American journalist Jake Adelstein became the first foreigner hired by a Japanese newspaper, spending over a decade navigating the treacherous world of the Yakuza, Japan's organized crime syndicates. His experiences, detailed in his book and the television series "Tokyo Vice," highlight a life lived on the edge, investigating some of Japan's most dangerous criminals.
Adelstein's journey into Japanese culture began in his youth, leading him to study at Sophia University in Tokyo. Driven by a determination to master the language and immerse himself in the country, he set his sights on becoming a reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest newspaper. Against considerable odds, he succeeded, joining the paper in 1993 at the age of 24.
His early assignments, including posts in Saitama and later Tokyo, saw him employing unconventional methods to secure leads. These included actions such as retrieving letters from a murder victim's mailbox and leveraging information to pressure police chiefs. The intense demands of his reporting strained his personal life, even as his daughter Beni was born in 2000. He was frequently in Tokyo's entertainment districts, pursuing stories that captured international attention.
One of the most high-profile cases Adelstein covered was the 2000 disappearance and subsequent murder of Lucie Blackman, a British Airways flight attendant working in Tokyo. The investigation led to Joji Obara, a millionaire property developer, who was eventually convicted of multiple rapes and the manslaughter of another hostess, and later, the abduction and dismemberment of Blackman. Adelstein's role in the investigation involved building trust with Blackman's father and relaying difficult news, a deeply emotional experience for him.
Confronting Tadamasa Goto
Adelstein's most perilous confrontations were with Tadamasa Goto, the formidable boss of the Goto-gumi, a branch of the Yamaguchi-gumi. Goto was involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including human trafficking and pornography. The journalist's investigation into Goto's involvement in illegal activities, particularly his dealings with the FBI for a liver transplant in the U.S. in exchange for information on the Yakuza's ties to the American Mafia, brought him directly into the crosshairs of the powerful gangster.
In 2001, Goto, along with other Yakuza bosses, sought liver transplants in the U.S. due to a shortage of donors in Japan. Their criminal records prevented easy entry, leading to a deal with the FBI. Adelstein uncovered this arrangement and began investigating, which led to severe threats from Goto's enforcers. He was warned that his family would be targeted if he published the story.
These threats prompted Adelstein to move his family back to Missouri for their safety in 2005, after leaving the Yomiuri Shimbun. He continued his work on human trafficking, commissioned by the U.S. State Department, and found Goto's name repeatedly surfacing in connection with exploitative operations. Driven to expose Goto, Adelstein re-engaged with the transplant story, even entering into a complex, alcohol-fueled relationship with one of Goto's former mistresses to gather information.
The renewed investigation led to further death threats. Adelstein was placed under police protection and hired a former Yakuza member as a bodyguard. The journalist recounts a tense encounter with Goto in March 2008, where, after Goto's acquittal on fraud charges, they came face-to-face in a courthouse elevator. Adelstein claims he told Goto he would outlive him, a moment he described as a defiance of the gangster's power.
Unable to publish the exposé in Japan due to fears of retaliation against staff, Adelstein found a home for his story in the Washington Post in May 2008. The repercussions for Goto were swift. Later that year, he was expelled from the Yakuza and announced his intention to become a Buddhist priest, a move Adelstein views as a tactic to ensure his own safety from former associates.
Adelstein's reporting on the Yakuza has continued, though the nature of organized crime in Japan has evolved. The numbers of Yakuza members have declined significantly, and their activities have broadened to include traditionally off-limits crimes like robbery and drug dealing.
A Legacy of Investigation
Adelstein's commitment to pursuing difficult truths extends to his personal life and recent work. His marriage to Sunao ended, but he is now in a long-term relationship with photographer Jessy Nakamura. His latest book, "Code Blue," co-authored with Amy Yoshida-Plambeck, revisits an investigation initiated by his father, Eddie Adelstein, who was the coroner in Columbia, Missouri. The book explores suspicious deaths at a local military veterans' hospital, focusing on a nurse suspected of being a serial killer.
Adelstein often reflects on the importance of confronting wrongdoing, stating, "You come to this point, and realize that if everybody runs from the aholes of the world, that the aholes are going to run the world. Somebody has to step up and if you don't do it, no-one else will."