Mrs. Jacoby, a Brooklyn widow whose only son was killed by the Japanese in World War II, reluctantly agrees to accompany her daughter, Alice, and her son-in-law, Jerry Black, on a trip to Japan, where Jerry is to help negotiate a trade agreement. En route by ship, Mrs. Jacoby's resentment of the Japanese subsides when she meets Mr. Asano, a Japanese industrialist whose family also was struck by tragedy during the war. Their friendship ends, however, when Jerry suspects that Mr. Asano, who is also a negotiating member of the trade committee, is ingratiating himself with his mother-in-law for political gain. Although Mrs. Jacoby considers this suspicion unfounded, she refuses to see Mr. Asano on their last night at sea. Once in Japan, Jerry unintentionally offends Mr. Asano, and the conference meetings are terminated. Mrs. Jacoby slips away and visits Mr. Asano at his home. After a delightful evening, he agrees to resume negotiations. When things are satisfactorily settled and the three Americans are preparing to leave, Mrs. Jacoby is startled by a marriage proposal from Mr. Asano. She is also angered by the bigoted reaction of Alice and Jerry. However, her main reason for declining the offer is because she feels that both she and Mr. Asano are still tied to their memories. Months later, Mr. Asano arrives in New York as a delegate to the United Nations. He renews his acquaintance with Mrs. Jacoby, who is now happy to accept his courtship.
