On the eve of the Russo-Japanese war at the beginning of the 20th century, small-town girl Okane has married an old wealthy man to escape a life of poverty.

At sixteen, due to illness, Tsuruko goes blind, and has no choice but to become a massage therapist. One day, stumbling on a staircase, she meets a businessman and falls in love with him.

"Though still young, Natsuko gave up the life of a geisha to become the mistress of the president of a shipbuilding company. When he is about to re-marry she insists he either wed or stop seeing her. Returning home, she again meets the man she first loved and for a time thinks of married happiness."