Yasujiro Ozu co-writes and directs this nuanced family drama, the second of three films to star Setsuko Hara as the headstrong and warm-hearted Noriko. Living in post-Second World War Tokyo with her extended family, Noriko contributes to the household income by working as a secretary, but her parents are concerned that she has reached the advanced age of 28 without thus far securing herself a husband. When she receives a proposal from a family friend 12 years her senior, her family sees this as a wonderful opportunity - but to everyone's surprise Noriko has plans of her own.

Yasujiro Ozu directs this intimate family portrait telling the story of widowed college professor Somiya (Chishu Ryu), who must face the inevitability that his only daughter, 27-year-old Noriko (Setsuko Hara), will soon be married off. Noriko, however, sees no reason to disrupt the harmony of the family home and repeatedly insists that marriage is not for her. Yet the social pressure continues to build, and eventually Somiya tricks his daughter into marrying by informing her that he is planning to remarry himself.