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 (Japan) | Seoul (South Korea) | Singapore | Sydney & Brisbane (Australia) | Cape Town (South Africa) | Mykonos (Greece) 

• 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.

• Satoshi challenges Michiko’s growing independence; 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.

• Shinichi and Michiko attend a tech conference in Sydney, where Shinichi is approached by potential clients, hinting at the growing pressure to conform. Meanwhile, Michiko uncovers early signs of corporate greed affecting the local tech scene.

• Shinichi visits a street art festival at Brisbane, finding some inspiration amidst the vibrant, rebellious atmosphere. Michiko meets with local activists, deepening her sense of purpose in uncovering corporate corruption.

• In Cape Town, Shinichi attends an art exhibition focused on societal issues, drawing parallels to his internal struggles. Michiko interviews local whistleblowers, slowly unraveling Kaito’s global influence.

• Mykonos serves as a brief but vivid escape where Shinichi and Michiko confront their inner conflicts amid the island’s vibrant nightlife and serene beaches, symbolizing fleeting freedom and the tension between desire and duty before their journeys intensify.

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 (Japan) | Bangkok (Thailand) 

• 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. 

• In Bangkok, Michiko uncovers links between Kaito’s shell companies and Southeast Asian tech firms; Shinichi visits a local artist's studio, finding quiet inspiration.

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

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

• Michiko, awarded a fellowship, travels to Belgium. 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.

• In Mexico City, Michiko connects with local culture and nature, deepening her sense of freedom and self.

• In Cancún, she reflects on renewal and escape amid the coastal beauty and tourism contrasts.

• In Tulum, Michiko explores vibrant street art and history, gaining new creative inspiration.

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

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

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): An introspective artist burdened by guilt and the weight of his family’s expectations.

• Michiko Kudo (Female Lead): An independent journalist struggling to balance traditional family pressures with her yearning for personal freedom.

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

Supporting Characters

• Kenji Hoshino: Shinichi’s traditional, stoic father who expects conformity yet quietly supports his son’s artistic dreams.

• Reiko Hoshino: Shinichi’s gentle, nurturing mother who strives to keep the family united amid growing tensions.

• Hiromi Hoshino: Shinichi’s artistic twin sister who wrestles with defining her own identity beyond his shadow, ultimately finding guidance under Noriko Sasaki’s mentorship.

• Haruto Hoshino: Shinichi’s energetic, idealistic younger brother who admires him deeply but struggles between family expectations and his own ambitions.

• Satoshi Kudo: Michiko’s strict yet caring father, embodying traditional values that often challenge her independence.

• Sachiko Kudo: Michiko’s loving but conservative mother, torn between supporting her daughter’s freedom and preserving family tradition.

• Machiko Kudo: Michiko’s supportive yet occasionally competitive twin sister, with whom she shares a deep emotional bond.

• Yuji Kudo: Michiko’s fun-loving, rebellious younger brother whose carefree nature contrasts with her seriousness.

• Hideo Okamoto: Shinichi’s loyal childhood friend — practical, grounded, and often the source of comic relief.

• Megumi Uehara: Michiko’s close friend; wise, pragmatic, and known for her tough-love advice.

• Sayaka Mizuno: Michiko’s childhood friend turned investigative journalist who exposes Kaito’s corruption, helping Shinichi reclaim his honor.

• Yumiko Arai: A gentle café owner in Sapporo who helps Shinichi release his lingering guilt and rediscover peace.

• Takako Yoshida: A maternal innkeeper near Mount Fuji who guides Shinichi toward healing through a reconnection with nature.

• Naoko Watanabe: A reclusive poet in Kyoto who offers profound philosophical insights that deepen Shinichi’s self-understanding.

• Kyoko Sawada: An aspiring novelist Michiko meets in Paris; romantic and dreamy, she inspires Michiko’s emotional awakening.

• Eiji Nakamura: A compassionate psychologist in Tokyo who helps Shinichi confront his inner demons and reconcile with his past.

• Daiki Morimoto: A seasoned Kyoto painter blending traditional and modern art, serving as a mentor in Shinichi’s creative rebirth.

• Masakazu Fujita: A humble fisherman in Hokkaido who embodies simplicity, balance, and harmony with nature.

• Noriko Sasaki: A calligraphy artist who mentors Hiromi in discovering her authentic creative voice.

• Sayuri Tange: A Gen Z tea influencer from Shizuoka who symbolizes the new generation’s harmony between tradition and innovation.

• Ryosuke Takagi: A violinist performing in Osaka Castle Park, whose music becomes a symbol of hope and human connection.

Primary Setting: Tokyo, Japan 

Other Settings: Japan (Mount Fuji; Kyoto; Osaka; Hokkaido — Sapporo, Hakodate, Otaru, and Furano; Niigata & Shizuoka) | Seoul, South Korea | Bangkok, Thailand | Singapore | Cape Town, South Africa | Egypt (Cairo & Giza) | Australia (Sydney & Brisbane) | USA (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles & San Francisco) | Mexico (Mexico City, Cancún & Tulum) | 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, Lausanne & Montreux) | Prague, Czechia | Mykonos, Greece