As Otama, a young woman who, in order to support her father is trapped into becoming the mistress of a middle-aged pawnbroker, she captures the essence of a caged bird. Otama is a thinker and a watcher, capable of looking inward at herself and outward at her situation at the same time. Thus, when she falls in love with a young student who passes by her house every day, she can both indulge and deny herself that love.