Kawaii is Japanese for 'cute', and describes the diminutive Japanese girl, standing looking lost in Heathrow Arrivals with her rolling suitcase and carry-on. Ron can't resist asking if she's okay...
Despite the difference in their ages a widower finds love with his young neighbour, Elizabeth. After his death, she in turn finds happiness with a young man, Robert, who she meets when she knocks him off his motor-bike. When she knows she is dying she grooms a replacement. But Sarah is young and there are many problems in the restrictive English university of the 1970's where he is her tutor. Will Robert and Sarah find happiness? The matter is in doubt right up to the end.