The Yakuza

Retired detective Kilmer is called in by his old friend George Tanner, who reveals that his daughter has been kidnapped by yakuza boss Tono to pressure a guns deal. Kilmer agrees to help, hoping his Japanese connections can pull off a rescue. The request sets Kilmer's mission in motion across international lines.

Kilmer, Tanner, and Tanner's bodyguard Dusty travel to Tokyo to locate the girl and counter Tono's leverage. They stay at Oliver Wheat's house while planning their next move. The stakes rise as the group maps out who controls the guns deal and how to extract the daughter safely.

In post-war Tokyo, Kilmer had intervened to save Eiko during a skirmish, and they formed a complicated bond. Kilmer later supported Eiko by purchasing and helping run a bar, Kilmer House, in his honor. Their past remains a haunting backdrop as Kilmer returns to the region for this mission.

Ken, Eiko's brother, returns from a stranded island and resents Kilmer for his interference in their lives. Eiko cuts off contact with Kilmer to avoid further trouble, while Kilmer's purchase of Kilmer House ties him financially to Eiko's world. Kilmer remains haunted by unspoken feelings for Eiko.

Kilmer visits Eiko at Kilmer House after hours to locate Ken, rekindling old memories and recognizing the emotional complexity of their relationships. Eiko's daughter Hanako greets Kilmer warmly, hinting at the family dynamics at play. Eiko tells Kilmer that Ken can be found at a kendo school in Kyoto.

Kilmer travels by train to Kyoto to find Ken at his kendo school, where Ken is no longer a yakuza member but remains willing to help. The reunion strengthens Kilmer's resolve to rescue Tanner's daughter. Together, they plan the next steps to reach Tono and neutralize the threat.

Ken immediately resumes sword skills to defend Kilmer, attacking one of Tono's men to facilitate the rescue. This act re-enters him into gang conflicts, prompting contracts on both Kilmer and Ken. The dangerous reality of their mission becomes personal for all involved.

Ken's brother Goro explains he cannot intervene directly due to his impartial role, but suggests Ken could remove the death threat by killing Tono with a sword. He also notes Kilmer's unusual status as a gaijin who understands Japanese values, reinforcing Kilmer's responsibility to Ken. The idea of a sanctioned act against Tono begins to take shape.

An attempted murder at a bathhouse makes Kilmer aware that Tanner has a contract against him. Dusty reveals that Tanner and Tono are business partners, tying the kidnapping to a larger gun-deal scheme. The betrayal deepens Kilmer's sense of danger.

During a violent attack on Ken and Kilmer at Oliver Wheat's house, Dusty is fatally stabbed and Hanako is shot dead. The losses are devastating, intensifying the urgency to end Tono's control and avenge the innocent lives affected by the feud. The tragedy hardens Kilmer and Ken's resolve.

Goro advises that eliminating Tanner and Tono will publicly embarrass the partners and shift the balance of power. In private, he reveals a life-altering truth: Eiko is Ken's wife and Hanako is their daughter, reframing Kilmer's understanding of the past conflicts. The revelation deepens the emotional stakes for everyone.

Kilmer kills Tanner and joins Ken in a fierce assault on Tono's residence. In the ensuing battle, Ken kills Tono with a katana, delivering a decisive blow. The confrontation also claims the life of an adversary allied to the yakuza, complicating the aftermath.

Bearing the weight of the loss and their tangled history, Ken contemplates seppuku, but is counseled against it. Kilmer quietly performs yubitsume, offering his own apology by presenting a handkerchief containing a severed finger to Ken. The gesture signals the end of their feud and a renewed, if fragile, bond.

Kilmer speaks with Ken in a formal moment before departure, then slides the folded handkerchief with his finger toward Ken as a final token of forgiveness. Ken accepts and proclaims Kilmer's enduring friendship, echoing Kilmer's affection in return. They bow to each other as Kilmer is escorted to the airport, marking a somber but resolute goodbye.