Byakuya no Kawabe (白夜の川辺 – Riverside of the White Nights)

Act 1: Machi no Kage (街の影 – Shadows in the City)

Settings: Tokyo | Seoul | Singapore

• Shinichi Hoshino struggles with creative block and guilt over past decisions while working as a freelance illustrator in Tokyo.

• Michiko Kudo investigates rising corporate corruption in her journalism. She meets Sayaka Mizuno, an old friend, who hints at Kaito Sugimoto’s dark dealings.

• Kaito Sugimoto, a charismatic CEO and Shinichi’s childhood rival, pressures Shinichi to join his company’s PR division, representing societal conformity.

• Family dynamics: Kenji pushes Shinichi toward conformity; Reiko silently supports him. Haruto struggles with expectations; Hiromi develops her own identity in calligraphy under Noriko’s mentorship.

• Michiko faces marriage pressures from Satoshi; Sachiko silently supports her; Machiko, though supportive, envies Michiko’s independence; Yuji acts as a contrast to Michiko: carefree, rebellious, dabbling in odd jobs and part-time DJing.

• Brief trip to Seoul: Michiko covers a tech summit, meets Kyoko Sawada, a novelist with dreams of romantic freedom

• Hideo Okamoto (comic relief) remains loyal to Shinichi, trying to keep things light amidst his existential spirals.

• Singapore: Subtle romantic moments between Shinichi and Michiko, during a quiet evening walk, hinting at unspoken feelings amid their emotional complexities.

Act 2: Tsumi no kawa, shinjitsu no yama (罪の川、真実の山 – Rivers of Guilt, Mountains of Truth)

Settings: Mount Fuji | Shizuoka | Kyoto | Osaka | Niigata

• Shinichi retreats to Mount Fuji, staying at an inn run by Takako Yoshida. He begins reconnecting with nature and reflects on his failures.

• A visit to Sayuri Tange, a young tea influencer in Shizuoka, inspires Shinichi with her balance of tradition and modernity.

• Daiki Morimoto in Kyoto mentors Shinichi artistically, introducing him to Naoko Watanabe, a reclusive poet whose philosophical depth stirs internal change.

• Meanwhile, Michiko visits Kyoto to reconnect with herself, meeting Megumi Uehara, who offers blunt but honest advice.

• In Osaka, Ryosuke Takagi’s violin performance moves Michiko and Shinichi (coincidentally attending) to share a fleeting but deep connection.

• Flashbacks to childhood rivalries with Kaito are triggered in both leads. Kaito’s influence looms larger as he begins manipulating Haruto with promises of success.

• In Niigata, Hiromi, blossoming under Noriko’s guidance, begins exploring exhibitions for her calligraphy.

• Eiji Nakamura, a psychologist, starts working with Shinichi remotely, helping him begin confronting his long-held guilt.

Act 3: Kaigai no Byakuya (海外の白夜 – White Nights Abroad)

Settings: Paris, France | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Venice, Italy | Munich, Germany | Vienna, Austria | Switzerland (Zürich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Gstaad, Davos, St. Moritz, Geneva & Montreux)

• Michiko, awarded a fellowship, travels through Europe. She rediscovers herself through conversations with artists and journalists.

• In Paris, Kyoko Sawada helps Michiko reflect on love, regret, and emotional authenticity.

• In Venice, Michiko contemplates solitude vs. companionship, symbolized by the city’s canals and fading grandeur.

• In Vienna, she hears Ryosuke Takagi again — this time performing at a cultural exchange. They reconnect as friends.

• Shinichi, meanwhile, quietly follows Michiko’s travels online, painting places she visits without her knowing.

• In Switzerland, both characters have separate epiphanies about personal freedom versus societal duty.

• Michiko publishes a heartfelt article titled "Jiko no Hakubyaku no Yoru" (自己の白夜の夜 – White Nights of the Self) unintentionally revealing shared themes with Shinichi’s art.

Act 4: Tokiakasareru Shinjitsu (解き明かされる真実 – The Unraveling Truths)

Settings: Hokkaido (Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate & Furano) | USA (New York, Chicago, San Francisco & Los Angeles) | London, UK | Cairo, Egypt

• Both leads return to Japan. Shinichi heads to Hokkaido to stay with Yumiko Tanabe, a widowed café owner in Sapporo who becomes a maternal figure.

• Masakazu Fujita, a humble fisherman in Furano, teaches Shinichi about simplicity and accepting imperfections.

• In Otaru, Hiromi visits him, seeking to step out of his shadow and present her first solo exhibition.

• Michiko investigates and uncovers key evidence of Kaito’s international corruption, using Hakodate as a strategic hub for her reporting and coordination with Sayaka Mizuno.

• Sayaka Mizuno continues to dig into Kaito’s dealings, discovering major corruption tied to overseas assets in London, New York, Chicago and Egypt.

• Haruto becomes entangled in Kaito’s project, tempted by the glamour of the corporate world.

• Michiko, now a well-known journalist, returns and decides to confront Kaito directly. Her confrontation is pivotal, exposing the emotional manipulation he used on Shinichi and others.

