In Japan, the sworn brotherhood of the Yakuza is described as being "thicker than the blood of kindred brothers". With his life under threat, disgraced Yakuza hard man Yamamoto escapes to Los Angeles in search of his half-brother Ken, a small-time drug dealer. Unable to speak the language and confused by his surrounding, Yamamoto teams up with Ken and his friend and fellow gang-member Denny. Soon Yamamoto finds himself back in the old routine. His ruthless efficiency in terrorising and killing rival gang members shocks even the blood hardened Americans, and before long Yamamoto's gang is strong enough to join forces with a rival Japanese crime lord called Shirase.



The gang is now too big to be ignored, and they are quickly warned off by the Mafia. Yamamoto realises that there can be no turning back and as events draw towards their inevitable conclusion, the Yakuza learns that only Denny understands the ancient code of the "brotherhood".