Josee has been in a wheelchair since she was a child, and has lived her life through pictures, books, and her imagination. One day, she meets Tsuneo, a college student, and while they clash at first, the two soon grow closer than expected. She takes this chance to venture outside with Tsuneo to experience a new world where surprises await.

Unable to get around without a wheelchair, the doll-like Josee leads a solitary, housebound existence. But when she meets her new live-in caretaker, a recent college graduate named Tsuneo, everything in her life is upended. "Josee, the Tiger and the Fish" depicts the fragile, strangely erotic relationship that blossoms between these two young people. In addition to the title story, this collection also includes seven short tales centering on working women and the myriad loves and partings of their lives.