Set in 900AD and tells the story of a famous female writer of the time, Murasaki Shikibu. Her story begins from the death of her husband, a Japanese noble, then moves on to her recruitment to train the Prince's young 'wives in waiting'. It is dotted throughout and actually composed mainly of one of the fictional stories she wrote, the tale of Genji. Genji is a rich playboy who falls in love and has a son to his stepmother. He falls in love often and has many wives whom are all completely subservient to him.

明治初年，性格倔强的阿米（天海佑希 饰）被休回家，经兄长安排再嫁给神户以砂糖生意为主的铃木商店老板岩治郎（生濑胜久 饰）。与当家人悭吝苛刻的作风不同，阿米和风细雨的处事态度得到了奉公者的爱戴，其中来自土佐的金子直吉（小栗旬 饰）更视阿米为人生的伯乐。岩治郎病故后，阿米决定继续铃木商店的经营，她倚重信赖直吉，将其视为商店的掌舵者。得到重用的直吉大展拳脚，虽然在最初的樟脑生意上跌了跟头，却在随后的商海航行中尽显才华。跨越了明治、大正两个波涛汹涌的时代，铃木商店销售业绩直线攀升，成为首屈一指的综合性企业。荣耀和风暴并存，阿米与直吉这对主仆扬帆航行……
本片根据玉冈薰的原作改编。