Set during the early Showa period, Yakumo (Masaki Okada) enters the world of rakugo (storytelling performance). He forms a friendship with talented storyteller Yurakutei (Ikusaburo Yamazaki). Yakumo admires Yurakutei's talent and struggles to achieve his level of performance. With the help of geisha Miyokichi (Aya Omasa), Yakumo grows up as a rakugo storyteller. Yurakutei and Miyokichi get married, but they die in a mysterious accident. Yakumo takes Konatsu (Riko Narumi), who is