John Capablanca finds himself in Tokyo in 1948 with the rank of Major and a slot on MacArthurs staff as Chief of CID (Criminal Investigation Detachment). Capablanca is an ex-NYPD homicide detective and he finds himself in the position of overseeing the operations of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police as they endure the transition of "democratization". Capablancas old boss, Lewis J. Valentine, former NYC Police Commisioner, is on his way to Japan to instruct them in the fine art of democratic police work. Meanwhile and old and wealthy ex-baron has been murdered in a ritualistic crime with political resonances that echo all the way from Sugamo prison to the Emperors palace.
