In World War II, a time of expansive violent conflict spanning multiple continents, Private Mizushima (Shoji Yasui) opts for a harp rather than a gun. He's the designated harp player for his troop of Japanese soldiers and he uses this instrument to send signals to his fellow comrades as well as deliver beautiful pieces of soothing music in between struggles on the battlefield. Eventually, World War II ends just as Mizushima and his fellow men are stationed in Burma. With the war over, they are transported to a prisoner of war camp looked over by British and Indian soldiers. Under orders from a British commander, Mizushima is sent to go tell a separate rogue faction of Japanese soldiers to surrender, otherwise they will be slaughtered.
