Tokyo Vice – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Tokyo Vice

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2022

78%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A neon-soaked, high-stakes dive into the 90s Tokyo underworld that’s as stylish as it is brutal.

89%

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Tokyo Vice

show

2022

78%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A neon-soaked, high-stakes dive into the 90s Tokyo underworld that’s as stylish as it is brutal.

89%

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Screenwise Verdict

Tokyo Vice is what happens when you let Michael Mann set the tone for a series: it’s sleek, moody, and deeply serious. It’s a top-tier crime drama for parents who want something with more meat on its bones than a standard procedural, but it’s definitely not a 'family night' pick.

For an older teen interested in journalism or Japanese culture, it’s a masterclass in tension and setting. Just be ready for the fact that it doesn't pull punches regarding the brutality of the Yakuza or the seedier corners of the Tokyo nightlife.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults and older teens (17+). It’s a sophisticated drama that requires a long attention span and a high tolerance for grim subject matter.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It’s a gritty noir about the Yakuza and police corruption; while there are strong bonds of loyalty, the world is fundamentally cynical and dark.

Imaginative

The recreation of 1990s Tokyo is immersive and atmospheric, using a specific visual language that makes the city feel like a living, breathing character.

Safe

It's an HBO crime drama. Expect graphic Yakuza violence, scenes in hostess clubs with nudity, heavy smoking, and pervasive adult themes.

Enriching

Offers deep insight into Japanese culture, social hierarchies, and the grueling reality of investigative journalism without being a documentary.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Atmospheric world-building that makes you feel the humidity and neon of 1990s Tokyo.
Compelling journalism angle showing the actual legwork and ethical minefields of breaking a story.
Ken Watanabe’s performance as a weary detective provides a grounded, moral center to the chaos.
Cross-cultural friction handled with nuance, avoiding most 'fish out of water' clichés.

⚠

What to Watch For

The violence isn't constant, but when it happens, it's sudden and visceral, including Yakuza-style finger-cutting and stabbings.
Significant portions of the show are in Japanese with subtitles; if your teen isn't a fan of reading their TV, they'll check out in ten minutes.
The hostess club setting means frequent scenes of objectification, sexual conversation, and occasional nudity.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Jake is so obsessed with fitting into a culture that clearly views him as an outsider?"
"Does the show make the Yakuza look 'cool,' or does it strip away the glamour of organized crime?"
"How does the Japanese police's approach to 'maintaining harmony' differ from what we see in American cop shows?"
"What did you think about the way the newspaper editors handled the pressure from the police and the gangs?"

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