Tom Cruise On A 'Mission' In Tokyo

Actor Visits Japan To Promote 'Mission: Impossible III' Opening

(AP)  Tom Cruise is back in Tokyo to promote the third and final installment of "Mission: Impossible." He returns to the role of super agent Ethan Hunt, six years after he debuted in the blockbuster series.

The movie has already been released across the globe. Japan is one of the last countries to show the movie.

In "Mission: Impossible III," Ethan has retired from active duty after falling in love with Julia (Michelle Monaghan). Ethan proposes to Julia and the couple plan on starting their life together, but his spy duties intervene and he decides to come out of retirement. Ethan's new mission requires him to face ruthless arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Owen has kidnapped new recruit Lindsey (Keri Russell), and Ethan is on a mission to save her. He assembles a team to help him with his mission: friend Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), transportation expert Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and background operative Zhen (Maggie Q).

Prior to the movie's Japanese premiere, Cruise paid a courtesy call to Japanese Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa to thank the ministry for its help with a special performance at the premiere.

The transport minister presented Cruise with a testimonial for his contribution in promoting the image of Japan by playing the protagonist role in "Last Samurai," released in 2003.The story of "Last Samurai" depicted the lives of warriors in late 19th-century Japan. Part of the movie was shot in Japan.

After the Japanese premiere on Tuesday evening, Cruise is expected to ride the bullet train to Osaka with 150 fans on Wednesday.