Screenplay by Mark Kaneshige – In development at Little Studio Films

After the murder of her husband, country-girl Keiko Toguchi unwillingly takes over his position as crime boss of the most powerful Yakuza family.  Her compassionate and trusting nature does not bode well with other members of the Yakuza, making her a likely target for another such assassination.  Sho Hamasaki, a mid-40’s, serious, battle-worn lieutenant of the family – and best friend of Keiko’s slain husband – takes it upon himself to offer her guidance and support.  But while protecting her from enemies both inside and outside the organization, Sho has to deal with his own growing feelings for Keiko.  As time wears on, Sho and Keiko must teach each other values necessary for them both to be happy…and to survive.

SYNOPSIS:
HIDEO TOGUCHI, a mid-40’s, well-refined man as well oyabun(boss) of the Toguchi-gumi, is maliciously murdered by assassins. News of his murder spreads quickly throughout the underworld and eventually finds its way to a small farm on the outskirts of the city. There we find his wife, KEIKO TOGUCHI, an early 40’s, pretty woman, and their son KENTARO leading a perfectly normal life. Keeping them company, as well as watching over them, is SHO YAMAGUCHI, a mid-40’s, serious, battle worn-lieutenant of Toguchi-gumi and best friend of Hideo.

With their leader gone, chaos will surely ensue within the Toguchi organization. Sho immediately heads back to ensure that order is maintained throughout this unexpected tragedy. Retaliation against any rival yakuza family must take a back seat in order to establish new leadership. But the protocol for appointing a new leader is only done by the oyabun and his untimely death puts a big kink in that. So they must follow tradition; and it states that his wife, Keiko, assumes the leadership position. Obviously, there is dissention amongst the ranking members of the organization towards this idea but Sho makes them abide by this long standing code.

Thus Keiko is ripped from her quiet, simple lifestyle and unwillingly placed in her dead husband’s position as crime boss of the most powerful Yakuza family. She becomes a fish out of water in this seedy new world and her compassionate and trusting nature does not bode well with other members of the Toguchi-gumi. With Keiko as their new leader, members feel that the organization will be perceived as weak and vulnerable to outside attacks.

Jealousy is also a cause for concern because it runs rampant amongst the wives of the Toguchi members. Especially for one in particular…MICHIKO KODAMA, a mid-40’s headstrong and very ambitious woman who takes it upon herself to make sure Keiko doesn’t last long as the Toguchi-gumi leader.

Rival Yakuza families, as well as several Toguchi-gumi members, make several assassination attempts on Keiko’s life but to no avail. This is all due in part to Sho’s diligent protection.

Through her tenure as oyabun, Sho stays by Keiko’s side for guidance and support and instills in her the confidence that it takes to be an oyabun. In turn, Keiko helps Sho learn his true potential as a Toguchi member and as a man. Along the way while protecting her from enemies both inside and outside the organization Sho and Keiko have to deal with their growing feelings for each other. As time wears on, they must teach each other values necessary for them both to be happy–and to survive.

In the end, Keiko must choose her destiny…to resume her life back on the farm or to be leader of Toguchi-gumi.

For Love or Honour is an action thriller with romance at the center of it all; it’s The Godfather, Love Story and The Bodyguard all rolled into one. A country girl must take the helm of a yakuza family with her friend, who’s a yakuza lieutenant, by her side; together they rely on each other through life-threatening odds. In the end the pair, despite their opposite backgrounds, share a bond that cannot be broken and a love that can’t be ignored.