While stationed in Japan, an American soldier named George browses through a Japanese shop run and owned by a man named Nagahashi, who is visibly anxious about the soldier in his store because it is his first time interacting with an American man. As George looks at painted wooden dolls, he offers a pack of cigarettes to Nagahashi, who gestures for him to pick something in the store in exchange. Colorful postage stamps catch George’s eyes, and Nagahashi offers him six stamps as a “presento.” George then offers a Hershey bar, asking how many additional stamps he can get in return for the chocolate, and a young man named Kaneko walks into the store. Nagahashi introduces them to each other, and Kaneko begins to translate for him, leading George to ask how his English can possibly be so good. Kaneko responds that he is a medical student.  As George studies the stamps, he sees that one has a picture of a soldier, and he asks if there are any stamps showing the Okinawa victory. Kaneko tells George that Okinawa was not a victory for Japan, and when George says that he was a rifleman at Okinawa, Nagahashi reveals that his son died in that battle. Now he only has a daughter. George begins to offer the chocolate and chewing gum as gifts to Nagahashi’s daughter, and Kaneko tells George that Nagahashi has invited him to dine at his home.  That night, George finds most of the dishes at dinner either too sour or too fishy, and when Kaneko offers George a locust, he refuses to try. He does, however, bring cans of food, chocolate, and gum as gifts for Nagahashi’s daughter, Hatsuko, and he says that he wants to see her. Kaneko tells George that Hatsuko will perform a tea ceremony after the meal, and when Kaneko apologizes that there is no coffee after George comments that he used to drink lots of coffee, George suddenly explodes with upset. When Kaneko says that Nagahashi’s coffee was lost when his old house was bombed by Americans, George calms down.  Hatsuko finally arrives, and George begins to flirt with her heavy-handedly, telling her she is very beautiful but also saying that American women are hourglass-shaped while Japanese women are shaped like potato sacks. Kaneko interrupts George by telling him that Nagahashi wants to print a booklet for Americans to read to better understand Japanese people. Kaneko begins to read, and the booklet brutally diminishes Japan while exalting America, saying that Japan was in the Middle Ages until the US Army came. Although the Nagahashis nod while Kaneko reads, their eyes are full of disapproval. Kaneko continues reading, and George makes Hatsuko say romantic phrases like “I love you” and “Another kiss before you go.” George even pulls Hatsuko to him with both arms, frightening her, and Hatsuko’s mother finally pulls her away from him.  George becomes embarrassed and apologizes but continues to say he is going to take Hatsuko to America. As if to appease him, Nagahashi shows George a three-hundred-year-old sword, a relic passed down from fathers to sons in his family. George asks how much it would cost to buy, pressing even as they say it’s not for sale. Kaneko then says Nagahashi is offering the sword as a gift. George notices Hatsuko has disappeared and realizes she must be upset that he is taking the sword. He finally excuses himself, leaving the sword behind. Nagahashi chases after him with the sword but ultimately comes back, handing the sword to his wife.