At one time, the southernmost Japanese island of Okinawa was an independent kingdom with a unique culture. One of the island’s legends was that happiness would come from overseas. What did come, however, were first the Japanese and then the Americans. In spite of these invasions, the people of Okinawa have managed to maintain their cultural identity over the years. The Nakasone family, who own the small, cosy, albeit rather rundown Hotel Hibiscus, is a good example. Nine-year-old Mieko’s siblings have different fathers. Kenji has an Afro-American father; Sachiko a white father. In this way, the Nakasones carry in their genes the story of Okinawa.
The Nakasones run their modest hotel business with a little help from grandparents, friends and relatives. The hotel has seen good times as well as economic doldrums. The proprietors’ vitality, their love of adventure and karaoke help them circumnavigate most obstacles. Then, one day, Sachiko decides to head for the USA in search of her father and the family threatens to disintegrate. Sachiko’s mother follows her daughter, while Kenji sets off for Tokyo and a career in boxing. All of a sudden, the people that looked after Mieko are no longer around; she has no choice but to embark upon an inner journey in order to find out about her cultural roots. Waiting to assist Meiko on her journey of discovery is the goblin in the Gajumaru tree.