In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko struggle to survive.

A failing musician, Hajime decides to settle for a local DJ. He marries Miki, one of his fans, but it turns out that once in a while, she "sheds" her skin after they make love - freaking Hajime out.