Joe Barrett arrives in Tokyo after the war, intending to re-open his club, Tokyo Joe's. Although it is illegal to operate a gambling club in American-occupied Japan, Joe makes a trip to the off-limits club, which is currently managed by his Japanese partner, Ito. After Ito tells Joe that Trina, his Russian wife, did not die during the war, Joe rushes to her house, where he learns that she divorced him during the war and is now married to American lawyer Mark Landis. Joe, who is still in love with Trina, vows to get her back, and to this end, applies for an airline franchise, which would allow him to stay in Japan after his visitor's visa expires. Learning that Joe's application will take a long time to process, Ito introduces him to Baron Kimura, a gangster, who agrees to pressure Landis in exchange for a partnership in the airline. Later, in response to Joe's questions, Trina reveals that unknown to Landis, she worked for the Japanese during the war in order to protect her baby. Thus, Joe learns that he has a daughter, Anya. Not wishing to hurt his child or ruin her stepfather's career by revealing Trina's past, Joe speaks directly to Landis, who willingly agrees to help Joe obtain the necessary permits. Although Joe and Ito believe Kimura is shipping something illegal on their planes, they have no proof. One day, Kimura orders Joe to fly to Seoul, Korea, to pick up a load of antique pottery, and along with the pottery, the pilots transport a Japanese stranger. Later, Landis learns about Trina's past and turns her in to the authorities, planning to clear her name. The American authorities then tell Joe that "Kamikazi," his Japanese pilot, is an American agent who has learned that Kimura plans to smuggle Japanese war criminals back into the country to organize an anti-American Communist movement. The authorities ask Joe to deliver the criminals to them. Suspecting that Joe may not be trustworthy, Kimura kidnaps Anya with the help of her nanny, who works for him. Meanwhile, the Japanese take over the controls of the plane and land at a small airport. After they disable Joe's plane and set it on fire, the Japanese are surrounded and captured by waiting American soldiers, who have been dispersed to every airfield in the vicinity. Anya is still missing, however, and the Japanese refuse to reveal her whereabouts. Joe then discovers Ito, who has begun to commit sepuku, a traditional Japanese form of suicide. Before Ito dies, he tells Joe that Anya is in the neighboring cellar. While soldiers surround the area, Joe goes into the cellar alone and overcomes Kimura and his men. He is able to rescue Anya, but is fatally wounded in the struggle.