1. Someone falls victim to a horrible murder in a U.S city. The solution lies in a cryptic message written on: a samurai sword; a Satsuma vase; a netsuke; an ancient scroll; a jade amulet; or an Astro-Boy comic book.

2. Knowing nothing about Asia and speaking not one word of Japanese, the hero heads for Haneda (if before 1977) or Narita (if after 1977) to investigate the murder.

3. He calls on the U.S. Embassy and is given a full briefing by the CIA station chief, at which he is warned to beware of the powerful Mr. X, who oversees a.) a huge manufacturing conglomerate; b.) a huge trading conglomerate; or c.) a huge crime syndicate.