• A dramatic public article, co-written by Michiko and Sayaka, breaks the Kaito scandal wide open.

• In San Francisco, Shinichi and Michiko reunite briefly during an art show and share an intimate, quiet evening walk by the waterfront.

• In Los Angeles, Shinichi and Michiko share quiet, romantic moments under the cinematic lights — more subtle than dramatic.

• The Hoshino and Kudo families come together for a confrontation about generational expectations.

Act 5: Byakuya no Kawabe (白夜の川辺 – Riverside of the White Nights)

Settings: Tokyo | Kyoto | Sapporo

Closing Scene Setting: Riverside in Sapporo during white nights

• Shinichi hosts his first major art exhibition in Tokyo, integrating traditional Japanese motifs with abstract emotions — reflecting his journey.

• Hiromi holds her solo calligraphy exhibition in Kyoto, finally free of comparison.

• Haruto publicly distances himself from Kaito’s ideology and enrolls in environmental design.

• Michiko publishes a memoir titled Byakuya no Kawabe, reflecting on freedom, family, and fleeting love.

• At a riverside café in Sapporo, under the pale midnight sun, Shinichi and Michiko meet again. Their bond is quiet but powerful — no promises, just mutual understanding.

• Final montage: Kaito faces trial, alone; Yumiko closes her café with peace; Reiko and Kenji hold hands as they visit Shinichi’s exhibition;  Naoko, Daiki, Takako, and others are seen quietly watching the new generation rise.

• Last image: Shinichi sketches the river as Michiko walks away, disappearing into the glow of the white night — open-ended, yet whole. 

Main Characters 

• Shinichi Hoshino (Male Lead) – Introspective artist; struggles with guilt and family expectations. 

• Michiko Kudo (Female Lead) – Independent journalist balancing traditional family pressures and personal freedom.

• Kaito Sugimoto (Main Antagonist) — Shinichi’s childhood rival. A successful, charismatic businessman in Tokyo who embodies societal pressure and conformity. 

Hoshino Family

• Kenji Hoshino (Father): Traditional and stoic, expects Shinichi to conform but also quietly supports his artistic dreams.

• Reiko Hoshino (Mother): Gentle, nurturing, tries to keep the family together amid tensions.

• Hiromi Hoshino (Twin Sister): Artistic, struggles to find her own identity beyond Shinichi’s shadow; mentored by Noriko Sasaki.

• Haruto Hoshino (Younger Brother): Energetic and idealistic, looks up to Shinichi but is caught between family expectations and his own dreams.

Kudo Family

• Satoshi Kudo (Father): Strict but caring, wants Michiko to marry well and continue family legacy.

• Sachiko Kudo (Mother): Traditional and loving yet conflicted over Michiko’s independence.

• Machiko Kudo (Twin Sister): Supportive but sometimes competitive; shares close bond with Michiko.

• Yuji Kudo (Younger Brother): Fun-loving and rebellious, contrasts with Michiko’s seriousness.

Friends & Mentors

• Hideo Okamoto: Shinichi’s loyal childhood friend; practical and grounded, offers comic relief.

• Megumi Uehara: Michiko’s close friend; wise and pragmatic, often offers tough love advice.

• Yumiko Tanabe: Widowed café owner in Sapporo; gentle mentor helping Shinichi release his guilt.

• Takako Yoshida: Inn owner near Mount Fuji; wise and maternal, connects Shinichi with nature.

• Naoko Watanabe: Reclusive poet in Kyoto; offers philosophical insights that deepen Shinichi’s self-understanding.

• Kyoko Sawada: Aspiring novelist met by Michiko in Paris; romantic and dreamy, inspires Michiko’s emotional growth.

• Eiji Nakamura: Psychologist in Tokyo; helps Shinichi face inner demons and reconcile with his past.

• Daiki Morimoto: Seasoned painter in Kyoto; mentor figure blending traditional and modern art styles.

• Masakazu Fujita: Fisherman in Hokkaido; represents the beauty of simplicity and harmony with nature.

• Sayaka Mizuno: Childhood friend turned journalist; key in exposing Kaito’s corruption and helping Shinichi reclaim honor.

• Noriko Sasaki: Calligraphy artist who helps Hiromi discover her creative voice.

• Sayuri Tange: Gen Z tea influencer at Shizuoka; symbolizes new generation balancing tradition and innovation.

• Ryosuke Takagi: Violinist performing at Osaka Castle Park; his music symbolizes hope and connection.

Settings: Tokyo, Japan (primary) | Mount Fuji, Japan | Kyoto, Japan | Osaka, Japan | Hokkaido, Japan (Sapporo, Hakodate, Otaru & Furano) | Niigata, Japan | Shizuoka, Japan | Seoul, South Korea | Singapore | Egypt (Cairo & Giza) | USA (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles & San Francisco) | London, UK | Paris, France | Brussels (Brussels & Belgium) | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Venice, Italy | Munich, Germany | Vienna, Austria | Switzerland (Zürich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Grindelwald, Gstaad, Davos, St. Moritz, Geneva and Montreux) | Prague, Czechia