This book consists of two seemingly unrelated stories that eventually intersect. The first story follows two elderly men on their journey back from Ise to Tokyo, where they reminisce about their past and the changes they've witnessed over the years. The second story centers around a young traveling singer who stops at a noodle shop in Kuwana and encounters a group of locals. As the stories progress, the characters' paths intertwine highlighting the themes of aging, societal change, and the power of human connection.