Shuhei and Hideo grew up together during 1930s Japan as childhood friends and neighbors. Shuhei was the aggressive and brash one; Hideo was the sensitive one, always subjected to bullying by classmates. Although often annoyed and resentful of Hideo’s unwillingness to fight back, Shuhei nonetheless used his own body to protect Hideo during scuffles with their classmates. After the two get punished together when Hideo brings a banned rubber ball to school, Shuhei learns to respect Hideo. 
When Shuhei turns 15, he becomes the first in his class to enlist in the Japanese military, serving in Manchuria and Korea, where he marries. During the war he trains as a pilot and serves in central command on the mainland. Down on his luck as an ex-soldier in post-war Japan, Shuhei finds employment at a hotel in his hometown patronized by American military personnel, thanks to his childhood friend Hideo’s connections. Hideo is now a well-respected and wealthy doctor, who makes a bid for mayor. Indebted to his successful friend, Shuhei finds an opportunity to gain the upperhand when Hideo becomes embroiled in a potentially incriminating car accident. A 17-year-old girl, accompanied by Hideo, strikes a Tokyo journalist’s car while driving Hideo’s Cadillac. In order to preserve Hideo’s mayoral bid, Shuhei bribes the journalist to not reveal his friend’s scandalous affair. Despite the complicated power struggle in their friendship, the two maintain ties until old age. As Hideo nears death, Shuhei supports his friend in the hospital, and grieves.