Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 6h

“Adelstein delivers an engaging storyline filled with corrupt federal agents, tech millionaires, drugs and money..,”

Thanks @cointelegraph for an insightful and fun review

cointelegraph.com/magazine/dev...

Review: The Devil Takes Bitcoin, a wild history of Mt. Gox and Silk Road

Jake Adelstein’s The Devil Takes Bitcoin delves into the wild history of Silk Road, the Mt. Gox collapse, and the hunt for the real hacker.

cointelegraph.com

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Japan On Film (A Film Stories Podcast) @japanonfilm.com · 22h

Haven't had time to update lately, so here's a round-up of episodes you might have missed.

First is Tokyo Godfathers! Matthew Trecek joins for a discussion of Satoshi Kon's Christmas anime!
japanonfilm.com/tokyogodfath...

Episode #104 (S13E05) – Tokyo Godfathers (2004) [東京ゴッドファーザーズ]

Christmas comes early as Matthew Trecek of the Deskwarmers podcast joins Perry for a discussion of Satoshi Kon’s beloved anime, Tokyo Godfathers.

japanonfilm.com

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 22h

Thanks to everyone at Japan Society in Washington DC. My book talk 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻: 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗖𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 has sold out. There’s a waiting list! If possible, I’ll try to sign books afterword someplace nearby and will post it. 感謝！

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 1d

This is a closely guarded secret which I cannot share. 😉
But I will DM you!

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

LaCiuraRaffaele @laciuraraffaele.bsky.social · 1d

‘Americans are democracy’s equivalent of second-generation wealth’: a Chinese journalist on the US under Trump
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘Americans are democracy’s equivalent of second-generation wealth’: a Chinese journalist on the US under Trump

The long read: Once a stalwart of Hong Kong’s journalism scene, Wang Jian has found a new audience on YouTube, dissecting global politics and US-China relations since the pandemic. To his fans, he’s p...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Kim Lane Scheppele @kimlanelaw.bsky.social · 1d

Even Orban can tell something is wrong . . .

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

wild hand jerking during Trump's handshake photo op with Orban

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

🚨Did you know that the Seattle Space Needle built in 1962 was the model for France’s famous Eiffel Tower? Eiffel means “space” in French. 😏

#SpaceNeedle #MagaTest

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 1d

Inside the Yakuza --30 years of covering the mafia. youtu.be/9GRvCsAgPXs?...
A look book at #TokyoVice, #TheLastYakuza, #TokyoNoir
Thanks to Team House for having me on! Next time, I'll get a better internet connection

@theteamhouse.bsky.social

Inside the Yakuza | Jake Adelstein

YouTube video by The Team House

youtu.be

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 1d

Inside the Yakuza --30 years of covering the mafia. youtu.be/9GRvCsAgPXs?...
A look book at #TokyoVice, #TheLastYakuza, #TokyoNoir
Thanks to Team House for having me on! Next time, I'll get a better internet connection

@theteamhouse.bsky.social

Inside the Yakuza | Jake Adelstein

YouTube video by The Team House

youtu.be

2 9 31

Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 1d

Hello #Philadelphia! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻: 𝗖𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 see you at the University of Pennsylvania Bookstore tomorrow October 14th! Details below. PS. I'll sign anything--Tokyo Vice, The Last Yakuza, Tokyo Noir,
Also, for a mere 1 BTC, I'll also wash your car

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Hamilton Nolan @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social · 3d

Has lived in the US since he was NINE MONTHS OLD.

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 3d

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Zack Davisson @zackdavisson.com · 3d

Meeting Jake at last was a blast! More like reuniting with an old pal than someone I had never met before.

I admire the hell out of this guy.

Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

I had a great meeting with Japanese supernatural creature expert @zackdavisson.com before leaving Seattle. Check out his books!!!

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

🤝

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

Seems increasingly unlikely that she will become the Prime Minister and there are some very good reasons for that.

tokyopaladin.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...

