Kazu was born in Fukushima, Japan in 1933 (the same year as Akihito, the former Emperor of Japan who abdicated in 2019). But Kazu is dead and, as the start of the novel explains, is now living as a ghost. As a ghost, Kazu returns to Ueno Park, a community that he was a part of—and lived in—when he was alive. He reflects on his life.
Kazu, Miri explains, grew up during World War II in Sōma in Fukushima. Kazu was one of eight children. Due to hard times caused by the war, Kazu was forced to go to work straight after middle school. Throughout the rest of his life, Kazu never had the opportunity to do much other than work. In fact, even after having children, Kazu continued to work and never spent much time with his family. Kazu, in fact, only has one significant memory of spending time with his wife and children: when he took them to a festival in town when they were young. On that day, Kazu's wife and children wanted to take a helicopter ride, but Kazu could not afford to send them on that ride, much to their disappointment.
Eventually, Kazu headed to Tokyo in 1963 to help the country prepare for the Olympics, which would come to the town in 1964. In Tokyo, Kazu worked construction and helped to build the facilities which the athletes would use. While working in Tokyo, however, Kazu left his wife and children alone and only returned to them during the holidays.
In Tokyo at the station, Kazu meets quite a few interesting people, including a homeless woman. When speaking with people at the station, Kazu recounts his family, his life, and other things that have happened to him. And at the same time, the other people in the station tell Kazu about their lives, things they have gone through, hardships, and family — among other things. Kazu is becomes homeless and start to live in the station, where he will spend the remainder of his life. After all, his wife has died and his children don’t really want anything to do with him.
Ultimately, Kazu has a couple of run-ins with the emperor, a man whom he seems inexplicably connected with. After seeing the emperor one day, Kazu, who is depressed and beaten down, decides to jump in front of a train and end his own life.
