In Tokyo during the Taisho era, there lived a 17-year-old schoolgirl named Benio Hanamura. Despite losing her mother at an early age, she was raised by her father, who held a high position in the Japanese army. As a result of this upbringing, Benio has developed into a tomboy, defying traditional notions of femininity. She enjoys studying kendo, drinking sake, and wearing Western-style clothing that often deviates from societal norms. In contrast to her interest in housewife duties, she is more passionate about literature. Additionally, Benio rejects the idea of arranged marriages and believes that women should have the freedom to pursue their own careers and marry for love. Her closest friends are Tamaki, a feminine woman who shares her views on womens rights, and Ranmaru, an individual raised in the kabuki theater who has developed effeminate mannerisms due to his upbringing.
Haikara-san ga Tooru won the first Kodansha Manga Award for shoujo in 1977.