A woman, Tome, is born to a lower class family in Japan in 1918. The title refers to an insect, repeating its mistakes, as in an infinite circle. Imamura, with this metaphor, introduces the life of Tome, who keeps trying to change her poor life.

Sachiko Hidari
as Tome Matsuki

Jitsuko Yoshimura
as Nobuko

Shoichi Ozawa
as Ken

Hiroyuki Nagato
as Matsunami

Kayoko Honoo
as Miyako

Masumi Harukawa
as Midori

Emiko Aizawa
as Rui

Emiko Higashi
as Kane

Daizaburo Hirata
as Kamibayashi

Seizaburō Kawazu
as Karasawa