The story begins in Japan during World War II, focusing on Kaji, a young idealist caught between his moral convictions and the harsh reality of the conflict. At first, his life seems relatively calm; Kaji works as a supervisor in a coal mine, where he strives to treat his workers with dignity and respect in a desolate environment. However, this humanitarian approach is quickly challenged by the oppression of the Japanese military system and the pressures of those around him, who are more interested in brutality and control than in compassion.
Determined to reform the way workers are treated, Kaji confronts injustice with a fervor that leads him to clash with his superiors and question the decisions being made. As the story progresses, his personal life also becomes complicated, especially his relationship with his wife, who struggles to understand him but feels trapped in a world of violence and despair.
With the war in full swing, Kaji is pushed to make difficult decisions that challenge his morals and his understanding of love and humanity. The tension between his ideals and the brutal realities of war leads him to a painful internal struggle that, as the plot unfolds, becomes a powerful critique of the nature of justice, compassion, and human sacrifice in times of chaos.