Summary

This section concerns pages 1-120 of the novel. The unnamed narrator, a 36-year-old professional portrait artist, has recently been left by his wife, Yuzu, who has been sleeping with another man. Deciding to leave their home, the artist packed a few things and drove around Japan on his own for a month and a half, before moving into the family home of his friend from art school, Masahiko Amada. The previous occupant was Masahiko's father, Tomohiko, who is a famous artist who has suffered a mental collapse, and now lives in a care home. The house is on a remote mountaintop, and the artist makes a living teaching art classes at a local college. He lives across a valley from a mysterious white mansion that catches his eye.

The artist has also embarked on two love affairs after he moved out of his wife's...