In 1979 ontdekken vier heel verschillende zussen in Tokio de affaire van hun ouder wordende vader, waardoor hun façades van vrolijkheid wegvallen en opgekropte emoties bovenkomen.

De vader is populair bij de dames en de moeder die als jong meisje ongetwijfeld van hem houdt. Ze hebben vier zussen grootgebracht.

Kuniko Mukōda's masterpiece, a poignant and subtle portrait of the jealousy and suspicion that secretly swirl behind seemingly peaceful family relationships.

Taking place in the spring of 1992, the story begins with the father of the Makioka company handing his company over. It starts a new era for the lives of the 4 Makioka sisters. Tsuruko continues living with the memory of their family's former glory, though it no longer remains. Yukiko, not dissatisfied with her married life, finds herself worrying over her sisters' behavior. Yukiko, the third born daughter, is seeking to marry but has failed matchmaking many times. The youngest, Taeko, gets caught in a typhoon that hits Kansai...