Nick, played by Michael Douglas, is a New York City cop riding his motorcycle on his way to work. He meets his police partner Charlie, played by Andy Garcia, at the station. They both been given the task by their superior to escort a Japanese assassin named Sato, played by Yusaku Matsuda, back to Osaka, Japan.

The flight is smooth and peaceful and as the plane lands, Nick and Charlie are greeted by two Japanese officers. Nick and Charlie handed over Sato to the Japanese officers. Five to ten minutes later, another set of Japanese officers arrive at the plane to pick up Sato and turn him over to the Japanese authorities. Nick and Charlie are stunned and then they realize that the first set of Japanese officers weren't the real police, but were in fact Sato's men helping Sato to NOT serve any "time" at all. Sato makes a clever escape.

Humiliated, Nick and Charlie are greeted by a real Japanese officer named Masahiro, played by Ken Takakura. He escorts them to the Japanese police department. There Nick and Charlie find out quickly that the Japanese police department operates differently from the New York City police department. Nick and Masahiro immediately clash against each other. However, Charlie tries to keep the peace between the two. On their own, Charlie and Nick go to a drug warehouse of Sato's and find not only drugs, but a counterfeiting operation as well. They tell the head of the Japanese police who was more interested in whether they used correct police procedures rather than what was found. They told Masahiro about their "find" as well, but he was not interested nor impressed by what they found. The scene now takes you to a Japanese bar and karaoke where Nick and Charlie decide to go to relax and have fun. They see Masahiro who is sitting at a table by himself. Charlie invites Masahiro to their table and he joins them. Nick is still furious with Masahiro and yells at him and eventually leaves the table. Charlie, bewildered about Nick, leaves and tells Masahiro to stay with him. Charlie offers Masahiro a tie and the two become fast friends. They end the dinner by both of them singing karaoke on stage. Meanwhile, Nick walks around the bar and meets up with an American woman named Joyce, played by Kate Capshaw. Nick asks her about information on Sato. Joyce gives Nick a few hints and leaves. Nick joins Charlie and they both leave the nightclub.

As Nick and Charlie are walking along the streets of Osaka, a motorcycle gang appears and takes Charlie's coat. As Charlie chases them, the motorcycle gang encircles him. Nick blocked by a fence, watches helplessly as the motorcycle gang encloses on Charlie. One of them reveals himself and it's Sato. Sato driving his motorcycle with a sword kills Charlie by beheading him. Nick, grieving for Charlie, is met by Joyce and both of them go to her apartment. Masahiro knowing about Charlie's death visits Nick at Joyce's apartment. Masahiro give Nick Charlie's belongings and then leaves. Nick later ask Joyce for help in finding Sato. A Yakuza conflict is going on between two men fighting for leadership. Sato and Sugi, played by Tomisaburo Wakayama. They each have one side of the pair of a counterfeit plate of a $100 bill. They come to an agreement to meet to give Sugi both plates. Earlier, Nick playing a double agent talks with Sugi and offers to take Sato "out of the picture" for him. Sugi agrees and as Sato visit's the Yakuza council at a private location, Nick waits in the forest for the time to strike.

Nick has some unexpected company when Masahiro arrives and offers his help. The peaceful meeting turns out to be a farce, when Nick and Masahiro are in the center of a raging, brutal gangland battle between Sugi's men and Sato's men. Sato escapes and Nick chases him and they both have their own private battle. Nick is the winner and both Nick and Masahiro take Sato to Be turned over to Japanese authorities. Nick and Masahiro are awarded at a Japanese ceremony where Joyce is in attendance. As Nick about to board his plane back to New York, both Nick and Masahiro exchange gifts. Masahiro discovers that under his shirt is both the $100 bill plates. He shakes his head at Nick as Nick is leaving and boarding his plane.