The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Kawakami, Hiromi. Strange Weather in Tokyo. Counterpoint, 2012.

Hiromi Kawakami's novel Strange Weather in Tokyo is written from the main character Tsukiko's first person point of view. Because Tsukiko's narration is retrospective, it employs both the past and present tenses. The following summary relies upon the past tense and employs a linear mode of explanation.

For years, 37-year-old Tsukiko was contented with her solitary life in Tokyo. She had worked an office job for some time. When she was not working, she spent the majority of her time alone in her apartment, reading books, bathing, and talking to herself.

Then one day, she ran into her former high school teacher at a local bar. Unable to remember his name, she called him Sensei. Over the course of the weeks and months following, she and Sensei continued running into one another. Though Tsukiko had since remembered his name, she continued calling him Sensei.

Tsukiko and Sensei fell into a familiar rhythm. They most often spent their evenings drinking and eating at their local bar, Satoru's. Other times, they walked about the city after bumping into each other on the street. Though Sensei was decades older than Tsukiko, she felt more comfortable in his company than with people her own age. It was not until she and Sensei got into a heated argument about baseball at Satoru's one night, that Tsukiko began to realize how much she appreciated his friendship. Before Sensei, Tsukiko's life had been defined by solitude. She tried telling herself she was content with her isolation. However, the more she thought about it, the more she realized how Sensei had enriched her daily life.

After making amends, Tsukiko and Sensei agreed to join Satoru on a mushroom hunting excursion with his cousin. Throughout the trip, Tsukiko regretted tagging along. Then, while sitting on a stump alone, she had a revelation about the beauty of the world around her. She was not as alone as she had always thought.

When Sensei invited Tsukiko to a cherry blossom party hosted by her former art teacher, Tsukiko was reluctant to attend. Throughout the event, she visited with a former classmate Takashi Kojima, but her attention was divided. She could not stop watching Sensei converse with the other teachers and students.

Tsukiko and Kojima left the party prematurely, spending the night drinking and walking around together. Tsukiko felt emotionally disengaged. She was therefore surprised when Kojima professed his feelings for her and kissed her. Despite her disinterest in dating him, she continued seeing Kojima over the following weeks.

One night, after Tsukiko and Sensei made amends after yet another disagreement, Tsukiko blurted out that she loved Sensei. It began raining and thundering almost immediately thereafter. Sensei did not verbally reciprocate Tsukiko's profession, but held and comforted her throughout the storm.

When Sensei took Tsukiko on a trip to a nearby island shortly thereafter, she was unsure what to expect. She soon discovered Sensei was visiting his late wife's grave on the island. Feeling hurt, Tsukiko told herself Sensei would never love her. Not long later, however, the friends made amends and Sensei apologized for his poor behavior on the island. The two decided to begin dating officially.

Only a year after, Sensei died. Tsukiko thought about and missed him often. He left her his suitcase, which she held often, opening and closing repeatedly.