The book is about the massive conflicts in Japanese families during and after the Second World War. Mimi's narrative brings her mother Kie's stories to readers. Kie's unique stories illustrate the Japanese culture and mentalities with the symbols, the mythology, and the religions such as the peaceful goldfish and the brave samurai carps; the Sun Goddess and the Storm God; and Shinto Purification and Buddhist Enlightenment. All the characters are in contrast to each other, but the Second World War reverses their lives, pushing their natures to the opposite ways: Kie must change from a pacifist to a fighter; Hiroshi, from a warrior to Buddha; Yuriko, from materialistic to spiritual. Through the transaction between war and peace, each individual must learn how to get balance of life and peace in mind just as still water under the turbulent waves on the Pacific Ocean.
