This is the story of a man's challenges of raising his niece by himself. Ukyo Yasutake is a single man working in an office. His older sister, who was like a mother to him, dies. He's left to raise his sister's only daughter Chiharu. This comedy-drama depicts with great human depth the journey these two characters take as they gradually develop a real parent/child relationship with the support of friends and the family at the rice shop where Ukyo boards.

Shinobu, who works in the advertising department of the female underwear maker Princess Underwear, has a dream of becoming a fairy tale writer. He has a colleague and fiancé Taeko, but he promised that he won't get married until he saves up 3 million yen, so until then he continues living in a second-hand bookstore. One Sunday, Shinobu, who was just walking around the city, helps an old woman who has fallen over. The old woman, Ijuuin Ayano, was born in a noble family and had run away from Kyoto due to a disagreement with her daughter-in-law.

A bride arrives at the Shimizu household, where the seven members of the family live as they please. However, the groom, the youngest son of the family, is going to study alone in the USA, and the bride is left alone in the eccentric house.