A writer haunted by the death of his wife and threatened by the imagined infidelities of his lovers uses his affairs for the subjects of his novels.

Mainly the story of Shinsuke and his stepmother, ranging from Shinsuke’s infanthood to his mid-teens. Coal workers and the mines dominate nearly every aspect of the life of the characters….

Set in Kawaguchi in the early 60s, this simple story chronicles the lives of foundry families and one girl’s dreams of higher education.