Keiko, affectionately known as Mama, tells her story: she's a Ginza hostess,30, and a widow. She explains life's vicious cycle: maintaining a cheery demeanor around drunks, clothing and living well to transmit confidence, requiring money for these expenses as well as those of her demanding mother and brother, and being aware of her advancing years. She has reached the age when she must make a decision between seeking marriage (difficult given her tarnished occupation), remaining a kept woman, and borrowing money to open her own bar. Each path is fraught with pitfalls, such as investors seeking repayment of their debts. Keiko exudes a peaceful elegance that draws men, but are they they who they appear to be? Is she truly free?