Hana Omiya's uncle visits her mother with a marriage proposal for Hana. Hana's father belonged to the samurai clan, and he was the wealthy landowner of the village. After his death, everything has changed. Her two elder sisters are already married but, Hana is still unmarried even at the age of 21, so her mother wants to marry her as soon as possible and accepts the proposal.
Hana's uncle tells her that his future husband's name is Taro Takeda. He is 31 years old, lives in Oakland and, runs a convenience store. Taro makes decent money that she'll be able to live her life comfortably. She leaves Japan to meet Taro in America. When she reaches San Francisco and meets Taro, she gets bewildered by the sight of his old groom with the receding hairline.
Taro arranges Hana's stay at his friend's house, Henry Toda. Henry's wife introduces American customs and clothes to Hana. She reveals that Taro isn't a successful shopkeeper, and she'll have to work in the house of white people as a cook or maid. She soon realizes that the Japanese are not welcome in America. After the wedding, Hana and Taro start living together.
In 1940 when Japan enters the Second World War, the American government starts putting Japanese people in internment camps. One day Taro and Omiya get a wire containing the news of Henry's death. A few days later, Taro also gets shot accidentally by a soldier and dies. The tragic incident leaves Hana shell shocked and, she plans to leave America with her friend Mrs. Kiku Toda for good.
