Summer of the Dark Moon 1956 - The Dark Moon is a venerable bar on the outskirts of Saseo, a port city in Southern Japan. In the face of economic decline, it may be forced to close by summer's end. This is the background for the story of Yuka, an individualistic young woman who works there. Having drifted through the devastated landscape of Post-War Japan, she settles in Sasebo. While there, she finds a home at the Dark Moon and a surrogate mother in Yukari, its owner. Yuka's eventful summer passes while she struggles to retain both her livelihood and the sense of belonging Yukari has given her. In the midst of this, she allows herself to become close to Tom Wyatt, a veteran reporter haunted by wartime memories. She finds both comfort in Wyatt's kindness toward her and despair in his erratic grip on sobriety. As autumn approaches, the Dark Moon is in transition, Yukari is in failing health, and Yuka begins to see she may gain more than she ever thought possible, yet she may lose much of what she values most.