HBO Max’s ‘Tokyo Vice’ Season 2: Inside Details on Filming Amidst Yakuza Challenges

Key Takeaways:

– A potential Yakuza member reportedly visited the set of Tokyo Vice Season 2, filmed in difficult locations in Japan.
– The team had brought old Japanese police detectives aboard to offer authentic portrayals of the gang and ensured the safety of the crew.
– This season, HBO Max aimed for a genuine portrayal of Japanese culture and lifestyle for the fans.

Season 2 of Tokyo Vice Wrestles with Yakuza Challenges

The highly anticipated Tokyo Vice Season 2, launched in February 2024, has garnered enormous attention from fans globally. The producers Alan Poul, along with his diligent crew members, spilled the beans on their experience filming in secluded parts of Japan. According to their revelation, a supposed Yakuza member had paid a visit to the series set in Tokyo’s historic Akasaka district.

Delving into the Culture and Surprise Visits

The series, set to air its climactic finale on Thursday April 4, wished to deviate from easy portrayals of Japan and its culture, like those depicted in Brad Pitt’s Bullet Train. Instead, Sarah Aubrey, HBO Max’s head of original content, aspires to provide fans with an immersive experience of Japan. Consequently, Akasaka’s Esplanade was chosen as one of the prominent locations for the second season. This famed nightlife strip, filled with hostess clubs and bars, was identified as perfect for the setting, but not without challenges.

While filming at Akasaka, the crew reportedly had instances with Yakuza, an organized Japanese crime syndicate. Alan Poul, the show’s producer, shared a candid moment when location manager Masanori Aikawa noticed a “dapper, suspicious character” at the set’s outskirts. It was assumed the stranger was a low-level Yakuza trying to scrutinize the filming.

Ensuring Authenticity and Safety: The Role of Ex-Police Detectives

To maintain authenticity and safeguard against such potential setbacks, the creators of Tokyo Vice had cleverly hired former Japanese police detectives. These retired professionals play a crucial role as cultural advisors, bridging the cultural gap for local Japanese viewers and lending authenticity to Yakuza portrayals. Having served in the Yakuza beat back in the ’90s, these ex-detectives are a priceless asset to the show’s production.

However, their role isn’t limited to purely advising. Historically, Yakuza held significant influence over live clubs and social spots, necessitating a permit from them to film in these areas. Yet, after 2010, laws were passed banning production crews from interacting with the Yakuza for location permits.

The ex-police detective’s vigilance was essential, ensuring gangsters did not pose a threat to the production. Their tasks included locating gang offices to prevent potential interactions, averting permits from Yakuza, and maintaining a buffer space so that the crew faced no danger.

All of these precautions and measures point to the producers’ commitment to make Tokyo Vice an authentic representation of Japanese society and culture while keeping the cast and crew safe. With such exciting insights out, fans cannot wait to see the results unfold in Tokyo Vice season 2, available for streaming on Max and Prime Video.

To conclude, Tokyo Vice’s response to these unforeseen encounters was nothing short of commendable, promising an exciting season ahead for all fans.