| Director | Étienne Périer |
|---|---|
| Budget | $100,000 |
Gwen Harold, an American woman from Tennessee, meets Hidenari Terasaki (called Terry by his friends and family), the secretary to the Japanese ambassador, while attending a reception at the Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C. They begin dating and quickly fall in love, and when Terry proposes marriage, she cheerily agrees. After hearing of the engagement, the Japanese ambassador attempts to dissuade Gwen, claiming that the marriage would hurt Terry's career. Gwen reluctantly tries to distance herself from Terry, but Terry defies the ambassador and the marriage takes place.
Terry is recalled to Japan and Gwen accompanies him. In Tokyo, Terry begins to treat Gwen much differently, expecting her to behave according to Japanese customs, many of which involve strict deference to men. However, Gwen bristles and defiantly expresses her feelings about the subservient role of women to Terry, but she continues to try to assimilate into the culture. She soon reveals that she is pregnant and gives birth to a daughter named Mako.
By November 1941, Terry has been reassigned to the American embassy and the family relocates to the U.S. Terry, who opposes violence, fails in a desperate measure to cable the president in order to preserve the peace. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Terry is deported and Gwen decides to accompany him back to Japan despite the potential danger. While there, Gwen experiences fervent anti-American hatred. Terry attempts to be a mediator for peace, which places him at odds with prevailing sentiment. Soldiers raid the house and it is clear that the Terasakis will endure more hostility if they remain in Tokyo. They agree to stay at a friend's empty house outside of the city.
With Gwen and Mako in the country home, Terry returns to Tokyo. He offers to arrange her passage back to the U.S. where she will be safe, but she refuses, wanting to be close to her husband. As the war turns against Japan, food is scarce and Gwen's nerves are increasingly frayed as the violence of the war draws near. During an American air raid on the town, a young girl near Mako is killed, but Mako is unharmed. One day, the entire village gathers to listen to the emperor's radio address declaring the Japanese surrender.
With the war over, Terry urges Gwen to return to Tennessee to expose Mako to American life, but Gwen refuses to leave him. One day, she sees Terry, who has been ill, standing over his parents' graves. She senses that he knows he will die soon. She confirms the bad news with Terry's friend. Days later, after Gwen agrees to return to the U.S. with Mako, she embraces Terry at the dock, knowing that she will never see him again.