“Tokyo Vice” Season 2: A Daring Venture into Tokyo’s Underbelly

Title: Tokyo Vice Season 2: A Daring Venture into Tokyo’s Underbelly

Source: FandomWire

Key Takeaways:
– Tokyo Vice Season 2 gains popularity, highlighting authentic Japanese culture and Yakuza crime syndicate.
– Filming the show in actual Tokyo locations was a formidable task, owing to the intertwined nightlife and Yakuza activities.
– Shooting on the streets of Akasaka yielded an unprecedented feat in Japanese and foreign production history.
– The show’s production faced an enormous gamble given the cultural sensitivities and unique challenges of the location.

Authenticity: A Core Element of Tokyo Vice Success

Tokyo Vice has returned with a remarkable second season. Fans and critics alike laud the HBO show, saying it surpasses the original run in its gritty examination of the Japanese Yakuza culture. Filming in actual locations in Japan, a task many productions bypass in favor of sound stages, has earned critical acclaim.

Delving Deeper into Tokyo and Yakuza Culture

The show centers on the Japanese crime syndicate Yakuza and sheds valuable light on its intertwined relationship with vibrant Tokyo nightlife, continuing the journey begun in Season 1. Tokyo Vice, starring Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe, triggers our curiosities, and we follow eagerly as that intrigue deepens in Season 2.

Navigating through Tokyo’s Nightlife Maze

The Tokyo Vice production team faced a herculean task in capturing the essence of Tokyo’s nightlife, an atmosphere deeply linked to the Yakuza. Shooting a graphic shootout on the streets of Akasaka bore the symbol of groundbreaking challenges, a feat yet to be replicated in Japanese and foreign productions.

Unprecedented Hurdles of Filming in Tokyo

Shooting in Akasaka Esplanade was far from easy. The location manager, Masanori Aikawa, and his team went through an arduous process to tackle the location permissions, involving getting a green light from over 300 businesses in the area. Meanwhile, prior police permission was secured six months in advance, showcasing a stupendous effort in logistics.

The production team even hired former police detectives to avoid accidental encounters with local Yakuza offices and potential disruptions during filming. Imagining the scenario without these precautions yields a chilling thought.

Gamble of Shooting Tokyo Vice in Japan

Tokyo Vice’s production involved serious risks. The show depicts Yakuza, a taboo subject in Japan, in locations alleged to be their territories. Moreover, the show’s source material is not even published in Japan. Despite these potential roadblocks, the decision to film in Japan has become a significant selling point, appealing to viewers’ desire for authenticity.

As Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content at Max, told The Hollywood Reporter, the show’s commitment to immersion in Japanese culture was never in question. The aim was not just to present a story set within the confines of the American embassy in Tokyo, but a full-scale depiction of the city’s crime world.

Setting Tokyo Vice Apart

What sets Tokyo Vice apart is its commitment to authenticity despite daunting logistical obstacles. The outcome of these enormous efforts is a show that offers a raw and engaging glimpse into a side of Tokyo that many are not familiar with.

Tokyo Vice stands as a testament to the advantages of daring and innovative approaches in filmmaking. Its dedication to bringing a writer’s vision into reality while accurately capturing one of the most dynamic and intriguing cities in the world is commendable.

Tokyo Vice Season 2 is now streaming on Max.