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+--- Thread: National Geographic and the Yakuza (/thread-7412.html)
National Geographic and the Yakuza - Tzadeck - 2011-03-03
So, Jake Adelstein is the first foreigner to have worked as a report at the regular Japanese edition of any major Japanese newspaper, in his case the Yomiuri Shinbun. He worked on the police beat and vice (in Kabuki-cho), so has always been involved covering criminal activity and the Japanese mafia.
Later he wrote a memoir about when he was working for the Yomiuri called Tokyo Vice--it's great and I high recommend it.
Basically, Jake became concerned about human-trafficking in Japan after he found out a bunch of sex service shops in Kabuki-cho were basically keeping women as sex slaves. The shops were being run by the Goto-gumi, the Tokyo branch of the biggest yakuza group, the Yamaguchi-gumi in Kobe. The man behind it all was Goto Tadamasa, who was also responsible for the deaths of more than 15 people. The cops basically couldn't do anything, because they don't really have the power or the incentive to properly deal with organized crime. But, Jake found out that Goto sold out information about other yakuza members to the FBI to get a liver transplant in the United States at UCLA. So Jake went on a crucade to get the word out, to ultimately take down Goto. He eventually managed to do it, although Goto never ended up in jail, but the yakuza kicked him out of the organization. In short, Jake basically took down an organized crime boss by himself, at great expensive to his marriage and personal life (one of his friends was most likely raped and killed by Goto's men, although the body was never found).
So I think he's a bad-ass. He's also kind of a friend of a friend. One of my best most-loved friends is working at an anti-human-trafficking NPO in Tokyo, so she knows Jake, who nowadays is helping out at a similar NPO.
Anyway, Jake's kind of in deep shit again, because he was involved with a National Geographic Television documentary about the yakuza that is potentially inaccurate and might bring harm to its sources and some journalists if released as is. Jake writes about it here, and has resigned from National Geographic.
http://www.japansubculture.com/2011/03/why-i-would-rather-work-for-the-yakuza-than-national-geographic-television-my-resignation-apologies-and-words-of-caution-to-anyone-involved-with-production-ngt%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2/
Since I like Jake, and I trust him even though it's hard to know what's going on in this situation, I'll at least try to complain to National Geographic Television. If anyone else wants to, please do. Or maybe someone has a better idea?
National Geographic and the Yakuza - Tzadeck - 2011-03-03
Ah, the program wil be called "Gangland Tokyo" whenever it airs, according to the website.
National Geographic and the Yakuza - GreenAirth - 2011-03-04
There's no denying Jake knows his stuff. From what I know of him he seems pretty genuine and freely admits he isn't exactly what you would call a saint. You can get some idea of who he is and the kind of things he's been involved in by listening to this World Service interview from last year - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009tnvr#synopsis - Whatever you think of him, it makes for fairly compelling listening.
National Geographic and the Yakuza - ta12121 - 2011-03-04
scary story but definitely worth listening too
National Geographic and the Yakuza - IceCream - 2011-03-04
wow. That's so,so,so,so bad!!!!
it really makes me kinda sad, National Geographic is my favourite magazine, and the only thing i read in english every month nowadays. I've never really watched much of their channel though, it never seems as high standard as the magazine.
Even so, that's totally, totally unacceptable. I'll definately send a complaint, i don't know how much it'll help though...
EDIT: what department do you think is best for sending the complaint to?!?
National Geographic and the Yakuza - Zarxrax - 2011-03-04
Wow, this is absolutely sickening.
National Geographic and the Yakuza - rich_f - 2011-03-04
Yeah, what NGC US is doing is disgusting. Then again, I don't watch the channel in the first place. Now I know why. No standards.
National Geographic and the Yakuza - kitakitsune - 2011-03-04
I'm going to wait and see NG's response on this one. Jake is pretty controversial and is known as someone who ruined quite a few ongoing police investigations by jumping the gun on his reporting, for good or bad.
National Geographic and the Yakuza - Tzadeck - 2011-03-06
I sent my original complaint to just the 'General' department. I'm also going to write them a letter today, since I know that in general e-mails are ignored by big companies. I'm not sure if it would be fast enough to make a difference, but the program's air date isn't even scheduled (at least not that I found), so there might be time.