After the passing of his grandfather, the celebrated shamisen virtuoso Matsugorou Sawamura, Setsu Sawamura flees his quiet hometown. On the dying man's last words, Matsugorou warned him that if he merely copied others instead of forging his own voice, the shamisen should be abandoned. Heartbroken, Setsu ventures to Tokyo in search of inspiration for a personal style, only to find the metropolis overwhelming his senses with relentless urban clamor.
Worried about his son, Setsu"s affluent and prosperous mother, Umeko, reenters his life and compels him to join Umezono Academy. There he encounters Shuri Maeda, a student captivated by the Tsugaru shamisen and eager to perform a tune her grandmother once heard. Shuri establishes a shamisen appreciation club, persuading Setsu to instruct its members. As he immerses himself in the group, can Setsu rekindle his passion for the shamisen and finally uncover the distinct sound he has been missing?
