The Journalist's Children

Linda Hara is a foreign correspondentbased in Asia and has spent thirtyyears being shot at, tear gassed andstoned. Her prize winning work aboutJapan has earned her a lucrativebook deal letting Linda retire inluxury, but she almost dies in anunforeseen midlife crisis, whichsensitizes Linda to what shesmissed in lifea family of herown. Several colleagues haveadopted Japanese children, andshe tries to do so only to beforced to face her own troubledpast. No sooner is a two-year-oldgirl, Aiko, placed with Linda, thanthe girls grandmother, Haruko,tries to get Aiko back. During theJapanese economic bubble, Harukowas one of the worlds wealthiestwoman, and she enlists the help ofKato Keikichi, powerful head of theKato Foundation. Linda gives up herbook deal and leaves Japan, brokebut not broken, escaping with Aikoto America. Linda now intends toadopt Aiko under Illinois law, whichJapanese courts will recognize, thuscircumventing the grandmother, whoLinda learns is severely demented.Unfortunately, Linda needs the help ofher estranged father, Dr. Art Schneider,a veteran of the Battle of Okinawaand virulently anti-Japanese. Theinfluential Kato recruits AkagiharaGyo, a muckraking journalist, to trackLinda down forcing her and Aiko backto Japan to fight for the destiny of thelittle girl. The conniving Kato hashis own conspiracy underway andwill hesitate at nothing, includingmurder, to assure Aiko is returned toher real family.