Monster Princess in Shadows

Rika Rakuyama, a biracial Japanese American teen in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, feels like an outsider in her own family and community. Raised by her Auntie Suzy after her mother's death and her father's disappearance, Rika is haunted by her "kaiju-temper" and a sense of not belonging. She channels her anger into judo, where she excels, but is constantly reminded of her difference—her "Asian Lite" appearance, her refusal to conform to princess ideals, and the whispers about her origins. Rika's only solace is in the shadows of Little Tokyo, where she dreams of being a monster from Japanese folklore, the nure-onna, rather than a princess.

Parade Chaos and Secrets

During the annual Nikkei Week parade, Rika's family is embroiled in tradition and expectation. Rika, forced to miss her judo demonstration to work at the family restaurant, rebels by sneaking into the parade in disguise. There, she collides—literally—with Hank Chen, a rising Asian American celebrity, and later with Grace Kimura, the beloved Asian American rom-com queen and parade grand marshal. Grace's sudden, panicked recognition of Rika causes a public scene, leaving Rika with a single whispered word—her own name—and a flood of questions about her origins.

The Photo on the Wall

Haunted by Grace's reaction, Rika stumbles upon an old photo in a local restaurant, showing a young Grace Kimura and Auntie Suzy together in matching yukata. The discovery, coupled with a birth certificate and more photos found by her cousin Rory, leads Rika and her sisters to a shocking realization: Grace Kimura is Rika's mother, and her entire life has been built on a lie. The revelation sends Rika into a spiral of confusion, anger, and longing for answers.

Sister Conference Revelations

Rika, Belle, and Rory convene a "Sister Conference" to process the truth. While Belle dreams of Hollywood royalty and Rory investigates with mathematical precision, Rika is overwhelmed by the implications of her mother's secret identity and disappearance. The sisters' bond is tested but ultimately strengthened as they vow to help Rika find Grace and uncover the full story, even as Grace vanishes from public view and social media.

The Search for Grace

Desperate for answers, Rika enlists the help of Hank Chen, who becomes her unlikely partner in the search for Grace. Their investigation leads them through Little Tokyo's hidden corners, a secret message behind a library tile, and a network of Asian Hollywood creatives. Along the way, Rika and Hank confront their own insecurities and the pressures of being mixed-race in a world obsessed with purity and image. Their partnership deepens into mutual trust and attraction.

Judo, Anger, and Belonging

Rika's journey is paralleled by her return to the dojo, where she faces her best friend Eliza and mentor Sensei Mary. Through judo, Rika confronts her anger and the community's judgment, learning that her passion and "monster" side can be a source of strength rather than shame. The dojo becomes a microcosm of the larger community, where acceptance is hard-won but possible.

Library Clues and Panic

A clue from Grace leads Rika and Hank to the Los Angeles Central Library, where they find a photo hidden behind a tile. Their discovery is interrupted by a mob of fans and social media onlookers, triggering Hank's anxiety and forcing Rika to help him through a panic attack. The episode cements their bond and highlights the pressures of visibility, both for celebrities and for those who feel perpetually out of place.

Allies in Asian Hollywood

Hank introduces Rika to a circle of Asian American creatives—writers, actors, and artists—who have built their own "Halfie Club" and safe space. Here, Rika sees for the first time that her struggles with identity, anger, and belonging are shared by others. The group's warmth and humor help Rika begin to accept herself, and she realizes that community can be chosen and created, not just inherited.

The Old Zoo Rendezvous

A clue leads Rika and Hank to the abandoned Griffith Park Zoo, where they hope to meet Grace. Instead, they find only another photo and a sense of disappointment. The failed rendezvous becomes a turning point: Rika, devastated, is comforted by Hank, and their relationship deepens into romance. The experience teaches Rika that hope is painful but necessary, and that she is not alone in her longing for connection.

Hope, Kisses, and Setbacks

Rika and Hank's relationship intensifies, culminating in a night of vulnerability and intimacy. But their happiness is short-lived: a tabloid scandal erupts, exposing Rika as Grace Kimura's "secret love child" and threatening to destroy her family's reputation, the restaurant, and Hank's budding career. Rika's old fears of being a mistake and a source of shame resurface, and she pushes Hank away, convinced she must sacrifice her own happiness to protect those she loves.

