The comic tells the story of Oyuki, a beautiful Japanese woman in love with a young British painter.
The plot bears some resemblance to the story Madama Butterfly by John Luther Long (1898), adapted as an opera by Giacomo Puccini in 1904.
Soon, Oyuki becomes in a sensation and get to dance in the most important ryotei of Tokyo, where her talent and beauty captivate men.
Her only friend is Sumiko, an orphan girl who Yutaka picked up from the street to keep her company.
One night, Oyuki meets Irving Pointer, a young English painter.
Irving is the son of Sir Charles Pointer, the ambassador of the United Kingdom in Japan.
Irving challenged his conservative and domineering mother, Lady Elizabeth, and pursued his dream of being a famous painter.
For some reason, Lady Elizabeth feels a deep aversion to everything related to Japan.
When he confesses his love to his parents, Lady Elizabeth is infuriated and convinces her husband not to support Irving's plans.
Irving and Oyuki married in a simple wedding and live together in a small house in a popular neighborhood.
Oyuki and Irving live happily accompanied by their best friends, Orson and Elianne, a couple of young journalists.
Unfortunately, the Oyuki's neighbors do not look favorably upon her marriage with a white man, believing that she has betrayed her people.
Irving loses his job in a Journal and the economic situation of the family is complicated, especially after the birth of their daughter, Yuriko.
Irving has an offer to exhibit his paintings in Paris and with the help of his father, he plans to move to Europe with Oyuki and his daughter.
Irving triumphs in Paris and sends money to his wife, but the correspondence is intercepted by Yutaka.
Spend weeks and Oyuki and Yuriko begins to go hungry, surviving on the charity of her neighbors.
Desperate, she decides to seek the help of Lady Elizabeth, but her mother in law humiliates her and threatens to steal her daughter.
Believing that Irving has abandoned them, and fearful of Lady Elizabeth plans, Oyuki accepts the help of Yutaka and partly to live with him.
Oyuki takes the gun and shoot Yutaka, but he flees and lies to the police accusing her sister of the crime.
Years pass and Oyuki is now an old woman dedicated to caring for her grandson Irving II.
She is received at the threshold of the afterlife by the spirit of Irving, implying that their souls be united for the eternity.