Tokyo Vice: The 10 Most Likable Characters, Ranked | ScreenRant
Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the HBO show Tokyo Vice.
Despite being full of dangerous meetings, violent fights, and deceitful colleagues, some characters manage to be compelling in HBO's Tokyo Vice. Based on Jake Adelstein's 2009 memoir of the same name, the limited series follows his journey as an investigative journalist in Japan.
From the badass Emi Maruyama to the level-headed Hiroto Katagiri, the most likable characters on the show often try to do the right thing, no matter how risky that may be given their tricky situations. They're often looking out for other people, not just themselves, and even try their best to steer clear of violence. As fans eagerly wait for the highly-anticipated finale of the crime drama show, it's the best time to determine who the most likable characters are so far.
10 Shinzo Tozawa
Tozawa has always been portrayed as the big baddie in the series. As the leader of the rival Yakuza gang, the way he's encroaching on Chihara-Kai's territory through unethical means has been emphasized more than once, sometimes by Ishida himself.
He has no issues mistreating his several partners like Misaki, or pressuring dirty cops into doing more favors for him as he does with Miyamoto. His secret illness doesn't make him more sympathetic, as it has only encouraged him to be more reckless. With all that in mind, he's the least likable character in the show – his lack of redeeming qualities isn't likely going to change anytime soon.
9 Jin Miyamoto
Even before fans found out about Miyamoto's deal with Tozawa, he was already an annoying character. The dirty cop would exploit reporters like Jake and Maruyama, promising to give them exclusive scoops if they pay for his dinner.
Now that viewers know he's also betraying the entire police department and undermining their efforts by working with Tozawa, it's even easier to dislike him. He may not be responsible for bringing the drugs into the country, but he does make it possible by turning a blind eye to the rival gang's activities in Tokyo.
8 Sato
Sato is a villain-turned-friend who has shown that he has a kinder, more compassionate side when he's not carrying out orders from the Yakuza. His budding romance with Samantha and bizarre friendship with Jake have certainly made it easier to like him, but his questionable actions make it impossible to fully trust him.
Over the course of the series, Sato has slowly but surely become a more violent person. Ever since that night when he saved Ishida's life, the Chihara-Kai leader has counted on him to threaten civilians and recruit naive boys. The way his confrontation with Sam's investigator ends in bloodshed speaks volumes about the kind of person he is turning into.
7 Polina
Polina has always played the role of Samantha's fun best friend throughout the series, often comforting her and making sure she's okay when she doesn't show up in the club. It's surprising that she's getting her own storyline this close to the finale, and fans can only hope that it will have a proper ending.
Since Pol is mostly in the background, it's difficult to feel invested in her story arc. That said, she hasn't done anything that would make viewers dislike her. Fans may recall how she even cheers Jake up after he's ghosted by Samantha at one point. Audiences can only hope that she comes back to Tokyo alive and well, but they likely wouldn't be too disappointed if Sam never hears from her again.
6 Hitoshi Ishida
As the temporary leader of the Chihara-Kai, Ishida has to make a lot of tough decisions, with several of these choices involving violence and bloodshed. Crime comes with the territory, and Ishida is no stranger to using force to get what he wants.
That said, he has been portrayed as the more strategic and intelligent Yakuza boss on the show. Unlike Tozawa, Ishida sticks to the traditional way of doing things, which mostly means he doesn't get involved in the sale and distribution of drugs to expand his gang. He's also shown as being more willing to help characters like Jake and Sato, which makes it easier to like him.
5 Jake Adelstein
The limited series may follow Jake’s story as a journalist in Japan, but that doesn't mean he's the most compelling character. In fact, Jake has done numerous questionable things, which include clearly ignoring his family despite his sister's situation, being rude to Sam at one point, and, of course, trusting Miyamoto and ruining an entire investigation into Tozawa's drug smuggling operation.
He's a flawed protagonist who can be too eager and disrespectful in the foreign country. That said, he does seem to learn from his mistakes and they are often made with good intentions. Since audiences are experiencing most of the show's events through his eyes, it's impossible not to want to see him succeed.
4 Trendy & Tin Tin
Trendy and Tin Tin may just be the stereotypical goofy side characters, but they help Jake survive in the newspaper industry, which is more cutthroat than he initially thought. They're always there to cheer for his success and drown their sorrows with drinks after his failures.
They seem to willingly drop whatever they're doing at work to help Jake investigate a new lead or encourage him to submit his articles. The comical duo may not contribute much to the story, but they've definitely proven that they're likable by being Jake's reliable friends.
3 Samantha Porter
She may be initially depicted as a hardened character who has taken control of her own life, but fans now know that there's more to Samantha than meets the eye. Her heartbreaking backstory with her family likely makes most fans want to root for her success in Japan, as she's just trying to create a prosperous life for herself.
That said, Sato does raise some thought-provoking points during a heated argument that they have after he risks his position in the gang to find out where Polina has gone. She doesn't think twice to use other people like Sato to get what she wants, but then distances herself from the repercussions. There's also the fact that she wants to start her own club, which is an admirable endeavor in the male-dominated field, but questionable (as Sato highlights) since she will be exploiting other women in the same way her current boss is.
2 Emi Maruyama
Maruyama is a badass journalist who isn't afraid to write about the important (but controversial) events that happen in Tokyo. While that's similar to what Jake is trying to do, Maruyama does it differently because she's smart about it.
She strategically uses her connections to gain important information for her stories, even if it often puts her in an awkward position with male police officers. Her recent story about how women are being murdered because their complaints are being ignored underscores how she's fighting for women's rights, which is doubly difficult when considering she's in a male-dominated industry. She may have been intimidating and even a little bit mean at first, but fans now know it's a necessary front that she uses to show that she's strong and capable in the office.
1 Hiroto Katagiri
From the moment fans meet Katagiri, it's obvious that there's something unique about him. He's not just another police officer who's willing to ignore Yakuza violence, as he bravely investigates the violent gang-related crimes in the city. What's more, he's smart enough to see the bigger picture, which is something that he's trying to show the stubborn Jake.
His friendship with Jake has allowed viewers to learn more about the likable officer. He puts his life at risk and acts as a mediator between the two rival gangs, all in an effort to keep things peaceful. His actions become even more admirable when viewers learn he has a family, as he likely understands the risks of doing actual good in the organized crime division, but he does it anyway for the future of his child.