When a young Hamish Beaton steps off the plane to teach English in Japan, little does he know that he's in for the three year ride of his life. Jetlagged and dazed, he is swept up into a mystifying world. As he tries to make sense of it, he encounters an astonishing cast of characters - young women with clothing fetishes, middle-aged housewives who cook him meals in exchange for English conversation, a bizarre elderly couple who take him on a nerve-wracking expedition, fellow teachers with eccentric habits, and - of course - his student, whom he must somehow instruct, despite a total lack of teaching experience. Written with spirited humour, a self-depreciating eye, and an engaging style, this is travel writing at its best.