Shuhei Hirayama is a widower with a 24-year-old daughter. Gradually, he comes to realize that she should not be obliged to look after him for the rest of his life, so he arranges a marriage for her.

An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city, but the children have little time for them.

Two boys beg their parents for a television set, nagging them until all patience is lost. The parents order the boys to be quiet and the boys do exactly that–refusing to utter a word. The boys’ silence ultimately puts the whole neighborhood into turmoil.