The year is 2006. Global recession is spreading and Japan is sunk in economic and social crisis. While Japan is weakening, China is growing ever stronger. A secret group headed by an aged war hero plots to destabilize relations between Japan and the United States in order to strengthen China's position in Asia and ultimately to achieve world hegemony.

Once considered one of the safest cities in the world, Tokyo is plagued by a rising crime rate, regular security alerts, and increased homelessness and poverty. Riding on an unprecedented wave of popular opinion and political support, ultranationalist celebrity politician Tsuyoshi Nozawa campaigns to break the military alliance with the U.S. and make Japan a nuclear power.

While closely following Nozawa's progress, journalist Martine Meyer receives mysterious emails predicting fatal "accidents" and begins to suspect a conspiracy. As she struggles to deal with a pompous new bureau chief and begins to realize that her love affair with microbrewery owner Makoto is on the verge of either blossoming or wilting, Martine finds herself drawn into a sinister web of events that lead her ultimately face-to-face with the barrel of a terrorist's gun.