Tokiko patiently awaits her husband's return from WWII when her four-year old son falls ill. She takes him to the doctor but has no means of paying, so she resorts to prostitution. A month later, her husband returns to find his desperate wife, who tells him the truth. Together, they must deal with the consequences.

Kinuyo Tanaka
as Tokiko Amamiya

Shūji Sano
as Shuichi Amamiya

Chieko Murata
as Akiko Ida

Chishū Ryū
as Kazuichiro Satake

Hōhi Aoki
as Shoichi

Chiyoko Ayatani
as Fusako Onada

Reiko Minakami
as Orie Noma

Takeshi Sakamoto
as Hikozo Sakai

Eiko Takamatsu
as Tsune

Chiyoko Fumiya
as Fusako Onoda