In post-war Japan, Michiko, a disillusioned young woman trapped in a loveless marriage, confides in her younger cousin, Tsutomo, and the two become close, but decide not to consummate their affair. He instead becomes involved with the flirtatious Tomiko, who is also conducting an affair with Michiko's husband. When Michiko finds that her husband has abandoned her, she decides to take her fate into her own hands.

Kinuyo Tanaka
as Michiko Akiyama

Yukiko Todoroki
as Tomiko Ono

Masayuki Mori
as Tadao Akiyama

Akihiko Katayama
as Tsutomu Miyaji

So Yamamura
as Eiji Ono

Eitarō Shindō
as Shinzaburo Miyaji

Kiyoko Hirai
as Tamiko Miyaji

Minako Nakamura
as Yukiko Ono

Mie Asô
as

Taizō Fukami
as