Tokyo Vice – Season 2 Episode 10 “The Endgame” Recap & Review

The Endgame

Episode 10 of Tokyo Vice Season 2 begins with a discussion between DS Nagata and Katagiri. They are not sure how to proceed against Tozawa given his growing influence. Nagata promises to get a search warrant for the hotel suite and the Yoshino. They also agree to allow Jake to write his piece and take him down.

Jake is dealt a blow after he uses Misaki’s phone to contact Eimi. Upon learning Tin Tin’s fate, he stops his pursuit of the Tozawa story momentarily. 

Tozawa takes confident strides in the Suzuki Financial boardroom as he is inducted on the Board. The other senior management is reluctant and does not approve. When Katagiri learns about the decision to stop the Meicho story, he requests Jake to find Misaki for him. She is sitting right in front of Jake and it is pure luck that brings them together.

The reason for Katagiri’s request is that the Yoshino is in Misaki’s name. To authorise a search warrant, her signature is needed. She doesn’t think twice when propositioned, greenlighting the plan. However, unbeknownst to Katagiri, one of Tozawa’s men has followed him. Jake leaves with the detective as the goon informs the others about Misaki’s location.

Eimi goes to Shingo next after the Meicho won’t print the news about Tozawa. However, Shingo rejects the proposal, still upset about their breakup. 

At the hotel suite, DS Nagata and her team do not find any incriminating evidence. However, this surprise visit ensures that Tozawa scrambles to protect Yoshino. His panic call to one of his aides on the boat coincides with Jake, Katagiri, and a few other policemen reaching the spot. The aide tries to run away with the papers but the detective eventually catches up.

The bust reveals another scam we were all anticipating. Along with the CI Agreement with the FBI, the files also include receipts for payments made to Shigematsu’s campaign. Eimi believes that they must be unaccounted for if verified with the donations records. This would ensure that Shigematsu cannot become the new PM, dealing another blow to Tozawa’s plan.

Samantha and the others quickly escape the building as she sees Tozawa’s men approaching. They go back to the abandoned Club Polina, where they will be safe for now. 

In another shocking development, Tozawa holds Misaki’s mother hostage to force a meeting. He also wants Misaki to bait Jake into coming with her. She has little choice in deciding to agree with his demands as Samantha urges Misakito to involve Tozawa.

Eimi gets the clear from Baku to publish the news about Shigematsu as Jason angrily calls Trendy to his house. Jason has lost his job and is now facing charges for leaking Tozawa’s name.

Trendy immediately understands that it is Jake who used Jason’s name to get what he wanted. Katagiri decides to choose the “immoral way” of delivering justice by giving away the FBI contract to Sato. He takes it to the other bosses of the gumis and exposes Tozawa. They make a plan to exact revenge on him, which also involves Misaki and all the other major players in the story.

Eimi is dealt a significant blow when she learns that it was Ozaki who destroyed the tape and now wants to stop the Shigematsu story. Even though she is offered a promotion, Eimi decides to quit the paper and joins Baku’s journal.

Tozawa is led straight into a room full of all the bosses as Sato begins to read out his charges. Kazuko is present at the meeting too and reveals her pivotal role in dismantling her husband’s legacy. Tozawa is left with no choice but to commit suicide as everyone else leaves, except Hagino, who has to see it through.

After coming outside and seeing Jake, Kazuko reveals that she is the one who sent him the tape from Yoshino. But because Jake let it slip from his hands, she will not trust him again. Trendy also breaks his friendship with Jake after he admits he ratted out Jason’s name for the story.

Kazuko meets Samantha at her residence to discuss giving her funding. Samantha uses Ohno’s plans and Ishida’s strategy to buy real estate to impress Kazuko, who agrees to give her money. Sato is made the new leader of the Chihara-kai in the Ascension Ceremony, as we saw in the first episode of Tokyo Vice. 

Misaki decides to break up with Jake citing the fundamental differences in their personalities and outlook on life. Although Katagiri maintains he has retired for good, Jake teases him about being the same person. Katagiri does not accept it in front of Jake but chuckles in agreement when he leaves.

The Episode Review

Season 2 of Tokyo Vice closes out with an impressive finale. Although it is underwhelming compared to the rest of the high-octane season, it is a fitting end to almost all storylines. All the major players make an appearance and meaningfully close out their arcs.

Tozawa’s seppuku is a testament to the show’s devotion to authenticity and genuine portrayal of Japanese yakuza culture. The makers have delivered a transportive experience over the two seasons and this is no different.

The finale’s setbacks are also well-placed including Trendy’s heartbreak over Jake’s betrayal. It highlights the brutal nature of journalism and how it can blind an individual to everything else in their personal life. There are many such character-appreciative set pieces to seek out in Episode 10.

Although Endgame isn’t as explosive or trailblazer as the rest of Season 2, it is a fine way to end what has been a memorable season of television.