Comments on: “Tokyo Underworld” - The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/ A fresh look at Japan, by gaijins for gaijins! Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:54:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Charles Jannuzi http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-80588 Charles Jannuzi Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:13:17 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-80588 Japan has always had to import. So if your economy is black market--such as in the days of the Occupation and the immediate reconstruction--your black market is an import market. Studs Terkel's oral history of WWII brings this out I think, if I remember, in the case of US military being involved in the black markets in Europe. Japan has always had to import. So if your economy is black market–such as in the days of the Occupation and the immediate reconstruction–your black market is an import market. Studs Terkel’s oral history of WWII brings this out I think, if I remember, in the case of US military being involved in the black markets in Europe.

]]> By: Kam http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-80574 Kam Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:59:19 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-80574 Hey bitches I am in a Yakuza to its called fuck you japs and hey hotties Hey bitches I am in a Yakuza to its called fuck you japs and hey hotties

]]> By: VoXman http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-27381 VoXman Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:30:31 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-27381 I read this book twice since I found in on a bookshelf in 2001. I found it interesting as a history of the post WWII era in Tokyo, with the blackmarket and such. Nice little antecdotes about little Japanese girls who did favors for GIs for candy and cigarettes. Later it tells of the history of organized crime in Tokyo in the 1950's. All the while, here's this little Jack Ruby type wannabe gangster that opens a resturant that popular with the local Yakuza and celebrities. WOW! It's like Las Vegas in the 1950's Frank Sinatra and Bugsy Segal in a booth at da Sands with da girls and da drinks. Ok truthfully, I liked the book it was informative. Sadly he looses his business he created from the ground up to WHO? his wife WTF, who da thunk it. Bitch got half......hmmm all the while she was sitting at that cash register doing her time waiting till she knew she'd be rich if she got a divorce. I hear that even today his son and the ex-wife have this chain of resturants through Japan, where like Nick complained about, she japanized the recipes....hmmm oshi scallop pizzia with mayo......A fool and his money are soon parted by a pretty girl who spead her legs for the guy. Fact is Ol Nick squandered all his money away on some of the most expensive marriages a man could be cursed with....... I read this book twice since I found in on a bookshelf in 2001. I found it interesting as a history of the post WWII era in Tokyo, with the blackmarket and such. Nice little antecdotes about little Japanese girls who did favors for GIs for candy and cigarettes. Later it tells of the history of organized crime in Tokyo in the 1950’s. All the while, here’s this little Jack Ruby type wannabe gangster that opens a resturant that popular with the local Yakuza and celebrities. WOW! It’s like Las Vegas in the 1950’s Frank Sinatra and Bugsy Segal in a booth at da Sands with da girls and da drinks. Ok truthfully, I liked the book it was informative. Sadly he looses his business he created from the ground up to WHO? his wife WTF, who da thunk it. Bitch got half……hmmm all the while she was sitting at that cash register doing her time waiting till she knew she’d be rich if she got a divorce. I hear that even today his son and the ex-wife have this chain of resturants through Japan, where like Nick complained about, she japanized the recipes….hmmm oshi scallop pizzia with mayo……A fool and his money are soon parted by a pretty girl who spead her legs for the guy. Fact is Ol Nick squandered all his money away on some of the most expensive marriages a man could be cursed with…….

]]> By: Yellowhead http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-9953 Yellowhead Thu, 31 May 2007 04:45:22 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-9953 I read TOKYO UNDERWORLD about a year and a half ago-it really blew me away. The ending to his story is sad, but it's amazing what used to go on-and still goes on in Japan. I read TOKYO UNDERWORLD about a year and a half ago-it really blew me away. The ending to his story is sad, but it’s amazing what used to go on-and still goes on in Japan.

]]> By: gman http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-5084 gman Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:46:45 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-5084 i dont think he was a "family" member most guys are part of the organisation but not fully initiated family i dont think he was a “family” member most guys are part of the organisation but not fully initiated family

]]> By: David http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-5076 David Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:58:21 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-5076 wow how would a gaijin could make it in the yakuza how did he become a member of yakuza? wow how would a gaijin could make it in the yakuza how did he become a member of yakuza?

]]> By: Trevor http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-4943 Trevor Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:26:44 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-4943 Ken.. so? Ken.. so?

]]> By: ken http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-4928 ken Tue, 13 Mar 2007 01:51:39 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-4928 I remember when i was in japan visiting some friends and family, and i saw some yakuza getting out of a car, and there was a tall black guy with them he was dressed in a really nice suit like them and had the same kind of shade on.... I remember when i was in japan visiting some friends and family, and i saw some yakuza getting out of a car, and there was a tall black guy with them he was dressed in a really nice suit like them and had the same kind of shade on….

]]> By: Steve http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-3209 Steve Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:05:15 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-3209 Another book with a lot on the Japanese underworld is "Toppamono: Outlaw, Radical, Suspect," which is the translated version of the bestselling autobiography of Manabu Miyazaki. Robert Whiting, the author of "Tokyo Underworld, wrote the introduction. The first chapter, on Miyazaki's family background as the son of a Kyoto yakuza boss, is available as a free download at the homepage of the publisher: http://www.kotan.org/books/books.html Another book with a lot on the Japanese underworld is “Toppamono: Outlaw, Radical, Suspect,” which is the translated version of the bestselling autobiography of Manabu Miyazaki.

Robert Whiting, the author of “Tokyo Underworld, wrote the introduction.

The first chapter, on Miyazaki’s family background as the son of a Kyoto yakuza boss, is available as a free download at the homepage of the publisher:
http://www.kotan.org/books/books.html

]]> By: Don Corleone http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-2193 Don Corleone Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:46:13 +0000 http://www.stippy.com/book-reviews/tokyo-underworld-the-fast-times-and-hard-life-of-an-american-gangster-in-japan/#comment-2193 Yea I remember dis meathead from back in the day....he did some jobs for the family and Genco ,our Sicilian olive oil business,....he screwed my wife, used my own f'n oil as lubricant! That disrespected me, that disrepected the Family ..... so I made him an offer he couldnt refuse...he refused. Yea I remember dis meathead from back in the day….he did some jobs for the family and Genco ,our Sicilian olive oil business,….he screwed my wife, used my own f’n oil as lubricant! That disrespected me, that disrepected the Family ….. so I made him an offer he couldnt refuse…he refused.

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