Emi Maruyama

Emi Maruyama is a high-ranking journalist at the Meicho Shimbun Newspaper and the direct supervisor of Jake Adelstein.
==Biography==
===The Test===
Emi introduces herself to her co-workers, and after her explanation, Jake thanks Emi by calling her Emi-san. This provokes Emi as she considers Jake a thousand years too early from being able to address her so familiarly and demands she be called Maruyama-san instead.
Later, Emi attends an explanation given by her direct superior, who gives the laydown of what work they'll be doing and how he disparages Jake as a gaijin. That night, Emi assists in preparing beer for everyone at the party, which Jake helps her with a bit. He later comments about it to two of his co-workers.
Emi would later attend a news conference held at the police station concerning the murder victim Mr. Aoki. She'd later assigned a project to cover the murder to Jake by the end of the day. However, Jake's report is rebuked by her superior, which she takes some flak for, and although Jake tries to apologize for his actions, Emi warns him that if he makes one more mistake like that, he's fired.
After an incident where an old man immolates himself, and Jake finds a matchbox with the same logo as the one he previously reported to Emi. Jake tries to inform her about the connection between the two cases and Emi; however, she denies him the chance to investigate further, claiming he already has a story to work on.
===Kishi Kaisei===
Talking to Jake on the phone, she gives him some advice on how to pursue a lead on the Panty Thief case that she assigned to him. She'd later reject Jake's submission on it and several other revised submissions thereafter.
Despite rejecting so many of his reports, she allows one to be published in the morning article. However, the article that Jake wrote was proven false, and he was thereby demoted to work on the scrapbooks. Hence, when Emi delivered his paycheck to Jake, she advised him to find a good story or else that'd be his last one.
Later that night, Emi returns home to the sounds of an angry man screaming in Korean in her apartment.
===Reading the Air===
Jake calls over Emi to answer a call by a racist customer. Still, because the customer is also misogynic, Emi apologizes, claiming only gaijin and women are available, and hangs up on him. Right as Emi was to assign Jake a new job, the phone rang, and it was for Jake.
Jake briefly indirectly mentions her when he talks to Hiroto about the article he wrote about the three arrested from the Tozawa clan.
We see Emi again in her apartment preparing dinner while on the phone while the man who lives with her yells in Korean.
===I Want It That Way===
Emi was seen talking on the phone to someone at the Meicho building, and when she was done, Jake again mentioned the loan shark killings and how he's collected new evidence that proves it. Reviewing Jake's evidence, Emi recalls a similar story: the paper ran a few weeks ago and has Tin-Tin and Trendy. However, she addressed them by their real surnames, to research the CEO and company that's related to the story.
Emi and Jake interview the widowed husband of the suicide victim, Hyon-Syuk, and learn that she killed herself because of the debt she owed a loan company. Jake unintentionally asks a question that upsets the husband, making Emi step in and speak to the husband in Korean. She reveals that her grandparents were from Jinhae, and it's learned that Hyon-Syuk was from there too. The husband then fetches a letter sent to the apartment a week after Hyon-Syuk committed suicide that had a recent date and an address. Figuring that the company may not have changed locations yet, they decide to try to track the place and thank the husband for his time.
At the newest location of where the loan shark company had been, Emi was inside the building and talked to an agent who listened to her fabricated story about her gambling addict husband. The agent believes it and gives her some paperwork to sign to start the loan process, and she quickly reads over it. Moreso, back at the Meicho building where Jake complains about how the loan company agents make a profit from the suicides. Emi then explains that the contract is mostly a life insurance policy and that the cash value and credits go straight to the company upon the policy owner's death.
Upon Tin-Tin and Trendy's return with the loan company's address and CEO's name. Hence, Emi and Jake visit the place, only to learn the building is a dilapidated apartment complex, and its CEO is a disabled old man in a wheelchair.
Back at the Meicho building, Emi and Jake lament over their dead end in the loan shark investigation. Seeing the writing on the wall, Emi orders Jake to end his investigation on it and return to his arson story. Emi then answers the phone and talks to Detective Toma.
