Tokyo Vice starts on BBC1 tonight 22 November

[IwantToRetire]

About an American crime journalist getting a job in Tokyo and soon finds he's out of his depth.

I think this is new, although there was a really good crime series set between Japan and the UK which I never really understood but was engrossing (apart from the violence)

First 2 episodes will be shown tonight. But is looks like all episodes are available online www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0d8nzg8/tokyo-vice-series-1-1-the-test

Just watched the first 2 and enjoyed it. Looking forward to carrying on. I was expecting Giri/Haji vibes - but a bit different, though still quite good.

Just getting into it. Looks like it could be good.

It's Tony from West Side Story! 😍

He's beautiful. I know it's set in the 90s but he reminds me of a young John Taylor. We stumbled upon the last 20 minutes and it really draws you in.

I've watched the first 2 episodes and find the main character really annoying! Apparently the author of the book did in fact go to Japan and became a crime reporter, so maybe he is reflecting his younger self.

And have to say I hate it when the start a series with a scene from much later on in the plot, as then when they start telling the story its always in the back of your mind with each new encounter etc..

But will probably stick with it as I'm finding most series really uninteresting.

I wonder if this has been shown in Japan and what they think.

I'm enjoying it so much. I lived in Japan in 1999, when it was set, and visited Tokyo, so it is hugely nostalgic for me, and I can well believe how he's treated as a gaijin. However, I think they would all have spoken in Japanese to him. There was no reason for the locals to speak in English when his Japanese was better than their English, and they are in Japan!

What's the violence like?

I never managed to get properly into Giri/Haji but it was a shame as I thought I was going to love it.

It's the Baby Driver actor. I'm enjoying it generally but do find him slightly annoying.

@PermanentTemporary Embarrassed to say although it was only last week I dont remember much about the first two episodes. It seemed to be mainly introducing characters and their situations.

There was violence but I dont remember long drawn out graphic scenes.

But maybe I have blotted it from my mind. Maybe someone else can answer your question.

Am looking forward to tomorrow.

Really enjoying it. I lived in Japan in the late 90s. It's so well done. I lived out in the country though...no one spoke English....

A bit off topic, but sort of related.

Has anyone watched a Japanese crime drama called Train. I seem to have recored it at some point. The first episode seemed to be more like a US police buddy procedural thing with car chases but ... I know that somewhere ghosts or spirits come into it.

Anyone seen it. First episode was sort of okay but was really sure I could be bothered, but maybe it gets more interesting!

IWantToRetire
no I’ve not watched that. It sounds a little spooky for me - I’m a wuss!

So I watched last night but missed the end as it was shown so late (silly football) that I fell asleep. Didn't try and rewatch as I am having to really concerntrate, in a good way, because each scene brings up as aspect of Japanese culture that sets me off thinking about having assumptions based on my (limited) experience from the UK!

I do wonder if it has been shown in Japan and what they think.

@PermanentTemporary there is some violence (it is about criminals) but so far none of it has been drawn out and drooled over like some directors do. But yes, there is physical violence but as part of the plot development.

@WhereShallWeGo I will probably put Train on hold, because I get so muddled with plots that I think I want to finish this series first. I think the ghosts are more about spirits being laid to rest rather than some sort of avenging demon. But will have to wait and see!

I just finished watching this - are you all going at the TV pace? I liked it, although agree that the Jake character is annoying (as is Sam). Bit of a slow burn initially, but the tension ramped up.

I also found all the English unrealistic. Sato, the son of a poor fisherman, joins the yakuza and suddenly speaks fluent English? Not likely. Ditto his boss, the two policemen, most of Jake's colleagues and the druggie writer who wrote the pieces about Tozawa. Jake speaks fluent Japanese so why would any of them speak to him in English??? Apart from that though, I enjoyed it and look forward to series 2 (it was renewed in June).

Are characters speaking English so that the whole thing doesn't have to be subtitled rather than we are supposed to think they are fluent English speakers?

Either that @WeAreTheHeroes, or because although the characters speak fluent Japanese, the actors don't. The scenes where they have to speak Japanese must take ages to get right so I'm guessing it's necessary to have a decent proportion of their scenes in English. I read online that Ansel Elgort didn't speak a word of Japanese when he got the role.

I think as this thread wasn't specifically at tv pace, maybe those who have binge watched could just start their posts with SPOILER.

I dont think enough of us are watching to have two threads.

Xmasbaby I lived there too around that time 1998 and 1999 so have started watching it. It's so grey isn't it, all those men in suits.

This is turning into a proper crime drama. Intriguing. And interesting insight into Japanese culture. Well I hope it is an accurate portrayal.

Loving this. I did not go to Japan but did live abroad in 1999 at a similar age to them and it has made me feel very nostalgic.

Me too - I also lived in Tokyo in the late 1990s and every time I see a bar, balcony, street or coffee shop I'm right back there. I'd forgotten how hard I'd found it at first - and been a bit rose coloured specs about it. I think they've captured that slightly lost but curious/excited feeling well. The gaijin get themselves into situations that they might not at home because the rules don't apply in the same way.
I think the show is good - but slightly sinister and uncomfortable. Don't like Sam or Jake very much - but am drawn right in... And it's different.

I am still watching this, but didn't post last week as although still find it intriguing last week's episode was extremely violent. It was part of the plot but I always wonder do they need to show everyblow and stab wound? Couldn't we just see the bodies or the injured at the end? And more, though not as much this week.

But I think it has made me watch it in a different way, particularly how westerners as outsiders, dont also understand how their actions will be interpretated.

So would still recommend.

Have now finished this as the last 2 episodes were shown late night some time this week.

It made me think of the Sopranos, not the storyline, but the being sucked into the lives of people and forgetting that they live by violence and terror.

I think it is really well made and hints at the way outsiders never really understand the culture they think they can just fit in to and take advantage of to suit themselves.

Its good that never of the 2 main european characters aren't portrayed as being perfect.

And its clear that how it finished was in the hope that a second series would be made (IMO).

So would recommend it, and although early on it didn't seem to have that much violence certainly the later episodes do.

Now I am off to google as I dont understand (blush) what the issue is for Koreans living in Japan. (I thought the senior female editor at the paper was really good.)

I didn't think I'd enjoy it but I really did, despite the violence. Very like Giri/Haji in that respect.

I once had a Japanese friend who had a boyfriend in the Yakuza. It wasn't a subject I thought polite to bring up with her too often though!

It's definitely been set up for a second series.

Presumably it wouldn't have had as much appeal if the whole thing had been in Japanese with English sub-titles? I wouldn't have thought the US audience would keen on sub-titles?

I recommended it to my young adult teens. But in their world view Ansel Elgort remains cancelled so they refused to watch it.

Oh dear, I didn't know about Ansel Elgort being cancelled. He seems to be extremely good and being an annoying young man!

Its funny that I didn't find it like Giri/Haji. That had a whole other dimension I never quite grasped, but again that might be because of not having any understanding of Japanese culture.

I have now googled about Koreans in Japan and it seems quite a long and complicated history, not just a result of WWII.