Author: Jake Adelstein in Conversation

In partnership with the Japan Society of Northern California
Wednesday, 5/28/2025
5:00 - 7:30
Koret Auditorium
Koret Lobby
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400

Join us to hear from Jake Adelstein about Tokyo Vice, his work as a journalist in Japan, and more.

About Jake Adelstein: 

Jake Adelstein has been an investigative journalist in Japan since 1993, writing in Japanese and English. He authored Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan (now an HBO series), The Last Yakuza: Life and Death in the Japanese Underworld (2023), and Tokyo Noir: In and Out of Japan's Underworld (2024). He co-hosted the award-winning podcast The Evaporated: Gone with the Gods. A recognized expert on Japan’s organized crime, he has reported for The Daily Beast, Los Angeles Times, Tempura, and VICE.  He is also a low-ranking Zen Buddhist priest, trying hard to be kinder and occasionally exorcising hungry ghosts. Adelstein frequently appears as a commentator on Japanese crime and culture, working as a writer and consultant. His forthcoming book, The Devil Takes Bitcoin: Cryptocurrency Crimes and the Japanese Connection, will be published this fall. 

About Japan Society of Northern California:

Founded in 1905, the Japan Society of Northern California works to advance U.S.–Japan collaboration and understanding in a global context. The Society offers an array of programs and networking opportunities for people and organizations in the Bay Area with a strong interest in Japan. It is the place to go for U.S.– Japan insights, opportunities, collaboration, and networking.

Connect:

Jake Adelstein - Website | Jake Adelstein - Substack | Japan Society of Northern California - Website

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Programs and workshops, book recommendations and more relating to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage.

Weaving Stories is the Library's celebration of the many diverse histories and cultures from AANHPI communities.

Japanese Interest

Connect to engaging discussions and performances related to the Japanese community and culture.

Spotlight

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

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