Afterward, Emi meets with Detective Toma and his associates to talk about a photo of a murdered lady. She claims the testimony from the murdered contradicts the picture, but Toma brushes it off and claims the case is closed. She'd later make copies of the victim's photos and be approached by the co-worker who hired her, and they had a heart-to-heart about Emi's determination about her job.
===Everybody Pays===
After learning more about the loan company from Ishida, Jake informs Emi, Tin-Tin, and Trendy about his new intel. The common thread that connected all of the victims was that they were all rejected loans from a financial company called Suzuno Finances. In light of this, Emi allows Jake to pursue the new lead and later hears from Jake his findings about the company's misdeeds. When Jake informs her that he plans to go to the person he talked with at the house, she sends Tin-Tin along to help him scan the documents related to their investigation.
Emi vouches for Jake when he asks Baku to grant him more time to cover the loan shark story. Baku, on the other, refused and claimed they'd run the story, finished or not. Although Jake wanted to argue against it, Emi reasoned with Jake to be level-headed about this, since he'd lose his job if he didn't.
===The Information Business===
One night, Jake visits Emi's apartment and is met by an upset and aggressive Kei, Emi's brother. She holds back Kei and reasons with him to return to his room. After Kei does, Emi allows Jake inside her apartment, and Jake overhears Kei's screaming from his room. Emi states that Kei is mentally ill and has seen a lot of conspiracies. Wasting no more time, Jake explains to Emi about the intel he received concerning a meth shipment at an airport by Tozawa. However, he's hit a roadblock as he needs a police clearance to launch an investigation into it, but his contact Hiroto advised against it. Hence, Emi suggests Jake find someone else who can approve it. As Kei's voice becomes louder, he asks Jake to leave but stops him midway, asking him not to mention his brother to the others in the office. However, Jake feigns ignorance of who Emi is talking about, making Emi smile, and he takes his leave.
The following day, Jake reports his findings to Emi, and the two are in disbelief about how his source was wrong about the meth shipment. When Baku arrives and checks out the pictures that Jake took, he suggests they write an article about the investigation flop. On the other hand, Jake tries to argue against it, noting it was solely his fault, but Baku doesn't care, and Emi has Jake return to his desk and write about it.
===Sometimes They Disappear===
Emi joins an impromptu Vice department lead press conference where it was announced that the murder of victim Kaori Shoda had been located and was arrested by Jin. The conference then abruptly ends, but Emi tries to ask the question if the murderer had a connection to the victim, but the question is dismissed, and Emi leaves the conference frustrated by it.
Walking to a restaurant, Emi there talks with Jin about two main subjects. The first subject was about the case he recently solved involving the victim, Kaori Shoda. Emi mentions that a colleague of hers claimed that Shoda filed multiple reports against her ex-boyfriend Sachihiro Jo, the man who supposedly killed her. She then asks if this were the case and why Jo wasn't arrested sooner. Jin answers that the police don't arrest every lovesick weirdo out there; Emi asks if the opinion of a woman is lesser than that of a man, which Jin confirms.
Jin then asks his own questions and asks Emi if she knows about the Organized Crime unit's plan to arrest a certain Yakuza boss. Emi asks if Jin is talking about Tozawa, and he confirms it while following up with Jake, who is close to Hiroto, so that he may have disclosed some information about him to her. However, Emi suggests that Jin ask Jake himself. Getting nowhere with his questioning, Jin leaves.
Afterward, Emi contacts Jake; unbeknownst to her, he just had sex with a prostitute, and she asks him if he knows that Hiroto has some evidence to land an arrest against Tozawa. Shocked to hear that, Jake said no, and when he asked if Emi knew anything further about it, she answered no. Emi then assigned Jake to investigate the case more, as she believed it was connected to several other cases she was working on.
From his apartment, Jake contacts Emi about everything he's learned thus far about the Shoda murder case. It concerns Emi since it follows a pattern she knows about where the police ignore warning signs about mistreated women, and then they're killed. Jake then asks for an update about the Tozawa case, but Emi brushes it off and ends the conversation.
