John lives his "good life" in the forests of Chiba, connecting to the cycle of nature through the songs of the uguisu in spring, spotting the Hotaru in the summer, and enjoying the beautiful seasonal foliage. He has been an established speechwriter specializing in gaijin CEOs of Japanese corporations since 2001, upon his return to Japan. John tells stories of his childhood and family in Canada, hitchhiking adventures through the South Pacific and South Asia, and how an idle decision to take a Japanese course at university led to his life and career in Japan.