Viral Scandal Erupts

The community's reaction to the scandal is swift and brutal. Rika is blamed for disgracing Little Tokyo, and her family faces ostracism and economic ruin. Old wounds and prejudices are laid bare, and Rika's sense of belonging is shattered. She retreats into isolation, convinced that she is, and always will be, a mistake.

Family Truths Unveiled

In a climactic confrontation, Auntie Suzy gathers the family and community to finally tell the truth: Grace was a pregnant teenager cast out by her father and the community, and Suzy took in Rika to protect both mother and child. The story is one of love, sacrifice, and the corrosive power of shame and secrecy. The revelation is both painful and healing, allowing Rika to see that she has always been wanted and loved, even if imperfectly.

Community, Rage, and Rebellion

When Craig Shimizu, the embodiment of community prejudice, attacks Rika and her family, Rika channels her anger into righteous defiance. Supported by her family and friends, she stands up to Craig and the old guard, declaring that she is not a mistake and that the community must change. The moment is transformative: Rika's anger becomes a force for justice and belonging, and the community begins to rally around her.

The Monster Princess Rises

Dressed in a torn, dirty princess gown, Rika storms the Nikkei Week gala, ready to sacrifice herself for her family's acceptance. Instead, she finds that her vulnerability and rage have inspired others to stand with her. She realizes that she can be both monster and princess, angry and loving, and that her wholeness is her true power.

The Gala and the Queen

The gala becomes a celebration of change and acceptance. Auntie Suzy is nominated to lead the Nikkei Week board, and the community begins to reckon with its history of exclusion and shame. Rika is surrounded by love—her family, her friends, and Hank, who she finally confesses her love to. The monster princess is crowned in her own right, not by tradition, but by the community she has helped transform.

Reunion Under the Onryo Tree

Guided by intuition and longing, Rika finds Grace hiding under the onryo tree, the place of solace for both mother and daughter. Their reunion is raw and honest, filled with apologies, anger, and forgiveness. They agree to build a relationship on their own terms, free from the shame and secrecy that kept them apart. Rika learns that happy endings are not perfect, but they are possible.

Happy Endings, Redefined

Rika's journey ends not with a fairy-tale resolution, but with a new beginning. She is accepted by her family and community, reconciled with her mother, and in love with Hank. She earns a judo scholarship, and her story goes viral for all the right reasons. The monster princess lives happily ever after—not because she fits in, but because she has claimed her place, her anger, and her joy. Her story, and the story of Little Tokyo, is still being written.

Characters

Rika Rakuyama

Rika is a biracial Japanese American teen who feels like a perpetual outsider in her family and community. Raised by her Auntie Suzy after her mother's supposed death, Rika is haunted by her temper and a sense of not belonging. She channels her anger into judo, where she excels, but struggles with the pressure to be "respectable" and the pain of being called a mistake. Rika's journey is one of self-acceptance: she learns to embrace both her "monster" side and her longing for love, discovering that she can be both fierce and vulnerable. Her relationships—with her sisters, her friends, and Hank—help her realize that belonging is not about fitting in, but about being seen and loved for who she is.

Grace Kimura (Grace Rakuyama)

Grace is Rika's biological mother, a former Little Tokyo girl who became a beloved Asian American movie star. Cast out as a pregnant teenager, Grace reinvented herself in Hollywood, building walls to protect herself from shame and loss. Her reunion with Rika is fraught with guilt, fear, and hope. Grace's journey mirrors Rika's: both must confront the pain of abandonment and the corrosive effects of secrecy. Ultimately, Grace finds the courage to return home, face her past, and build a new relationship with her daughter.

Hank (Henry) Chen

Hank is a young Asian American actor and dancer, known for his charm and public persona but privately struggling with anxiety and the pressure to be perfect. As Rika's partner in the search for Grace, he becomes her confidant, supporter, and eventually, her love. Hank's own journey is about embracing his whole self—beyond the roles others assign him—and finding community among fellow outsiders. His relationship with Rika is built on mutual vulnerability, humor, and a shared longing for acceptance.