Jake would visit Emi's apartment late that night to show her the morning edition paper, which featured her article on the second to last page.
===Yoshino===
After Jake learns more about Yoshino, where it's suspected that Polina is, Emi contacts Jake. Emi is later seen at the Meicho, where Jake tries to inform her about his findings of Polina, but she notices that he's high on Meth and asks that he leave before someone notices. Before Jake does, he entrusts a photo for Emi to use as a reference to search for Polina.
===Don't Ever F**king Miss===
In a room with some Meicho workers, Baku, and Jake, Emi is assigned to write an article on what is suspected to be the biggest political scandal in years. The reason why is that missing girls is her field of expertise. Another worker also assigns Jake to assist her with the story. Baku then orders Emi to get a comment from the Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Jotaro Shigematsu, but she claims that it's impossible under short notice. However, another worker named Ozaki promises to schedule one on their behalf, and the meeting ends.
Soon after the meeting, Emi informs Jake that Ozaki has scheduled a meeting with the Vice-minister for the next morning. Despite Jake's protests, she claims it's final and orders Jake to go home and rest. She then asks Tin-Tin and Trendy to follow her.
The following day, Emi pressured the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Shigematsu to comment on his involvement in Polina's death on the Yoshino. However, Shigematsu refuses to comment on the matter. Jake then tries to reason with Shigematsu, but he chastises Jake for his lack of decorum, which Emi apologizes for, and they take their leave.
Outside, Emi scolds Jake for his pressing Shigematsu and says that his carelessness is similar to how Sugita ended his life. She also advises him that while they don't have Tozawa, they have a story to release about Polina.
The next night, Emi contacted Jake about a fire in the Meicho building. Once Jake arrives, Emi informs Jake that their evidence on Tozawa was destroyed and that if they released the article about Tozawa, they'd be liable to be sued for false defamation. Jake lost it because of this.
===Be My Number One===
After having sex with her boyfriend, Shingo, Emi tries to leave for work, but Shingo suggests that she quit her job in favor of joining his. However, she rejects it despite Shingo calling Baku a right-wing bastard. Still, Emi considers the Meicho her home, and seemingly rejects his offer to spend time with him over the weekend.
At work, Emi compliments Jake on the recent articles that he has written and offers him the choice of two stories. One is about motorcycle thefts, and the other is about a dead body believed to be a Yakuza. Jake decides on the motorcycle story, and Emi requests a quote from a cop.
When Jake shows the material that he's collected on the biker case, Emi speaks in favor of Jake and manages to convince him to allow Jake to pursue the story further.
===Old Law, New Twist===
Emi enjoys spending time with Jake, Tin-Tin, and Trendy at a restaurant bar in celebration of Jake's recent articles covering the motorcycle group thefts. Noting that she has to leave, Emi leaves them each with an invitation to a party by the U.S. Ambassador, which will be held at their home. After Emi leaves, Trendy comments on how nice their boss allows Emi to have time off when he believes she doesn't have time for fun.
Later, Emi spends time with Shingo. After looking at a picture of his son, she asks him how his son did at his baseball game. Shingo answered that his son hit a home run and was proud. Their conversation then shifts to Emi's investigation into the A/V department fire, in which she hasn't found any credible leads. Shingo advises Emi not to be blindly loyal to the Meicho. Seeing what time it was, Emi notes she has to leave, because of her brother. However, Shingo suggests that she either call her brother Kei or allow him to go with her, not hide their relationship. On the other hand, Emi refuses, citing Kei is fragile and sick, but Shingo argues Kei isn't sick, but mentally ill, and they shouldn't hide their relationship any longer. Emi rejects the suggestion and leaves.
Returning to her apartment, Emi finds Kei preparing Dwaeji Gukbap for her and then assists him in preparing it.
