: Researchers who have worked with actual Yakuza, such as those featured in The Conversation , have praised the show's depiction of Yakuza rituals and hierarchical structures, even if the violence is dramatized.

: An academic study on J-Stage analyzes how the show represents intercultural communication. It focuses on Jake's journey of adopting Japanese social structures, like the sempai-kōhai (mentor-mentee) relationship, while struggling against his American individualism.

: Critics from The Hollywood Reporter and IndieWire have questioned the accuracy of Adelstein's original accounts. A paper on this would explore "narrative truth" in memoirs and how the series intentionally leans into being "inspired by" rather than a documentary to enhance its noir drama.