Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the HBO show Tokyo Vice.
HBO's Tokyo Vice thrust fans into a dangerous world full of mysterious deaths, corrupt authorities, and powerful gangsters. Based on the 2009 memoir of the same name, the series depicts Jake Adelstein's experiences working as an investigative journalist in Japan – he unsurprisingly meets some fascinating individuals along the way.
It's easier to survive or succeed in the city when characters forge relationships that benefit them in some way, just like Sam does with Sato and Jake does with Katagiri. The best partnerships are often advantageous or strategic, but there are also genuine friendships like Jake and Maruyama's. As viewers eagerly wait for its highly-anticipated finale, it's the best time to explore some of the best relationships from the crime-drama show so far.
Polina & Samantha Porter
Polina and Samantha are likable characters who often find themselves in risky situations, which are often linked with their jobs. It makes sense that they would become best friends, as they've both carved out lives for themselves in a foreign country where genuine friendships are few and far between.
Pol always has Sam's back, and she always has hers, even if they don't know exactly what's going on with the other. Fans may recall how Pol offers to help Sam after she learns about the investigator sent by her father, while Sam looks for Pol after she strangely stops showing up for work.
Jake Adelstein & Samantha Porter
Jake is immediately drawn to Sam the first time he meets her, and it's obvious that she isn't as enamored as he is. She's used to getting attention from clients, but she sets boundaries and only sees them as customers. Over time, though, Jake and Sam have arguably become real friends, as she seems to actually enjoy talking to him, even outside her working hours.
There are definitely some confusing signals from Jake's end, as he seems to be romantically interested in her, but has recently backed off since she made it official with Sato. Since Sam's story arc is a major part of the series, there will hopefully be an important crossover between her storyline and Jake's, as right now the two seem disjointed while they do their own things.
Jin Miyamoto & Shinzo Tozawa
A lot of viewers probably weren't too surprised to learn that Miyamoto is a dirty cop, as he implies more than once that he's willing to bend the rules. It was a shock to see him interact with Tozawa directly, though, as that means he has access to the leader of a Yakuza gang.
Both of them don't seem too happy to be stuck in their working relationship with each other. Miyamoto wants out, but Tozawa still needs him to steal evidence from the station. It would be interesting to learn how many other police officers have the same arrangement with the gang leader.
Samantha Porter & Sato
When they first started dating, Sam and Sato were an adorable pair. They had sweet moments, like when Sato cooked for Sam and told him about how his father taught him. After Sam told Sato about her past and her stalker, though, everything changed.
In their efforts to separate their work and personal lives, they complicated things. Sato feels used by Sam, as she expects him to be violent and even murderous for her sake. There's no telling if they can still manage to repair their romance, especially after that heated argument about how Sam hasn't looked at Sato in the same way since he killed the investigator for her.
Jake Adelstein & Sato
Although it may have seemed like Sato could have been serious when he joked about killing Jake, their friendship has flourished since that first tense interaction. It's thanks to Jake that the unlikely duo connected, and their partnership has been beneficial for both parties.
Sato is able to bring Jake to his oyabun, who uses his profession to try and damage Tozawa's gang. Jake gains access to the inner workings of Chihara-Kai, which is likely not something most local reporters in Japan have. It's also just entertaining to listen to their hilarious conversations, especially if it involves Sato bursting into song.
Hitoshi Ishida & Sato
For the longest time, Sato was a nobody for Ishida, as he was just another low-level recruit. Everything shifted after Sato's fearless defense of the Yakuza leader during an assassination attempt – it's safe to say Ishida likely would've died without Sato's last-minute intervention.
Now Sato enjoys a much higher position within the gang, as he has become Ishida's right-hand man. Ishida teaches Sato how to be brave in the face of impossible odds, even teaching him how to handle his feelings after murdering someone for the first time. It's a useful relationship for both of them, as Sato needs to make a name for himself among the Yakuza, and Ishida needs someone loyal by his side.
Hitoshi Ishida & Shinzo Tozawa
They may rarely see each other, but there's no doubt that Ishida and Tozawa have a relationship in the form of a terrifying rivalry. Tozawa has broken their agreement by encroaching on Tokyo, which has always been Chihara-Kai's territory. His assassination attempt was the last straw for Ishida, who had no choice but to reconsider their relationship.
It's fascinating to see how they interact and react to each other's moves, as they've really shown their personalities and motivations over the course of the series. Ishida values traditions and tends to be defensive, while Tozawa believes he has nothing to lose and is more brazen in his offense.
Jake Adelstein & Hitoshi Ishida
An unlikely partnership forms between Jake and Chihara-Kai's temporary leader, Ishida. The gang boss finds a unique opportunity to solve a problem with Tozawa by using Jake's connection to Katagiri. For Jake's part, he (ignores Katagiri's advice and) asks for Ishida's help in identifying the shady loan company he's after.
Their exchange is a great example of how relationships are often treated as transactional on the show. However, after their recent misunderstanding about Tozawa's plane, it's unclear if they'll ever be willing to work with each other again.
Jake Adelstein & Emi Maruyama
Maruyama is one of the smartest characters in the series, which is why Jake is fortunate to have her as his immediate supervisor in the Meicho. Their professional relationship is helpful for him, as he needs guidance in the cutthroat industry. For Maruyama's part, Jake has helped her gain access to the dominant Yakuza gang in Tokyo.
Of course, it's impossible not to mention that their partnership has evolved into genuine friendship as well. Jake knows more about Maruyama's personal life compared to anyone else in the office, and Maruyama likely doesn't think twice about trusting him with her secrets.
Jake Adelstein & Hiroto Katagiri
One of the most prominent and arguably most important relationships in the series is between Jake and Katagiri. It starts out the usual way, with Jake persevering and using what limited knowledge he has about Japanese culture to win over Katagiri, who allows him to enter his home for his efforts.
Over time, they have traded information that Katagiri has used to prevent war between the rival Yakuza gangs. Jake has learned more about how the criminal elements in Tokyo operate, which is knowledge that only a few of his colleagues likely have. This beneficial exchange was also slowly becoming a friendship, with Katagiri even going as far as giving Jake advice about his dad. This is why it was so frustrating to see Jake mess things up by being reckless and trusting Miyamoto's deceitful words – they'll hopefully be able to work things out before the finale ends.