On the night of the U.S. Ambassador's party, Emi, Tin-Tin, and Trendy watch the cast of Rent sing an old American Folk song. After that, Emi spoke with F.B.I. Agent Lynn to talk about stalkers and how the U.S. handles them. Lynn agreed to speak with Emi on Monday about it and would later be introduced to Jake by Emi. When Lynn leaves the group, Emi leaves, saying she'd like to try the shrimp puffs.
The next day, Jake pleads with Emi to help Tats' the motorcycle thief, be transferred into a reform school, but that'd be impossible due to what he was arrested for and during his arrest.
===Like a New Man===
With her Meicho colleagues, Emi listens to Baku's explanation of how the police have taken out the Hishinuma-Kai and Jimon-Kai all within a week's time. Baku orders everyone to use their police contacts to get any intel they can about the arrests.
One night, Emi reports to Baku about her findings concerning the fire in the A/V Department that destroyed the videotape evidence they had. Though Baku had believed that faulty wiring was the cause, it was more believable than Emi's claim that no one from the A/V Department had started the fire. Hence, Baku claims he'll have his contacts investigate the fire discreetly and, to Emi's dismay, isn't allowed to help.
Emi spends time with Shingo and talks about Baku's handling of the burnt evidence. They then talk about Emi's brother Kei who was on a new medication. Although Emi isn't too convinced it'll work, she still worries about him and the harm he may do to himself. When Shingo offers his help, Emi rejects it, but notes that hopefully his new medication will help him.
At her apartment, Emi and Kei discuss how Kei's medication has worked well for him. They then have a heart-to-heart about how his condition has made it difficult for them, like how their parents left them for Korea and Emi had to give up college in Chicago because of him. The subject then changes to Kei wanting to meet Emi's boyfriend, which he claims is his responsibility because he's taking their father's place.
===Illness of the Trade===
Jake contacts Emi about the death of Nakahara, and he claims that he saw Tozawa enter the building where Nakahara fell to his death. She asks if Jake has any photos of this, but Jake denies that he does, but stands by his claim, which Emi understands and jots down Jake's dictation.
Emi is seen in the audience of a press conference concerning Nakahara's suicide. After that, she talks with Shingo, who informs her that he's discovered some dirt about Tozawa through his reporter contacts. Apparently, the Tozawas own a series of corporations run by his wife. Although they're legit businesses, that's only on paper. What makes the information more interesting is that the Tozawa group funds a bunch of right-wing organizations, with which Baku is affiliated with them. This leads Emi to suspect that Baku may have been involved in destroying the videotape evidence. 
Jake approached Emi at the Meicho concerning the Shimbashi Station development project despite her reluctance and distraction from Baku. She allows Jake to write the article for the next day's paper; however, he wants to give the job to Tin-Tin, as Baku has been hard on him as of late. Understanding that, Emi also informs Jake that his request to visit America has been granted, and although Jake is reluctant to go through with it, Emi coaxes him to do it.
The next day, Emi, Trendy, and Tin-Tin are shown Jake's findings from the medical office he broke into that Tozawa had once entered. They learn from the photos of the medical records that Jake took that Tozawa and four other Yakuza, were diagnosed with liver disease. Emi claims it's common within the Yakuza trade, called Shokogoyo, and lists the ways Yakuza contract the disease. Emi also corrected Jake, who said that Tozawa had been cured of his condition. She, along with everyone else there, is then briefly distracted by the live press conference held by the transportation secretary about the Shimabashi project, which made Tin-Tin no longer have a story to cover.
===I Choose You===
At the Meicho building, Emi says that new angles of the recent incident involving Ishida must be found. She assigns Trendy to investigate the architect victim's business, Tin-Tin to question the witnesses, and after learning Jake's familiarity with Samantha, to question her.
While at a cafe, Emi receives a call from Shingo, who asks what dessert Kei likes. Emi answers that Kei can't tolerate sugar and jokes since Shingo joked that he had baked a cake for the occasion. After advising Shingo not to dress for the occasion fancily, Emi considers canceling the meeting, but Shingo insists on it and tells her he'll see her that night.
