Rising Sun

The movie opens with the shocking discovery of Cheryl Lynn Austin, a call girl, found dead during a commencement gala at Nakamoto's new Los Angeles headquarters. Her death appears to be the result of a violent sexual encounter, which sets off a complicated investigation involving high-ranking officials and executives.

Detectives Webster Smith and John Connor are called to the scene to liaise with Japanese executives and the investigation team led by Smith's former partner, Tom Graham. Connor's deep understanding of Japanese culture makes him both invaluable and mistrusted within his own department, raising tensions as the investigation unfolds.

Ishihara, a representative of the Nakamoto corporation, is questioned about the incident. Connor, using a stern approach, manages to pressure Ishihara into cooperating, despite his evident reluctance to connect the company's image to the scandal surrounding Cheryl’s death.

During their investigation, Smith and Connor review the surveillance footage from the day of the incident only to discover that one critical disc is missing. This missing footage raises alarm bells about the transparency of their investigation and suggests a cover-up amongst high-profile individuals.

The detectives suspect Eddie Sakamura, Cheryl’s boyfriend and a rival of Nakamoto, after finding his photograph in her apartment. They confront Sakamura at a house party, where he promises information but is released after Smith confiscates his passport, leaving tension in the air.

Forensic analysis of pubic hairs found at the crime scene indicates that the perpetrator is Japanese, further complicating the investigation. This finding leads Connor and Smith to reconsider their suspects and delve deeper into the murky waters of corporate and criminal interests.

Ishihara returns with the missing surveillance disc that purportedly shows Sakamura murdering Cheryl. However, the footage later turns out to be digitally altered, raising questions about the authenticity of evidence and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their interests.

In a tense operation, Graham and Smith lead a SWAT team to raid Sakamura's home. The situation escalates quickly when Sakamura tries to escape in his sports car, leading to a fatal crash that eliminates a key suspect and complicates the investigation further.

Smith and Connor seek the expertise of Jingo Asakuma, who reveals that the video implicating Sakamura has been altered. She shares personal details about her mixed heritage, which deepens the connection between her and Smith, hinting at future complications in both their lives and the investigation.

Senator John Morton experiences a drastic change in his stance regarding a bill potentially blocking Nakamoto's acquisition of a US semiconductor company. His pressure to realign his politics raises suspicions that his actions are connected to Cheryl's murder.

Upon returning to Smith's apartment, the duo unexpectedly finds Sakamura alive, who explains he was being tracked by Nakamoto's security. This shocking twist reveals deeper conspiracies while also challenging the detectives’ perception of their main suspect.

As Sakamura provides Connor with the original footage, tragedy strikes when he is attacked and killed by Ishihara’s men. Smith narrowly survives a gunshot due to a bulletproof vest, revealing that betrayal runs deep within the chain of command among those who were supposed to be allies.

Smith, Connor, and Jingo view the original surveillance footage, exposing Senator Morton in a compromising encounter with Cheryl and suggesting that he is involved in her death. The footage alters the course of the investigation, revealing a darker side of the political figures involved.

Following the discovery of his involvement in the murder, Senator Morton contacts Ishihara revealing the conspiracy before he chooses to end his own life. This desperate act underscores the lengths individuals will go to in order to escape accountability.

Connor, Smith, and Jingo disrupt Nakamoto's merger negotiations to confront President Yoshida with the incriminating footage. The revelation that Bob Richmond is the actual murderer results in chaos, leading to Richmond’s demise at the hands of Sakamura's Yakuza friends and further complicating the narrative of innocence and guilt.