The film opens in Kabukicho, Tokyo’s vibrant but dangerous red-light district, where rival Chinese and Japanese gangs vie for control of the area. Amid this chaos is Kenichi Ryuu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a half-Japanese, half-Chinese black market dealer. Kenichi, pragmatic and emotionally detached, survives by staying neutral in the gang wars. However, his mixed heritage isolates him, with locals treating him as an outsider in both Japanese and Chinese circles.
Kenichi’s life takes a dramatic turn when Yuan Chenggui (Eric Tsang), a powerful Chinese gang leader, summons him. Yuan demands Kenichi’s help in locating Fu-chun (Kippei Shiina), Kenichi’s former partner, who fled Kabukicho years ago after killing Yuan’s second-in-command. Fu-chun’s rumored return has thrown the underworld into turmoil, and Yuan is intent on revenge. Despite his reluctance, Kenichi agrees to investigate, aware that refusal could cost him his life.
As Kenichi begins his search, he encounters Natsumi Sato (Mirai Yamamoto), Fu-chun’s mysterious girlfriend. Natsumi reveals that Fu-chun is dead, leaving behind a substantial sum of money that several factions are desperate to recover. Kenichi, suspicious of her motives, reluctantly agrees to help her navigate the treacherous gang rivalries. Their uneasy alliance is marked by tension, mistrust, and an undeniable attraction.
As the plot unfolds, Kenichi uncovers layers of deception. Natsumi’s connection to Fu-chun and the money is far more complex than she initially revealed. Kenichi realizes she is hiding critical information that could shift the balance of power in Kabukicho. Yuan and other gang leaders, including Japanese factions with corrupt police backing, escalate their pursuit of the missing money, leaving a trail of violence and betrayal.
Kenichi’s own past comes under scrutiny as he becomes entangled in the power struggles. Flashbacks reveal his complex relationship with Fu-chun, highlighting their camaraderie and eventual falling out. Fu-chun’s ambition and recklessness had forced Kenichi into compromising situations, leading to their estrangement. This history fuels Kenichi’s internal conflict as he questions his loyalty to a man who betrayed him.
As the tension builds, Kenichi and Natsumi find themselves targeted by assassins, including figures within Yuan’s organization. Their survival depends on their ability to outwit their pursuers, but trust between them remains fragile. In a climactic confrontation, Kenichi discovers that Fu-chun’s supposed death was orchestrated, and Natsumi is more deeply involved than she let on. She had manipulated both Kenichi and the gangs to secure her freedom and the money.
The final act brings Kenichi face-to-face with Yuan and the remaining factions. In a dramatic showdown, Kenichi uses his wit and resourcefulness to outmaneuver his enemies, exposing their greed and corruption. The fight leaves Kabukicho’s power structure shattered, but at a high personal cost to Kenichi.
In the aftermath, Natsumi disappears with the money, leaving Kenichi to reflect on the futility of trust in a world defined by betrayal. The film ends with Kenichi walking alone through Kabukicho, resigned to his solitary existence but hardened by the events that unfolded.
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