The Rise of Japan’s Female Trump: Why Takaichi Sanae Is the Worst Thing to Happen to Japanese Democracy Since Abe 2.0

Takaichi endorsed “Hitler’s Election Strategy” in the ‘90s, threatened TV networks as communications minister, claims foreigners abuse Nara’s deer without evidence and speaks to the Gods #InsaneSanae

tokyopaladin.substack.com

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

The feeling is mutual man. If you can find a publisher for your book about Tanuki, I would love to write the foreword!

a cartoon drawing of a raccoon playing a drum with chinese writing behind it

ALT: a cartoon drawing of a raccoon playing a drum with chinese writing behind it

media.tenor.com

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

🚨Did you know that the Seattle Space Needle built in 1962 was the model for France’s famous Eiffel Tower? Eiffel means “space” in French. 😏

#SpaceNeedle #MagaTest

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

This headline is aging badly.
I don’t think we will see a Sanae Takaichi PM after the ruling party was left at the altar by KOMEITO.
#insanae
But only KOMEITO knows the future 🔮
tokyopaladin.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

Seems increasingly unlikely that she will become the Prime Minister and there are some very good reasons for that.

tokyopaladin.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...

The Rise of Japan’s Female Trump: Why Takaichi Sanae Is the Worst Thing to Happen to Japanese Democracy Since Abe 2.0

Takaichi endorsed “Hitler’s Election Strategy” in the ‘90s, threatened TV networks as communications minister, claims foreigners abuse Nara’s deer without evidence and speaks to the Gods #InsaneSanae

tokyopaladin.substack.com

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 3d

I had a great meeting with Japanese supernatural creature expert @zackdavisson.com before leaving Seattle. Check out his books!!!

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Reposted by Jake Adelstein

Artista Novato 🪨 @artistanovato.bsky.social · 4d

"The modern-day yakuza are innovative entrepreneurs; rather than a bunch of tattooed nine-fingered thugs in white suits wielding samurai swords, a more appropriate metaphor would be “Goldman Sachs with guns.”.

"Tokio Vice", by @tokyovice.bsky.social.

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 4d

Hey Zack! I'll DM ya

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 4d

Japan’s ruling LDP planned to install Sanae Takaichi as PM—but that plan’s blown up
Buddhist ally Komeito, fed up with corruption and Aso’s influence, isn’t backing her
Weirdly,Komeito’s spiritual leader Daisaku Ikeda— vanished for a decade before his death

Maybe his ghost spoke up?

bit.ly/46Kiihr

Where in the World is Ikeda Daisaku, Soka Gakkai's Long-Missing Leader? - Unseen Japan

Ikeda Daisaku, one of the most powerful political fixers and religious leaders in Japan, hasn’t been seen in public since 2010. Where is he?

unseen-japan.com

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 4d

I’m around another day! DM me.

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 4d

Japan’s Buddhist party has cut ties to the ruling LDP. The choice of Sanae Takaichi as PM isn’t progress—it’s regression in a skirt. Corrupt, authoritarian, openly hostile to press and minorities, she embodies everything rotten in the LDP: nepotism, nationalism, decay.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

The Rise of Japan’s Female Trump: Why Takaichi Sanae Is the Worst Thing to Happen to Japanese Democracy Since Abe 2.0

Takaichi endorsed “Hitler’s Election Strategy” in the ‘90s, threatened TV networks as communications minister, claims foreigners abuse Nara’s deer without evidence and speaks to the Gods #InsaneSanae

substack.com

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Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 5d

Hello Seattle! I'll be at Elliot Bay Books from 7pm tonight for the release of The Devil Takes Bitcoin. It's not officially in stores until October 14th--so this is the book launch!
Join me on a deep dive into the connections between #Bitcoin crime and Japan!
elliottbaybook.com/events/48173

Jake Adelstein | Elliott Bay Book Company

Full-service, general bookstore operating since 1973. Frequent author events, cafe, over 150,000 titles

elliottbaybook.com

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