In 2005, the president surprises the Senate with a treaty that sells California to Japan for $60 trillion. Even for such a staggering sum, nobody takes the treaty seriously--until California's Senator Matt "Bomber" Nakamura endorses it. Since he'll lose his job if the treaty goes through, he becomes a national hero-the "Martyr to Zilching the Debt"-and the treaty gains support.

But his wife Barbara suspects the real reason behind his endorsement: he arm-twisted the promise of a huge bribe from Japan's ambassador. Barbara is determined to stop her husband at any cost, to save the Californians he's betraying. She has no money, no power, no influence-just determination. Nobody listens outside California, though, once Matt points out all of the fun ways Washington can spend $60 trillion. Even worse, her Japanese mother thinks the treaty is a godsend, and criticizes Barbara for publicly speaking against Matt.

Meanwhile in Japan, young robotics engineer Hiroshi Iwata gradually realizes that the California Treaty would be his key to a better life. Eventually Hiroshi will work hard to thwart Barbara's efforts to save California.

Tags: East meets West, future, international, Japan, Japanese, Japanese culture, Mafia, politics, suspense, thriller, women, Yakuza