Some time ago, it became clear that thriller fiction set in Asia that featured Caucasian superheroes like James Bond was becoming increasingly implausible. At least two authors still writing in this genre understand this and are modifying their approaches accordingly.
The protagonist of "Maximum Target" is Jun Kaneko, an English-speaking Japanese yakuza who has reluctantly stepped in to lead his late father's gang. Kaneko is an "intellectual" yakuza, with a degree in economics from Waseda University.
"There are all kinds of crime," Kaneko philosophizes to his ex-wife, who detests him. "Some more serious than others, but they have a common thread. The idea is to benefit yourself at the expense of others. That's the yakuza business in a nutshell."