This story is about Emiko, a young Japanese woman brought to the United States as a bride in an arranged marriage to a Japanese American computer wizard who is successful and wealthy. The novel is set in the seventies, in Los Angeles, California. At the time of the story, Emiko and Hiro have been married for several years and have two small children.Steeped in Japanese culture, Emiko, in an attempt to prevent shame for herself and her family, commits what she considers to be an honorable act, but is a heinous crime in this country. Consequently, she is brought to trial for that crime. This is a tale of her baptism by fire, as well as the consequential suffering - and redemption - she undergoes. The outcome may surprise and even delight the reader, or perhaps infuriate him or her.