the party has been paid for, and they've changed their location to the private lounge.
The other party appears to be the Yakuza, Japan's most well-known crime syndicate. One member warns the foreigner, a reporter, of inevitable dire consequences if he continues his investigation.
The offer is to drop the investigation and live. The outsider thinks about the proposal while smoking a cigarette.
1999 is now the year, and we are introduced to Jake, who is, at the time, an aspiring journalist.
The episode delves into the Ishida Clan and the mysterious death which sets himself on fire.
Review
If you love drama, crime, and Japanese culture, then this is a show that you will not want to miss. Set in one of the most significant countries on the planet, Japan, this crime thriller starts off spectacularly.
5 out of 5, most definitely worth the watch.
