Plot

Sei Fujii is a crusading reporter for a newspaper in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo section in 1935. He is concerned that the exploitation of the poor by local gambling concerns will not only hurt the community directly, but will also sabotage the efforts to make the rest of Los Angeles accept the Japanese of Little Tokyo as loyal and trustworthy Americans. Fujii sets out to bring the power of the press to play against the gambling houses.—Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

1935 Los Angeles, community leader Sei Fujii uncovers the corrupt activities of his community's underground mafia. He must choose between saving the face of his deteriorating community and confronting the issues head on through his newspaper. Based on a true story.—Lil Tokyo Reporter Film LLC

In 1935 Los Angeles, the thriving Japanese American community of Little Tokyo celebrates their first annual Nisei Japanese Festival. Newspaper publisher Sei Fujii (Chris Tashima) promotes their accomplishments, interviewing the Nisei Week Queen (Lani Nishiyama) on his weekly radio program. Later that night, Fujii's friend and law partner J. Marion Wright (Sewell Whitney) brings to Fujiis attention a group of thugs running a local gambling hall, the Tokyo Club, who take advantage immigrant farmers. Wright urges Fujii to investigate. Fujii is reluctant to stir controversy.

Inside the Tokyo Club, crime lord Yamada (Ikuma Ando) meets with his henchmen, a Japanese Hoodlum (Hiro Matsunaga), Hawaiian Hoodlum (Garret Sato), and former club owner, Mr. Sato (Eijiro Ozaki). Yamada tells his men they need to behave like gentlemen, and he chastises Mr. Sato for being a drunk.

In her bookstore, Mrs. Sato (Keiko Agena) reads a Japanese fairytale to a group of young children. She later meets with Fujii over lunch, praising him for his civic accomplishments. Mrs. Sato sees Fujii eying her wedding ring, and tries to ease the awkward moment by encouraging him to find a single woman. Fujii excuses himself, but not before Mrs. Sato presents him with a gift of a sake bottle of her husband's, from the Tokyo Club.

Fujii is intrigued and decides to visit the club that evening. Mr. Sato greets him at the door, and seats him at a table. Fujii takes in all the action in the smoke-filled den, where men are being entertained with gambling, drinking and hostesses. Off in a corner, Yamada sees Fujii, and asks Mr. Sato about him. Mr. Sato brings drinks to Fujii's table, and joins him. Fujii talks with Mr. Sato, learning he is unhappy and drinks to escape. A drunk Toru (Eric Fehmel-Noda), causes a commotion. He is threatened by Yamada's Hoodlums, who start to drag him outside. Fujii steps in to save him. Yamada takes the opportunity to pressure the newspaper man to only write "Good news" about the club.

Fujii takes Toru back to his office, where Toru tells him about the club and all the criminal activity going on. Fujii feels it is his duty to expose it all, putting it on the front page of the next day's paper. A Police Detective (Michael Marinaccio), with newspaper in hand, confronts Yamada at the club. Yamada is furious and tells his henchmen to silence Fujii. That night, they vandalize Fujii's office. When Fujii finds his workplace in ruin, he discovers a note from the Hoodlums, letting him know they're responsible. In despair, Fujii drinks.

Later, as Fujii leaves his office he is met outside by the Japanese Hoodlum who shoots Fujii in the neck. They struggle. Yamada steps out of the shadows and strangles Fujii with a garrote wire. Fujii falls to the sidewalk, appearing lifeless.

6 weeks later... The Hoodlums extort and harass a Manju Shop Owner (Talbott Lin) and other Little Tokyo merchants. Mr. Sato, though reaping financial benefits, is troubled.

At the Japanese Hospital, Fujii emerges, aided by Wright and Toru. For the first time since his assassination attempt he addresses the public, on his radio program. In an impassioned speech he pledges to continue to fight for Little Tokyo. The community is moved by his words, and so is Mr. Sato, who turns himself in to the police. Fujii returns to writing for his paper. Aided with information from Mr. Sato, the police raid the Tokyo Club, nabbing Yamada. The gambling hall is shut down and order and prosperity return to Little Tokyo.