The year is 1866, the twilight of the Tokugawa era. As Japan boldly steps into a new era, one man couldn't care less. That man is Kumosuke Haguregumo, a retired samurai who has since become the village idiot. Although he still carries his two-bladed katana, Kumosuke spends his days smoking, drinking, and womanizing, rarely making it home before dawn. At home, however, he awaits his wife and his two children, Shinnosuke and Ohana, who are constantly worried about Kumosuke's antics. As Shinnosuke grows older, he begins to understand the world around him. Worried about his father's reputation, Shinnosuke tries to live a life of honor, though it's hard to figure out what honor means in a turbulent age. As Shinnosuke navigates his relationship with his father, many other warriors struggle to find his place in an ever-changing world.