Otto (Christian Ulmen) and Leo (Simon Verhoeven) are friends and business partners. Together, they import koi fish from Japan to their native Germany. All is well until the pair meet a German tourist named Ida (Alexandra Maria Lara) in Japan. Ida travels with the two friends, falls in love with Otto and, after learning she's pregnant, returns to Germany with them. After Ida and Otto marry, she becomes more involved in the koi business, which disturbs the men's friendship -- and the business too.