This story begins with a murder. Tamiya Lemon (iemon), an unemployed ronin-a samurai who has lost his masters favor-is married to a loving, devoted wife, Oiwa.
He kills his father-in-law because this man has found out about Lemon's evil past deeds. Oiwa trusts her husband so she believes him when he comforts her and tells her he will help find her father's murderer.
No longer a samurai Lemon is forced to make a living as an oilpaper umbrella maker in order to support his young wife and baby. His lowered circumstances and the fact he is becoming bored with his marriage cause him to resent his young wife who he had at one time loved.
At this point, Lemon's wealthy neighbor lures him into an evil scheme. The neighbor knows his granddaughter loves Lemon so he mentions to Lemon that if he were not married he could marry his beautiful granddaughter and have all her wealth.
Lemon wanting the granddaughter and her wealth devises a plan to murder Oiwa. Once again devoted to her husband Oiwa is blind to her husband's evil nature.
Lemon gives Oiwa a medicine he states will strengthen her but it is actually poison. Lemon watches coldly as the poison disfigures his wife-her eye droops and big chunks of her hair start to fall out. He is disappointed that she does not die. When wa sees herself in a mirror for the first time she is completely undone by her disfigurement.
This combined with the fact that she now knows her husband has tried to murder her is more then she can bear-her knowledge of his betrayal causes her to die of a broken heart.
When Lemon discovers Oiwa's faithful servant, Kobote Kohei knows what he has done he accuses him of theft and arranges for someone to kill him. He then has Kohei and Oiwa's bodies strapped to two sides of a wooden door and thrown into a river.
Without a care for what he has done Lemon plans for his new marriage. To his horror on his wedding day as Lemon lifts his new brides veil he sees Oiwa's disfigured face. He instantly beheads her with his sword only to discover he has killed his new young bride.
Terrified, he flees to the neighbors' house to tell him what he has done but before he can confess Kohei's ghost confronts him. Lemon slashes at this ghost with his sword only to find he has killed his new father-in-law.
From then on everywhere that Lemon goes Oiwa's vengeful spirit pursues him. He even sees her disfigured face reflected in the lanterns that light his way.
Seeking escape he travels to the mountains where he goes fishing but instead of catching fish he hooks the door that holds Kohei and Oiwa's corpses. He then runs to a cabin where the vines turn into snakes and the smoke from the fire turns into Oiwa's hair.
At his wit's end lemon flees the cabin only to run into Oiwa's brother who kills him--finally all his evil deeds are avenged.
