The series is a fictionalized version that is based on Jake Adelstein's 2009 memoir, Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan.
Not only did Ansel learn to speak Japanese, but he also studied journalism and shadowed real reporter Jake Adelstein and going undercover as a reporter.
Ansel practiced the Japanese martial art aikido for his role
Each title is a line said in each episode
Ansel Egort learned to speak Japanese for his role as Jake Adelstein