A Day in Little Tokyo - Plot

On a Saturday morning, Chisato and Shuzo, two Japanese American children, are excited to spend the day at the beach with their parents. However, their father decides to take them to Little Tokyo instead, to watch the sumo matches. Chisato is disappointed, but she tries to make the best of it.

In Little Tokyo, her father finds a place to squeeze the car in on Central Avenue and the father and son walk towards First Street to watch the sumo matches. Chisato stays behind in the car. She is bored and gets out to explore Little Tokyo. She meets two white American men, one with a leg missing, and they give her some coins. After they leave, she wonders if she should have given them money instead, as she had more than they did. She further explores Little Tokyo. She walks past the fish market, a cafe called Far East, a book shop, and a sushi restaurant. She doesn't go in any of these places, but instead continues to walk around. She finds a newspaper stand and buys a newspaper.

She goes back to the car to wait for her father and brother. She tries to read the newspaper, but nothing seems to sink in. She feels sick to her stomach and thinks she shouldn't have taken the money from the two men.

Dusk is just beginning when her father and brother come back. They are in a hurry to get home because it is getting late. Shuzo protests because they were supposed to have dinner in Little Tokyo, but her father says it is too late now. They should go home and eat.

On the way home, they have a car accident. Mr. Kushida swerves to avoid a car coming from the opposite direction and lands up against a lamp post. Shuzo has an enormous lump on his forehead where he banged up against the windshield. Chisato doesn't remember screaming, but someone did.

It is already night when they finally get home. Mrs. Kushida is relieved to see them, but she is also worried because Shuzo has a head injury. Mr. Kushida tells her that it was his fault and they should have gone to the beach.

Chisato knows it is not that simple. She knows it is because she took the pennies from the man with one leg. She feels uncomfortable and guilty.