Auntie Suzy

Auntie Suzy is Rika's aunt and adoptive mother, a woman who has spent her life caring for others and trying to keep the peace. Haunted by her own family's shame and the loss of her sister, Suzy is both nurturing and exhausted, often avoiding conflict to protect her hard-won place in the community. Her eventual decision to tell the truth about Rika's origins is an act of courage and love, allowing healing for herself, Rika, and Grace.

Belle

Belle is Rika's cousin and self-proclaimed queen, obsessed with princess culture and social media. Outwardly confident and popular, Belle also struggles with expectations and the pressure to be perfect. Her relationship with Rika is a mix of rivalry and deep loyalty; she is one of the first to stand by Rika when the scandal breaks, showing that true sisterhood is about more than appearances.

Rory

Rory is the youngest cousin, a math prodigy with a practical mind and a penchant for detective work. She is both the comic relief and the emotional glue of the family, using her skills to uncover secrets and support Rika. Rory's belief in Rika never wavers, and her innocence is a reminder of the importance of hope and curiosity.

Auntie Och

Auntie Och is Suzy's wife and the family's enforcer, known for her formidable presence and no-nonsense attitude. She is fiercely protective of her family and unafraid to challenge tradition or authority. Och's support is instrumental in helping Rika and Suzy confront the past and claim their place in the community.

Eliza

Eliza is Rika's best friend and judo partner, known for her calm demeanor and unwavering loyalty. She is one of the few people who never judges Rika for her anger or her past, providing a safe space for Rika to be herself. Eliza's friendship is a model of acceptance and support.

Sensei Mary

Sensei Mary is the head of the dojo and a mentor to Rika. She embodies the values of patience, discipline, and unconditional support, helping Rika channel her anger into strength. Mary's belief in Rika is a crucial source of validation and belonging.

Craig Shimizu

Craig is the son of a powerful community leader and the main antagonist, representing the forces of exclusion, shame, and tradition. His bullying and bigotry are a catalyst for Rika's transformation, forcing her to confront the community's flaws and claim her own power.

Plot Devices

Fairy Tale Structure and Subversion

The novel is structured around fairy tale motifs—princesses, monsters, quests, and happy endings—but subverts them at every turn. Rika's journey is both a literal and metaphorical quest for belonging, love, and self-acceptance. The use of Japanese folklore (the nure-onna) and Western princess stories creates a dialogue between cultures and expectations, highlighting the tension between tradition and individuality.

Secrets, Shame, and Community

The plot is propelled by secrets—Grace's hidden pregnancy, Suzy's sacrifices, the community's history of exclusion. The revelation of these secrets is both destructive and redemptive, forcing characters to confront the pain of shame and the necessity of truth. The community's response to scandal becomes a crucible for change, illustrating how healing requires both individual courage and collective reckoning.

Symbolism of Place and Objects

Settings like Little Tokyo, the dojo, the library, and the old zoo are more than backdrops—they are symbols of history, memory, and transformation. The onryo tree represents both solace and the haunting of the past. The princess dress, torn and dirty, becomes a symbol of Rika's acceptance of her whole self—monster and princess, angry and loving.

Social Media and Public Scrutiny

The viral scandal, fan mobs, and the omnipresence of social media reflect the contemporary reality of public exposure and the difficulty of controlling one's own narrative. The plot uses these devices to heighten tension and to explore the impact of visibility on identity, family, and community.

Parallel Character Arcs

Rika and Grace's stories run in parallel: both are exiled, both build walls to protect themselves, both long for connection but fear rejection. Their eventual reunion is not a neat resolution, but a recognition that healing is ongoing and that happy endings are made, not found.

Analysis

From Little Tokyo, with Love is a vibrant, emotionally resonant coming-of-age story that reimagines the fairy tale for a modern, multicultural world. At its heart, the novel is about the search for belonging—within family, community, and oneself—and the courage it takes to claim one's place in the face of shame, exclusion, and internalized self-doubt. Sarah Kuhn deftly weaves together themes of anger, identity, and love, showing that true strength lies in embracing the parts of ourselves we are taught to hide. The book challenges the myth of the perfect princess and the dangers of community purity, offering instead a vision of wholeness that includes rage, imperfection, and the messy beauty of real connection. In a world obsessed with image and tradition, Rika's journey is a powerful reminder that happy endings are not about fitting in, but about being seen, loved, and celebrated for exactly who we are.

Last updated: June 4, 2025