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Crime comedy

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991): Cast, Box Office & Plot

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) movie poster

Showdown in Little Tokyo is a 1991 crime comedy directed by Mark L. Lester, starring Susan E. Cox as Mrs. Kenner, Brandon Lee and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. It runs 1 hour 19 minutes and earned $2.3 million worldwide.

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Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 19m (79 min)
Director
Mark L. Lester
Genres
Crime , Action , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Showdown in Little Tokyo About?

The premise of Showdown in Little Tokyo without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

An American raised in Japan, police officer Chris Kenner works the Little Tokyo precinct of Los Angeles, partnered with Japanese‑American detective Johnny Murata, who feels detached from his heritage. Both are martial‑arts masters and must confront Yoshida, a brutal yakuza drug lord linked to Kenner’s past. High‑octane fights test loyalties.

Showdown in Little Tokyo Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • yakuza
  • detective
  • japanese american
  • little tokyo
  • violence
  • machismo
  • maverick cop
  • breasts
  • sex scene
  • one man army
  • hand to hand combat
  • buddy cop
+38 more
  • two man army
  • bare chested male
  • electric torture
  • hot tub
  • electrocution
  • katana sword
  • sword fight
  • organized crime
  • decapitation
  • personal vendetta
  • asian american
  • buttocks
  • attempted suicide
  • woman on top
  • male frontal nudity
  • male full frontal nudity
  • pubic hair
  • male pubic hair
  • man tied up
  • man in socks
  • electroshock
  • bare chested male bondage
  • man in stocking feet
  • men in stocking feet
  • man admiring another man's penis
  • stealth ejaculation
  • belly flop
  • unrequited love
  • lifting someone into the air
  • nude asian woman
  • low budget
  • b action
  • female full frontal nudity
  • female rear nudity
  • topless woman
  • katana
  • tied up
  • martial arts action
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Cast & crew

Showdown in Little Tokyo Cast & Characters

Susan E. Cox leads the cast as Mrs. Kenner, with Brandon Lee as Johnny Murata and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Yoshida. Directed by Mark L. Lester; 44 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Showdown in Little Tokyo

· 40 more
Show all 44 cast members
Plot

Showdown in Little Tokyo Plot Summary

What happens in Showdown in Little Tokyo from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Detective Kenner, Dolph Lundgren, is an American cop raised in Japan. His new partner, Johnny Murata, Brandon Lee, is an American of partial Japanese descent. Kenner does not appreciate American culture, while Murata doesn’t care much for Japanese culture, but both are skilled martial artists who share a deep proficiency in hand-to-hand combat. They are assigned to Little Tokyo, where they break up criminal activity in a Japanese restaurant and secure an arrest. While questioning the suspect, Kenner notices tattoos of the Iron Claw yakuza clan, a grim reminder of a childhood memory when he witnessed his parents being killed by a yakuza member. Before any interrogation can proceed, the suspect kills himself by breaking his own neck, leaving a chilling impression on the pair.

Full summary

The whole story of Showdown in Little Tokyo, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Showdown in Little Tokyo Box Office

Showdown in Little Tokyo grossed $2.3 million worldwide.

1991 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.3M

US & Canada
$2.3M
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Showdown in Little Tokyo?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

Which two actors play the main detective partners in the film?

Cars

Cars in Showdown in Little Tokyo

36 cars on screen, including the 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and the 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria.

All 36 cars
  • 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 in Showdown in Little Tokyo 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Important role
  • 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria in Showdown in Little Tokyo 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Important role
  • 1963 Ford Thunderbird in Showdown in Little Tokyo 1963 Ford Thunderbird Important role
  • 1973 GMC C-Series in Showdown in Little Tokyo 1973 GMC C-Series Important role
Details

Showdown in Little Tokyo Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “Les Justiciers de Little Tokyo” and “リトルトウキョー殺人課”.

Also known as
  • Les Justiciers de Little Tokyo
  • リトルトウキョー殺人課
  • 殺戮都市
  • Massacre no Bairro Japonês
  • Masacre en el barrio japonés
  • 都市狂龙
  • Resa dei conti a Little Tokyo
  • Dans les griffes du dragon rouge
  • Little Tokyo: Ataque Frontal
  • Разборки в маленьком Токио
  • Leszámolás Kis-Tokióban
  • Fúria no Bairro Japonês
+12 more
  • Σκληρή αναμέτρηση στο μικρό Τόκιο
  • צמד לעניין
  • Zúčtování v Malém Tokiu
  • 浴血蛟龙
  • Küçük Tokyo Harekatı
  • Конфликт в Малко Токио
  • Kautynės mažajame Tokijuje
  • 리틀 도쿄
  • Ostry Poker w Małym Tokio
  • Zúčtovanie v malom Tokiu
  • Розбірки у маленькому Токіо
  • หนุ่มฟ้าแลบกับแสบสะเทิน

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FAQ

Showdown in Little Tokyo FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Showdown in Little Tokyo, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Showdown in Little Tokyo?

Showdown in Little Tokyo runs 1 hour 19 minutes (79 minutes).

When was Showdown in Little Tokyo released?

Showdown in Little Tokyo was released on August 23, 1991.

Who directed Showdown in Little Tokyo?

Showdown in Little Tokyo was directed by Mark L. Lester.

More films by Mark L. Lester

Who is in the cast of Showdown in Little Tokyo?

Showdown in Little Tokyo stars Susan E. Cox as Mrs. Kenner, Brandon Lee as Johnny Murata and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Yoshida, among 44 credited actors.

How much did Showdown in Little Tokyo make at the box office?

Showdown in Little Tokyo grossed $2.3 million worldwide.

Does Showdown in Little Tokyo have a post-credit scene?

No. Showdown in Little Tokyo has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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