Kayama, as stated in his reports to the Shogun, manages to reach an "understanding" with the Western merchants and diplomats, tensions abound between the Japanese and the "barbarians". Three British sailors on shore leave mistake the daughter of a samurai for a geisha ("Pretty Lady"). Though their approach is initially gentle, they grow more persistent to the point where they offer her money; the girl cries for help and her father kills one of the confused sailors. Kayama and Abe travel to the Emperor's court discussing the situation. While on the road, their party is attacked by cloaked assassins sent by the Lords of the South and Abe is assassinated. Kayama is horrified to discover that one of the assassins is his former friend, Manjiro; they fight and Kayama is killed. In the ensuing turmoil, the puppet Emperor seizes real power and vows that Japan will modernize itself. As the country moves from one innovation to the "Next!", the Imperial robes are removed layer by layer to show the Reciter in modern dress. Contemporary Japan - the country of Toyota, Seiko, air and water pollution and market domination - assembles itself around him and its accomplishments are extolled. "Nippon. The Floating Kingdom. There was a time when foreigners were not welcome here. But that was long ago..." says the Reciter. "Welcome to Japan." Original Broadway cast — characters Mako — Reciter, Shogun, Jonathan Goble, Emperor Meiji Soon-Tek Oh — Tamate, Samurai, Storyteller, Swordsman Isao Sato — Kayama Yuki Shimoda — Lord Abe Sab Shimono — Manjiro Ernest Abuba — Samurai, Adams, Noble James Dybas — Councillor, Old Man, French Admiral Timm Fujii — Son, Priest, Kanagawa Girl, Noble, British Sailor Haruki Fujimoto — Servant, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry Larry Hama — Williams, Lord of the South, Gangster Ernest Harada — Physician, Madam, British Admiral Alvin Ing — Shogun's Mother, Observer, Merchant, American Admiral Patrick Kinser-Lau — Shogun's Companion, Kanagawa Girl, Dutch Admiral, British Sailor Jae Woo Lee — Fisherman, Sumo Wrestler, Lord of the South Freddy Mao — Councillor, Samurai's Daughter Tom Matsusaka — Imperial Priest Freda Foh Shen — Shogun's Wife Mark Hsu Syers — Samurai, Thief, Soothsayer, Warrior, Russian Admiral, British Sailor Ricardo Tobia — Observer Gedde Watanabe — Priest, Kanagawa Girl, The Boy Conrad Yama — Grandmother, Sumo Wrestler, Japanese Merchant Fusako Yoshida — Shamisen accompaniment Proscenium Servants, Sailors and Townspeople: Kenneth S. Eiland, Timm Fujii, Joey