Writer

Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein has been an investigative journalist in Japan since 1993, writing in Japanese and English. He authored Tokyo Vice (now an HBO series), The Last Yakuza (2023), and Tokyo Noir (2024). He co-hosted the award-winning podcast The Evaporated: Gone with the Gods. A recognized expert on Japan’s organized crime, he’s reported for The LA Times, Tempura, and VICE. He is also a low-ranking Zen Buddhist priest, trying hard to be kinder and occasionally exorcising hungry ghosts.

Articles by Jake Adelstein

12 articles · Page 2

Various products meant to help cool one off during the hot Japanese summer superimposed in front of a thermometer and a bright sun.

Travel

Do These Summer Heat-Beating Japanese Products Actually Work?

Japan has a slew of products on shelves aimed at dealing with the intense summer heat. Are they worth it?

The streets of Kanazawa at night have an ethereal beauty.

Travel

Kanazawa: The Five Mesmerizing Landmarks You Need to See

Japan's Kanazawa offers scenic views, amazing culture, and a respite from overtourism. These five places encapsulate its essence.

Business and Economy

Japan’s Booming Death Business: ENDEX, The End Of Life Exhibition

Japan’s rising death rate is good business For ENDEX: The End Of Life Exhibition. We discover that it’s more than just Hello…

Politics

Where in the World is Ikeda Daisaku, Soka Gakkai’s Long-Missing Leader?

Ikeda Daisaku, one of the most powerful political fixers and religious leaders in Japan, hasn’t been seen in public since 2010. Where…