A delightful and moving coming-of-age story. One summer, three young boys take an increasing interest in an eccentric old man who lives alone in a house surrounded by an overgrown garden. The boys form a bond with the recluse and set about weeding and replanting the garden.
During the reign of Shogun Ienari Tokugawa, heir Takechiyo is found murdered with aconite-coated needles. A missing needle belonging to a palace lady raises suspicion, but she claims innocence.
