HBO Max has ordered a second season of Tokyo Vice (Tokyo Vice Season 2) from Endeavor Content and Wowow, Japan’s leading pay TV player. It stars Ken Watanabe and Ansel Elgort and hails from creator and writer/executive producer J.T. Rogers.
- US streaming service HBO Max has given the green light for a 2nd season of the crime series “Tokyo Vice“.
- Thus, the story continues with Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe about Tokyo’s underworld in the late 90s.
- Brand new has now confirmed the participation of “Pachinko” actor Soji Arai in the 2nd season.
Based on the 2009 memoir by real-life investigative journalist Jake Adelstein, ‘Tokyo Vice’ is a crime-drama series that spans the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. It revolves around Adelstein, an American expatriate from Columbia, Missouri, who moves to Tokyo, Japan, to enroll in the prestigious Sophia University before joining the Meicho Shimbun, a fictional Japanese-language newspaper, as a reporter. Soon enough, he becomes exposed to the various facets of the famed Kabukichō district, including the yakuza.
Following its release, the show has received mostly positive reviews, with the pilot episode, directed by Michael Mann (‘Heat’), garnering an overwhelmingly favorable response. ‘Tokyo Vice’ drew much praise for its gripping, layered narrative and the constant presence of dread in each of its episodes. With the first season having concluded recently, you must be wondering whether there will be a second season (Tokyo Vice Season 2). In that case, we got you covered.
Will there be Tokyo Vice Season 2?
‘Tokyo Vice’ season 1 premiered on April 7, 2022, on HBO Max and wrapped up its run on April 28, 2022. The first season comprises eight episodes with a runtime of 54–63 minutes each.
The second season of Tokyo Vice, the Max Original starring Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe, was announced last June, after its successful debut in April. The series is based on a true story of an American journalist, Jake Adelstein (Elgort), who worked as a reporter for a Japanese newspaper and exposed the dark secrets of the Tokyo underworld in the late 1990s. He was mentored by a veteran detective, Hiroto Katagiri (Watanabe), who helped him navigate the dangerous and complex world of the yakuza.
Arai will join the cast as Shingo, a former coworker and lover of Jake’s boss, Emi (Rinko Kikuchi). Shingo is now an editor at a prestigious weekly magazine and a single father of a young son. He is a skilled journalist who shares Emi’s passion for the truth. However, as the season progresses, their professional and personal lives will clash and they will have to make difficult decisions about their priorities and values.
In future seasons, the creator and his team want to expand outward and continue to introduce new characters, with Jake serving the role of the first among equals and the ensemble. There is also scope for a Tokyo Vice Season 2 as far as the plot is concerned. The series begins in 2001 before shifting to 1999 and progressing forward. Furthermore, by the end of season 1, the plot is yet to arrive at that meeting between Jake and the Tozawa underlings shown in the very first sequence of the series.
Tokyo Vice Season 2 Release Date
Since the series has just been renewed, it is currently in production in Tokyo. It’s hard to say when it will start. With Ansel Elgort and Oscar-nominated Ken Watanabe, “Tokyo Vice” has two particularly well-known actors who will certainly have to make room in their schedule.
We expect to launch on HBO Max and Starzplay in the summer or fall of 2023. If official information becomes known, you will receive it here!
Who will be in Tokyo Vice Season 2?
Currently, we expect all the characters who survived the season one finale to return. These include the following characters and actors:
- Ansel Elgort as Jake Adelstein
- Ken Watanabe as Hiroto Katagiri
- Rachel Keller as Samantha
- Rinko Kikuchi as Emi
- Shun Shugata as Ishida
- Takaki Uda as trendy
- Kosuke Tanaka as Tin Tin
- Nobushige Suematsu as gene
- Ayumi Tanida as Tozawa
- Yuka Itaya as Mrs. Katagiri
- Sarah Sawyer as Jessica Adelstein
- Ayumi Ito as Misaki
Brand new actor Soji Arai has now been confirmed as the newest member of the series cast. Arai will embody Shingo, the lover and former colleague of Emi. Shingo not only has a lot going on as a single father but also works as an editor at the successful Tokyo Weekly newspaper. As an outstanding journalist, he shares with Emi her passion for work. Throughout the season, however, this will put their relationship to the test and eventually, they are both faced with the question of what means the most in life to them.
Arai is best known as Mozasu in the acclaimed Apple TV+ drama series “Pachinko.” This was also extended by a 2nd season. In addition, the actor will soon be seen in the new Amazon Prime Video series “Dead Ringers” alongside Hollywood star Rachel Weisz.
What’s the Story of Tokyo Vice Season 2?
In the season 1 finale, Jake considers returning to the US before getting a videotape that seems to show Polina’s murder. It is heavily implied that Tozawa has Miyamoto killed. He also threatens Katagiri that he will kill his family if the detective doesn’t stop coming after his clan. Sato gets stabbed by one of the fellow Chihari-Kai members. After losing all her money to Akira’s schemes, Samantha reaches out to Ishida for a loan. Tozawa travels to an unknown destination, and Jake and Katagiri finally seem to set their differences aside.
In the prospective season 2, we might learn that Tozawa has gone to the US for a liver transplant. Misaki can reach out to Jake for help, realizing that she can’t wait for Tozawa to die. If Sato survives, he will probably lose more of his humanity as he goes after his attacker. Jake and Katagiri will likely have to find a new approach to investigating Tozawa.
Production of Tokyo Vice Season 2
The first season was produced by Hollywood directors Destin Daniel Cretton and Michael Mann; whether they will return for season 2 is still unclear. J.T. Rogers is sure to return as a screenwriter and showrunner. Shooting has been started.