
Masako, the daughter of an impoverished itinerant tinsmith, wins a grammar school composition contest with an essay about her neighborhood. The much publicized essay ends up causing the family problems and their chronic money troubles threaten Masako's further education.
Masako

Minoru
Mitsuo
Father

Mother

Teacher

The teacher's wife
Tanno-san

Aunt

The second wife

Umemoto-san
Aunt