Setsu Sawamura flees his small hometown after the passing of his grandfather, the legendary shamisen master Matsugorou Sawamura. On his deathbed, Matsugorou instructed Setsu to abandon the shamisen if he intended merely to imitate others rather than play in his own style. Grieving, Setsu travels to Tokyo, hoping the metropolis will inspire him to find his own unique playing voice. However, Tokyo defies his expectations, drowning out all other sounds with the deafening noise of urban life. Concerned for her son, Setsu’s wealthy and successful mother, Umeko, reenters his life and compels him to enroll in Umezono Academy. There, he meets Shuri Maeda, a girl fascinated by the Tsugaru shamisen who wishes to perform a song her grandmother heard long ago. Shuri establishes a shamisen appreciation club and persuades Setsu to teach the members how to play. As he becomes more involved with the club, will Setsu be able to regain his love for the shamisen and discover the unique sound he lacks?