Tamahiko Shima, a self-described pessimist, lives alone in the Chiba highlands after losing use of his right hand in the same automobile accident that killed his mother. He has been driven into exile after his father and other affluent relatives deemed him incompetent; he spends his days reading and his nights restless with uncontrollable anxiety. Tamahiko is resigned to his new duty—stay in the mountains and wait for death to relieve his suffering—true to the Shimas' legendary pride and resolved not to shame his family.