From Undercover Reporter to Tokyo Vice: Jake Adelstein’s Life Inside Japan’s Crime World

Jake Adelstein was the first American journalist to work undercover as a police reporter for a major Japanese newspaper — a role that placed him deep inside Japan’s criminal underworld.

His firsthand reporting on organized crime became the foundation for his bestselling memoir, Tokyo Vice, later adapted into the hit HBO series. But Jake’s story goes far beyond television.

In this episode, we dive into his real-life experiences reporting on the Yakuza, the risks of investigative journalism, and how uncovering the truth can come at a personal cost. Jake has written multiple books on Japanese organized crime and continues to work as an active journalist, author, and international speaker.

This is a rare look at what it truly means to live the story — not just report it.

👉 Get Tokyo Vice on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gjHHMIi

🎙️ Hosted by Peter Friedman & Author Michelle Young

Enjoy bold conversations and real stories?

Check out Peter Friedman’s book, I’ll Get The Tip — the inspiration behind this podcast:

👉 https://a.co/d/ec969cc

👍 Like this video,

🔔 Subscribe to I’ll Get The Tip,

📩 and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.