Retired detective Harry Kilmer (Robert Mitchum) is called upon by an old friend, George Tanner (Brian Keith). Tanner has been doing business with a yakuza gangster, Tono (Eiji Okada), who has kidnapped Tanner's daughter to apply pressure in a business deal involving the sale of guns. Tanner hopes that Kilmer can rescue the girl using his Japanese connections.Tanner and Kilmer had been Marine MPs and friends in Tokyo during the post-war occupation. Kilmer became aware of a woman, Eiko (Keiko Kishi), who was involved in the black market so that she could procure penicillin for her sick daughter. Kilmer intervened on behalf of Eiko during a skirmish, saving her life. After they'd been living together, with Kilmer repeatedly asking Eiko to marry him, her brother (secretly her husband) Ken (Ken Takakura) returned from an island where he'd been stranded as an Imperial Japanese soldier. Both outraged that she was living with his former enemy and deeply indebted to Kilmer for saving the lives of his (apparently) only remaining family, Ken disappeared into the yakuza criminal underground and refused to see or speak to his sister. Eiko, cautious to do nothing to offend Ken further, broke off contact with Kilmer. Before returning to the US, Kilmer bought Eiko a bar (with money borrowed from George Tanner) which she operates to this day, named Kilmer House in his honor. Kilmer has never stopped loving her.Ken's debt to Kilmer, giri, is a lifelong obligation that traditionally can never be repaid. Tanner believes that Ken would therefore do anything for Kilmer, including rescuing Tanner's daughter. Traveling to Tokyo with Tanner's bodyguard Dusty (Richard Jordan), they stay at the home of another old military buddy named Oliver Wheat (Herb Edelman). Kilmer visits Eiko at the bar's closing time, seeking to find Ken. Eiko's feelings for Kilmer are clearly as strong as ever. He also becomes reacquainted with Eiko's daughter, Hanako, who is delighted to see Kilmer again. Eiko tells Kilmer that her brother can be found at his kendo school in Kyoto.Kilmer travels by train to visit Ken at his kendo school. Ken is no longer a yakuza member, but will still help Kilmer. They find and free the girl. In so doing, Ken "takes up the sword" once again, using it on one of Tono's men. This is an inexcusable intrusion by Ken in yakuza affairs. Contracts on both Ken's and Kilmer's lives are issued. Kilmer resists leaving until the danger to Ken can be resolved. Eiko suggests he see Ken's brother, a high-level legal counselor to the yakuza chiefs. Goro (James Shigeta) is unable to intercede due to his impartial role in yakuza society, but suggests Ken can remove the death threat by killing Tono with a sword. The only alternative is for Kilmer to kill Tono himself, by any means (as an outsider, he is not bound to use a sword). Because Kilmer is known to Goro as an unusual gaijin who understands and accepts Japanese values, he proposes that Kilmer now has an obligation to Ken.After a failed attempt on Kilmer's life, he learns that his old friend Tanner has taken out the contract on him. Tanner secretly is broke and owes Tono a huge debt. Dusty discloses that Tanner and Tono are business partners. During a violent attack on Ken and Kilmer in Oliver Wheat's house, Dusty is killed with a sword and Eiko's daughter, Hanako, is shot and killed.Seeking advice again from Ken's brother, Goro advises them that they have no choice but to assassinate Tanner and Tono. This will embarrass the partners in the eyes of the yakuza. Goro discloses that he has a "wayward son" who has joined Tono's clan and asks that Ken protect him should he be caught in the battle. In private, Goro then discloses the shocking family secret to Kilmer that Eiko is not Ken's sister but his wife, and Hanako their only child. Kilmer comprehends the true meaning of Eiko and Ken's rift, and Ken's anguish at the death of Hanako, all brought about by his repeated intercessions in their lives.Kilmer finds and kills Tanner, then joins Ken for a near-suicidal attack on Tono's residence. During a prolonged battle, after Ken kills Tono in the traditional way with a katana, Goro's son attacks them and Ken kills him in self-defense. Bearing the news to his brother, Ken moves to commit Seppuku, but his brother pleads with his brother not to bring more anguish to their family. Instead, Ken performs yubitsume (the ceremonial yakuza apology by cutting off one's little finger). After Ken excuses himself, Goro compliments Kilmer on his adherence to Japanese traditions, and dedication to his family.Before leaving Japan, Kilmer visits with Ken at home and asks to speak to him formally. While Ken prepares tea, Kilmer quietly commits yubitsume, and when Ken enters the room, waits for him to be seated. Sliding the folded handkerchief that contains his finger to Ken, he says "please accept this token of my apology" for "bringing great pain into your life, both in the past and in the present." Ken accepts, and Kilmer asks that "if you can forgive me, then you can forgive Eiko," adding, "you are greatly loved and respected by all your family." Ken professes that "no man has a greater friend than Kilmer-san," and Kilmer, overcome by emotion, says the same of Ken. Their obligations now apparently resolved, Ken takes Kilmer to the airport, and both men bow formally to each other before parting forever.
