[1][2] Yūji Makita, a guitar player and singer played by Masao Wakahara, comes to a portside onsen (spa resort) town.
Thirteen years prior, he had had a love affair there with Sanae Shimura (played by Kuniko Miyake) which ended poorly; Sanae has since moved to Tokyo, leaving behind her daughter Emiko (played by Hibari Misora) and father Taishaku (Ryūji Kita).
Sanae returns, escaping from a man named Murai, from whom she had borrowed money when her father was ill. Sanae spots Yūji upon her return to the port town, but he disappears again, leaving a note saying that he will visit again, for his daughter's sake.
Sanae leaves for Tokyo the very next day, with Emiko, but fails to find Yūji and returns home.
Some time later, they discover Yūji's name in the newspaper, which says that he has been selected to compete in a competition of music composers.