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Synopsis

Edo in 1814: a densely populated metropolis alive with merchants, samurai, artisans, courtesans, and hints of the uncanny. Tetsuzo, a celebrated artist in his mid-fifties, maintains a cluttered house-studio where he produces remarkable pieces ranging from a colossal Bodhidharma on an enormous sheet to minute sparrows rendered on a grain of rice. Temperamental and sarcastic, indifferent to drink and wealth, he accepts costly commissions only when they catch his interest. His twenty-three-year-old daughter O-Ei, the third of four daughters from his second marriage, shares his stubbornness and artistic skill, frequently painting in his stead without receiving credit. Her forceful work sometimes brings complications, yet she and her father manage their household with pragmatic resolve. Years after these events, Tetsuzo—later known by names including Katsushika Hokusai—gains acclaim in Europe and influences artists like Renoir, van Gogh, Monet, and Klimt. The narrative focuses on O-Ei, the often-overlooked woman who supported and shaped much of his output, portraying her spirited life and relationship with her eminent father as the seasons pass.