Question: Where did Ken disappear ?, Answer: Ken disappeared into the yakuza criminal underground Question: Who is Tanner's bodyguard?, Answer: Dusty Question: Where did Ken return from?, Answer: Ken returned from an island where he'd been stranded as an Imperial Japanese soldier Question: Who does Kilmer visit with?, Answer: Ken Question: Who is Dusty?, Answer: Tanner's bodyguard Question: What did Kimer buy Eiko before returning to the US ?, Answer: Before returning to the US, Kilmer bought Eiko a bar Question: Who believes that Ken would do anything for Kilmer?, Answer: Tanner Question: Who are they going to asssinate?, Answer: Tanner and Tono Question: What did Goro disclose that he had?, Answer: wayward son Question: Who has feelings for Kilmer?, Answer: Eiko Question: How does Kilmer travel to meet Ken?, Answer: By train Question: Who was not Ken's sister but his wife?, Answer: Eiko Question: Who else does Kilmer ask for Ken to forgive?, Answer: Eiko Question: Who does Kilmer visit before leaving Japan?, Answer: Ken Question: What did this do to the partners in the eyes of Yakuza?, Answer: assassinate Question: Why did Eiko break off contact with Kilmer ?, Answer: Eiko not to offend Ken further, broke off contact with Kilmer. Question: In what country does the movie take place?, Answer: Tokyo Question: How does Ken kill Tono?, Answer: Katana Question: Goro sought advice from whom?, Answer: Ken's brother Question: Who is Ken's brother?, Answer: A high-level legal counselor to the yakuza chiefs Question: Who does Tanner owe a debt to?, Answer: Tono Question: Why was Eiko involved in the black market ?, Answer: <No Answer> Question: What did Ken's brother advise to do to Tanner and Tono?, Answer: assassinate Question: What does Kilmer travel by?, Answer: Train Question: What kind of school does Ken attend?, Answer: A kendo school Question: How do Tanner and Kilmer know each other?, Answer: old friends Question: What do the men do before parting?, Answer: Bow Question: Who has been kidnapped by the yakuza gangster?, Answer: Tanner's daughter Question: What is in the handkerchief that Kilmer gives Ken?, Answer: Finger Question: Who's daughter needs to be rescued?, Answer: Tanner's Question: How are Eiko and Hanako related?, Answer: Mother and daughter Question: Where does Ken take Kilmer?, Answer: To the airport Question: What must Ken use to kill?, Answer: Sword Question: Who can Ken kill to remove the death threat?, Answer: Tono Question: Who saves Eiko's life?, Answer: Kilmer Question: What does Goro ask Ken to do in regards to his son?, Answer: Protect him Question: What happened to Hanako?, Answer: Died Question: Who is the actor who portrays Goro?, Answer: James Shigeta Question: What does Kilmer slide to Ken?, Answer: A Handkerchief Question: What is the relationship between Kilmer and Tanner ?, Answer: Tanner and Kilmer had been Marine MPs and friends in Tokyo during the post-war occupation. Question: Who does Kilmer kill?, Answer: Tanner Question: Who does Kilmer learn took a contract out on him?, Answer: Tanner Question: What does Ken take up again?, Answer: The sword Question: What does Ken prepare?, Answer: Tea Question: Who is Eiko's daughter?, Answer: Hanako Question: The wayward son would be protected by whom should he be caught in the battle?, Answer: Ken Question: Where is Eiko's brother at?, Answer: School in Kyoto Question: What was Ken a member of?, Answer: Yakuza Question: Who plays Eiko?, Answer: Keiko Kishi Question: Who is the old military buddy Ken and Dusty stay with?, Answer: Oliver Wheat