This is a fascinating fictionalised account of the life of the first woman to become qualified as a doctor in late 19th century Japan. Her struggles to gain recognition in a patriarchal male-dominated society during a period of westernisation provide a great insight into Japanese society. She becomes a leading feminist in Tokyo and a christian, and marries a much younger man who is also a christian and dreams of building a utopian christian pioneering settlement in SW Hokkaido. In spite of enormous efforts the dream is shattered and he dies. She lives on but her medical knowledge is now outdated.