Rough outline of plot
This story is set in Japan and America in the turn of the century, when Japan started opening herself to the west. The story revolve around Konohaya Shino, the main character of the comic. (Different Shino from Puchin Hi! School, this one's female). Since her father didn't have any son, being a practical man, he though a daughter might do after all. Shino was taught the way to run the family's shop. Since boys had the more "useful" education, Shino was raised and passed off as a boy, dressed up like one talk like one, knew how to handle a sword better than most... Until the fateful day when her brother was born. Her father realised that he had the son and heir he needed, so from that day forward Shino was forced to revert back to being a female. This was made worse by the fact, that since she wasn't needed any longer her father decided to betrothed her the son of an old family friend, Saburo. (He also happened to be Shino's childhood friend). Sometimes after hearing the news she came across Daniel Artwright, an American who was nearly assaulted by some pro anti-foreigners campaigners. (Eventhough Japan had decided to open herself to the West, it didn't mean her population were happy about it). She helped him out, yatta yatta and that was the first encounter between the two. They talked a while and he told her where he came from, Shino was fascinated by the idea of this strange foreign place called America. She became obsessed to visit New York and to see the world beyond Japan.

Later on Shino did not want to have her life dictated, on the day of her wedding day to Saburo she decided to run away (again, she got caught the first time). While alone pretending to pray in the family temple, she climbed out of the house by using a rope in full wedding gear. The basic plot of the story continued on with Shino striving to find her happiness in her own way and yes...she did eventually visit New York.