A New York City cop (Michael Douglas) and his partner (Andy Garcia) must escort a murdering Japanese mobster to a jail in his homeland; he escapes, though, when they land on his turf. A Japanese detective (Ken Takakura) is assigned to help them recapture the prisoner, but friction between Eastern and Western approaches to law enforcement slows their progress. To make matters worse, a blonde expatriate (Kate Capshaw) keeps popping up uninvited.