Season two of Max’s crime drama Tokyo Vice has recently been released, and it’s receiving high praise, surpassing the already impressive debut season.
Starring Ansel Elgort as American reporter Jake Adelstein, alongside Ken Watanabe as detective Hiroto Katagiri and Rinko Kikuchi as journalist Emi Maruyama, Tokyo Vice has captivated audiences. The show, based on Adelstein’s memoir, follows his experiences as the first non-Japanese reporter for the Meicho Shimbun newspaper in Tokyo.
While Tokyo Vice follows many familiar beats of procedural crime dramas, it stands out with its unique elements, such as Elgort’s character speaking Japanese. Elgort, who had no prior experience with the language, learned Japanese specifically for the role.
Elgort dedicated roughly four hours a day to studying Japanese, immersing himself in the language while living in Tokyo. His efforts paid off, as he sounds impressively fluent on the show. Learning Japanese is no easy feat, making Elgort’s progress all the more remarkable.
Tokyo Vice season two is now streaming on Max, offering fans more of the gripping storytelling and impressive performances that made the first season a hit.