detective ichiro matsumoto. i'm the man you're looking for.
the man you are looking for, kobo, was a member of the samaguchi-gummi. a yakuza.
where would you look for the mafia?
the mayor's office, under the bed, the back room at lombardi's. and call me ich.
"goodness, gracious, great balls of fire." to the killer. jerry lee lewis.
no, this is the place for the young yakuza.
i love you people. the music, the clothes, the movies.  japanese respect only what is japanese.
americans change everything. when i was young the city was wood and paper.  i was ten when the bombers came. i lived underground for three days. when i came up, the city was gone.  a ball of fire.
it began to rain, nick. you know what color the rain was?
black.  it was black from the ash. very impressive. you americans, you could make black rain.
squid?
ah, joyce.  how are you tonight?
you should be nicer to my american friends, joyce.
joyce can be nice.
that i should let you pay for the drinks. kampai.
 we got to keep looking. track him down! great balls of fire!
ah, joyce.
see you tomorrow!
nick!
it's ichiro. ich.
there's been a murder. yakuza. you should come.
kobo's a wild boy. he was a lieutenant in the sammaguchi-gummi.
well, sir. thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with these distinguished gentlemen.
i don't deserve ohashi's respect.
i don't, that's all.
cool?
what does charlie mean?
nick!
following in his wake. he bows and apologizes to the offended.
seated at a low table looking at him from across the room.
they made you leave your hotel.  .  you caused a disturbance.
it may be too soon to talk about it. when someone we care for dies we.  .  keep something of their's. a tie, a pen.
i couldn't keep up. my shame is complete.
you must leave?
i'll get him for you, nick.
ich watching nick through the window from inside his apartment. he glances back and sees charlie's "members only" coat hanging on a hook.
nicklaus-san.
i've continued working on the case!
joyce.  a drink please. kobo has disappeared. my superiors don't trust me.
kobo's. taken off him when he was arrested in new york.
i knew you'd come back. you feel you have a debt you can never pay. but you will, even if it costs you your life. giri. honor.
i stole them.
partners, nicklaus-san?
we can ask someone i used to work with. a criminal. someone i pay money to.
he says they're very nice. he wants to know if you have anymore.
i'll ask him again.
nick, stop.
this man must be treated with respect.
he's sure.
nick, no one's seen kobo in three days. he might not even be in tokyo.
slurping his noodles. it is considered polite to slurp soba noodles as loud as possible.
it's good manners.
you said you could keep up with her! 'no problem, nick-san.'
nick.
there she is!
you dislike me.
you toler -- yes, tolerate me.
i'm a joke. they sent you to me to make a fool of you.
sure.
you can't do this.
nick.
too bad it's not in yen.
work, lunch, groceries, laundry.  fabulous.
we'll get him, joyce.
chikuwa, hampen, kobu, konnayaku, ganmodoki --
broiled fish paste cake, kelp roll, soybean curd, devils tongue --
yakuza.
you were too far behind.
don't say anything more. don't do anything. and, for christ's sake, don't apologize!
nicklaus-san!
you can't come in. they don't want --
i'll check it out.
you can trust me.
let me up.
i have to piss, gentlemen.  i'm so sorry but i have to --
i'm not drunk.
nick --
you shut-up! kobo is inside. he's with sugai, the head of the summaguchi-clan.
 a godfather. his man was killed at the printing plant.
not without a small army, nicklaus- san.
san is an honorable title.
nick?!
nick!
nick, stop!
a resort city, beppu.
what? why?
he'll never speak to a gaiijin.
it's very small.
it's illegal, nick.
sugai's not going to be impressed with your gun, nick. no. i won't put myself in danger for you anymore.
carrying a gift wrapped package under his arm. he's wearing his hat, blue suit and tie.
for sugai. caviar, french cheese, ham.  if you come to apologize for interrupting his meeting, sugai may feel obligated to see you.
no.
nick, you can't do this.
no.
you don't know what you're doing.
i can't.
kampai.
i called ohashi, he'll be waiting. i like him waiting.
needs ice.
i'll tell you one thing. you can't solve a thing sitting on your ass.
i followed them. an hour from the train station.
i couldn't tell.
i don't know.
rest.
someone attacked him.
thank you. you have one?
i'm sorry.
luck.
you know, nick, we can't lose.
because we're the biggest things to hit this town since godzilla.
stands his ground as the bike closes in. the biker takes aim.
what are you going to do?
appears behind kobo and takes him down with an amazing display of baton work that shows a lifetime of training.
yes.
walking toward him down the long aisle, his left arm is bandaged, his right hand handcuffed to kobo on crutches.
stops in front of the desk and snaps to attention.
constable ichiro matsumoto presents captured prisoner kobo, chief inspector ohashi.
you can do it.
louder, pal, louder.
sitting at a desk, thumbing through a frommer's guide to new york city. nick drops one of the vests on the desk. it lands like a ton of bricks. ich continues to read.
you wouldn't make it without me.
think we'll get him, nick?
how can you be so sure?