After receiving a fax with a drawing of the tattoo one of the gunmen had from Jake, Emi learns from Jake that it belongs to someone from the Hishinuma-kai and believes he can connect Tozawa to the case. Hence, Emi gives Jake until that night to get the evidence he needs, or a different side of it will be written. Despite Jake's claims about Tozawa's connection, Emi suggests that Jake focus on his trip to America and consider that it's his father's 60th birthday. However, Jake refutes the notion, says his sole focus is his job, and ends the call with Emi.
Later that night, Emi enjoys dinner with Shingo and Kei. They talk about Shingo's relationship with his former wife and son. They then talk about Shingo's magazine, which Kei gives a mild compliment, which Shingo graciously takes since most readers typically don't have good things to say about it. When Kei leaves the table, Shingo notes how he thinks her brother likes him, but Emi playfully warns him not to get too confident.
After Shingo says his goodbyes to both Kei and Emi, she visits Kei in his room to see if he approves of him; however, he rejects him over being previously divorced. Kei's rejection makes Emi feel dejected, and he leaves his room.
The following day, Emi sides with Tin-Tin over the article he wrote about Samantha and states that he can leave if Jake doesn't like it. She'd later be flagged down by her superior Ozaki, who, after learning that Jake had thought that Tozawa and so Ozaki ordered Emi and her team to investigate it. Despite Emi's hesitance, claiming that she believes that someone working for Tozawa was in the Meicho, Ozaki motivates her to do it.
===The War at Home===
Emi receives a call from Shingo, and the two chat about having take-out curry and Kei's impression of Shingo, which she lied, claiming it was favorable. Shingo then talks about Emi's investigation into Baku, but she has too many possibilities to handle. So, Shingo suggests that Emi seek assistance from someone she can trust, and Emi enlists Tin-Tin's help.
===The Noble Path===
One morning, Emi is surprised when her brother Kei serves her tea. This segues into a heart-to-heart about Kei wanting to protect Emi and how Shingo isn't good for her. Despite Emi claiming she'd never abandon him, she argues back that Shingo had to love her a lot to tolerate him when Kei mentions how bad Shingo is for her. As she leaves, Kei reinforces that Shingo would disappoint her.
At work, Emi assigns Trendy a story involving a Yakuza bust in Hawaii and asks that he receive intel from a U.S. Embassy Member. She then asks Tin-Tin how his story is progressing, and Tin-Tin answers that he'll have something later that day. Jake arrives, which surprises them all as he still has four days off left. However, Jake mentions that he values his work there too much, and after giving Tin-Tin and Trendy their gifts from his trip, Jake offers Emi a major story, but she requests that she be informed of it later. She then assigns Jake to assist Trendy with his story.
In the archive room, Tin-Tin shows Emi his findings about Baku, from Kansai, where Tozawa originated, and how he wrote a paper featuring Tozawa. The article was about how Tozawa was arrested but later released due to a lack of evidence. Baku also personally interviewed Tozawa, which Emi believes is the connection between them. Tin-Tin then asks Emi how they should proceed.
Jake approaches Emi's desk, asking for her time to disclose the story he had told her. He explains the conspiracy surrounding Lynn and Tozawa. In the end, Emi allows Jake to pursue the story but not to tell anyone about it.
Emi watches the news about the Prime Minister's resignation and that Jotaro Shigematsu would be his replacement. Upset by the news, Emi mentions that he'd be under someone's influence, and Ozaki, who stood beside her, asks who, but she refuses to say.
===Consequences===
In the Meicho conference room, Jake, Tin-Tin, Trendy, and Emi talk about Shigematsu's promotion to Prime Minister and debate Tozawa's connection with the FBI. Eventually, Tin-Tin proposes the idea that the FBI was in cahoots with Tozawa because of their recent Yakuza busts in the States. Hence, Trendy is assigned to get information from Jason, Tin-Tin volunteers to retrieve Tozawa's medical records, and when Baku is spotted briefly peering in. Emi claims they need to only report all of their findings to her and dismiss them all.
Outside of the room, Emi stops Jake from using his phone despite it being a burner, citing that Tozawa could wiretap it.
