You never really know how long a TV show will last nowadays. It’s pretty bold to finish a season with lots of suspenseful moments, like Tokyo Vice did last year.
But if you’re a fan of this Japanese crime show set in the ’90s (a Max original made by Fifth Season and WOWOW, Japan’s premium pay TV broadcaster), don’t worry. Season 2 is on its way, and it’s going to provide all the answers to your burning questions from the last season.
The show creator, J.T. Rogers, shared in a joint Zoom interview with director Alan Poul that they had Max’s approval to end season 1 with cliffhangers. Rogers wrote season 2 while shooting season 1, so it’s a continuous story. Every loose end from the previous season will be tied up, some right away and others as the season progresses.
Adapted from Jake Adelstein’s book with the same title, Tokyo Vice is set in 1999 and features Ansel Elgort as a fictionalized version of Adelstein. He’s an American journalist working at a top newspaper in Tokyo during a time when the Yakuza, a criminal organization, had a strong influence on society. Throughout season 1, Adelstein forms important connections with characters like Hiroto Katagiri (played by Ken Watanabe), a detective navigating the delicate balance among Yakuza factions, and Samantha Porter (played by Rachel Keller), an American expatriate working as a club hostess.
In the season finale, Adelstein discovers video evidence of powerful Japanese men assaulting Samantha’s colleague, Polina (played by Ella Rumpf), and he brings it to Katagiri. As season 2 begins, Samantha starts her own club, while Adelstein continues to develop his reporting skills and delves deeper into Tokyo’s criminal networks.
The creator, J.T. Rogers, explains that a key theme of the series is exploring the consequences of being young, ambitious, and talented, chasing after one’s desires. As characters strive for success, they face increased danger and violence due to the world the show is set in. Rogers highlights the central question: “When pushed to the limit, what’s the best decision I can make?”
In season 2 of Tokyo Vice, you’ll meet new characters who bring fresh perspectives. Two key figures are Shoko Nagata (played by Miki Maya), a detective from Japan’s National Police Agency with a more aggressive approach towards the Yakuza than Katagiri’s balanced philosophy, and Naoki Hayama (played by Yosuke Kubozuka), a more dangerous type of criminal.
The creators aimed to keep things unpredictable in season 2, introducing voices that challenge the existing rules. Nagata wants to change the rules for what’s considered good, while Hayama seeks to alter them for less noble reasons.
Behind the scenes, a significant change from season 1 to season 2 is the positive response from Japanese audiences, allowing for more extensive exploration of the magnificent city they film in. With eased COVID-19 safety protocols, they had greater access to shoot in various locations, closing down streets for scenes that were previously challenging to film. Season 2 promises more exciting street set pieces in Tokyo than in season 1.
Tokyo Vice season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Max in February 2024, and you can get a sneak peek at the images above and below.
Source: EW
