Shinjuurou Mamiya works as an embalmer, a profession regarded as "unclean" by Japanese society because of religious traditions and a lack of demand for the service. Driven by his passion to preserve the dignity of the deceased, he has accepted the outcast lifestyle that accompanies his job. Although his clientele is sparse, he is exceptionally skilled. Shinjuurou does not shy away from opportunities to demonstrate his ability to transform a corpse into a state that leads a loved one to believe they are merely sleeping peacefully. Shigeshoushi explores the delicate psychological relationships between life, death, loss, and mourning. With each embalming, Shinjuurou restores the inner beauty of the deceased to give their loved ones a chance to properly say goodbye.