The quaint life of Ottavia, a widow living in Rome, is turned upside down when a young and pretty Japanese girl knocks at her door, claiming to be the daughter of her late husband, an Italian military officer who went to Japan on a secret mission during WWII and reportedly killed in action there. At first Ottavia is upset by knowing of her husband's affair in Japan, and suspicious of the girl whose "exotic" habits and manners arouse the curiosity of the whole neighborhood. Pretty soon however Ottavia and her neighbors are conquered by the good-natured Akiko, who soon finds a job as tourist guide (it's the year of the Olympic Games, and tourists are flocking to Rome from everywhere including Japan). But Akiko must beware of young Italian men.