What happened in Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean - Recaptains

The basics

Title: Tokyo Ever After

Author: Emiko Jean

Series: Tokyo Ever After #1

- Tokyo Ever After (2021)
- Tokyo Dreaming (2022)

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Goodreads Summary:

Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town. Raised by a single mother, it’s always been Izumi—or Izzy, because “It’s easier this way”—and her mom against the world. But then Izzy discovers a clue to her previously unknown father’s identity… and he’s none other than the Crown Prince of Japan. Which means outspoken, irreverent Izzy is literally a princess.

In a whirlwind, Izzy travels to Japan to meet the father she never knew and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight.

Izzy soon finds herself caught between worlds, and between versions of herself—back home, she was never “American” enough, and in Japan, she must prove she’s “Japanese” enough. Will Izumi crumble under the weight of the crown, or will she live out her fairytale, happily ever after?

Read a full summary of Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean below. If you can’t remember what happened in Tokyo Ever After and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.

What happened in Tokyo Ever After?

• Izumi and her friend Noora find a mysterious poem addressed to Izumi’s mother. They figure this is from Izumi’s father, who she has never known. Her mother said she fell pregnant after a one night stand and never saw the father again.
• Noora takes it upon herself to look into this and finds out that Izumi’s father is the Crown Prince of Japan. Making Izumi a princess.
• Izumi writes to her father. He doesn’t respond immediately, but pretty soon her and her mother’s house is swamped by the press and government officials. Izumi agrees to go to Japan and meet her father.
• They meet and he’s actually alright. Izumi notices he still has a thing for her mother because he’s growing orchids everywhere. Izumi’s mother is obsessed with orchids.
• Izumi gets a boadyguard called Akio who is grumpy but cute. The two of them start to fall for one another pretty quickly.
• Izumi’s cousin, Yoshi, takes her under his leg. I mean, wing. He takes her out for a night on the town and it goes a bit disastrously. Akio has to come and rescue Izumi.
• Izumi’s other cousins, the twins, are super rude and sabotage Izumi’s attempts at fitting in.
• Izumi’s grandparents, the emperor and empress, are super chill for royals though. The empress ponders about whether they should change the law to allow female heirs to rule. Something to consider.
• Word gets out about Izumi and Akio’s relationship. The two share a final dance and then the press goes wild. Izumi gets upset. She tries to reach Akio but is unable to. Yoshi delivers a letter from Izumi asking Akio to meet, but he doesn’t show up.
• Distraught, Izumi heads back to the US. She spends a few days moping about and then her father turns up for her graduation. He and Izumi’s mother reconnect. It’s cute.
• The Crown Prince convinces Izumi to return to Japan. She does so, and she is able to meet Akio again. Turns out Yoshi wasn’t a very nice cousin after all and never delivered the letter. In fact, he leaked info about the relationship to the press. For money.
• Izumi and Akio get back together.

That was our recap of what happened in Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean. Check out our recap list for more plot summaries, and if you can’t find what you need you can request a recap here!