Zenzō, an elderly hunter residing in Hokkaido's rural landscapes, once lived as a settler in colonial-era Manchuria, granting him direct familiarity with Chinese culture and language. This background allows him to identify the escaped laborer Inlen Yang as Chinese while local villagers remain oblivious to Inlen's origins. After observing the mute child Tomoko forge a connection with Inlen through a shared lullaby, Zenzō endeavors to establish communication and mutual understanding, positioning himself as a potential intermediary between the fugitive and the community. His colonial past directly shapes both his recognition of Inlen and his efforts to bridge divides amid language barriers and historical Sino-Japanese tensions of the period.