Later, Emi and Jake learn about Tozawa, who had been an FBI informant for a year and a half. Although Trendy can't get proof of the claim via a contract signed between them, Jake volunteers to do it despite its risks. He'd later contact Emi and inform her of his findings about how Tozawa was an FBI informant. When Emi notes her worry about Jake's safety, he assures her that he'll have a safe place to hide.
That night at her apartment, Emi reprimands Kei for what he tried to do to Ryo, and in the end, Shingo ends his relationship with her. He cites that she needs to choose between him and Kei. Despondent over her breakup with Shingo, Emi receives a call from Trendy, who informs her that Tin-Tin is in the hospital ICU.
When she arrives, Emi meets Trendy, who shows her Tin-Tin's room, where his mother is sitting beside his bed. Baku then appears and talks with Emi over an anonymous tip that a certain story must be killed, or more of their reporters would be killed. Emi confesses that it's a story about Tozawa being an FBI informant and that Baku wants it killed despite its risks. Having had enough of this, Emi accuses Baku of burning their incriminating tape on Tozawa. Wincing at the accusation, Baku confesses he's not a perfect man, but not a corrupt one. Baku's response made Emi feel flustered.
Jake indirectly mentioned Emi when he wanted to contact her about his situation.
===Endgame===
Laying her head on Tin-Tin's bed rail, Emi gets a call from Jake, who tries to explain his findings in the article they were working on, but she claims the Meicho won't publish it. She claims that the Meicho received a threat, and Tin-Tin was stabbed, this makes Jake worried, but Emi tells him to stay put and safe.
Visiting Shingo in his office, Emi offers him the story that the Meicho canceled; however, Shingo notes that she's omitting key facts behind it. Emi then admits that a colleague of hers was stabbed because of it, and upon learning that fact, Shingo declines the story, citing that the risks outweigh the merit. Furthermore, Shingo doesn't want to have his reporters hurt and questions whether or not, Emi thinks of his reporters. Their conversation ends when Shingo says he needs to get back to work, and Emi leaves while slamming the door behind her.
From Jake, Trendy and her learn about that Shigematsu had received several large campaign donations from Tozawa. Emi promised to cross-reference against the political-contribution records and had believed they weren't reported. Trendy also claims that a prime minister would have to step down because of such a crime, and Emi volunteers to handle the story. Before leaving with Trendy, Emi returns Jake's burner phone.
Later, Emi shows Baku the incriminating evidence that Jake had found on Shigematsu. Baku curiously asks where Jake has received the evidence, and Emi informs him from his police source, Baku, after careful contemplation, allows Emi to write it and soon after asks Trendy to contact Jake to tell him the good news.
Jake briefly mentions Emi in his conversation with Hiroto.
When Emi reported to Ozaki about her article about Shigematsu to Ozaki, she received praise from him and was going to be promoted. However, she learns that Ozaki was the one who burnt the videotape, citing that it was to save the company from being shut down by the government. Despite, Emi's morals making her unable to accept what Ozaki had told her, Ozaki said that one day she'll be in his seat and make such choices too. On the other hand, Emi refuses and is thereby dismissed by Ozaki. Returning to her desk, Emi looks closely at her workplace.
That night, Emi visits Shingo at his office, telling the story of Shigematsu accepting illegal campaign donations. However, Shingo would only accept the story if it was written by someone who works for him and offers Emi a job there. On the other hand, Emi notes the complications between them, but Shingo notes that they can work through them and get to work. This makes Emi smile.
==Appearances==
:;Season One
*The Test
*Kishi Kaisei
*Read the Air
*I Want It That Way
*Everybody Pays
*The Information Business
*Sometimes They Disappear
*Yoshino
:;Season Two
*Don’t Ever F**king Miss
*Be My Number One
*Old Law, New Twist
*Like a New Man
*Illness of the Trade
*I Choose You
*The War at Home
*The Noble Path
*Consequences
*Endgame
==Trivia==
==Gallery==
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==References==
Category:Characters