"Tokyo, 1940. As Japan's war with China escalates, Yuji Takano, a young man so far spared fighting by ill-health, clings to his calm, cultured life - the company of his friends, evenings of French conversation at the home of the trader, Monsieur Feneon, the days of writing and contemplation enabled by an allowance from his father. But the world begins to close in on Yuji. His father loses his professorship over a comment about the Emperor, the allowance is scrapped and, with the nation heading towards conflict with the Allies, conscription threatens. Then there is Monsieur Feneon's nineteen-year-old daughter, Alissa, a girl with firm ideas of what she wants. Yuji finds himself faced by some hard decisions just when he can't count on others, for they are struggling to save themselves."--Publisher description.