A previous Deep in Japan podcast explored how ancient Japanese viewed their environment and sacred sites, culminating in the author’s discovery of a mountain range that was formerly viewed as a mandala that practitioners could traverse. This 2022 podcast is more autobiographical, describing encounters with Reischauer, Keene, Alan Watts, and others. Among various topics such as neighborhood organizations, Buddhism and haiku, discussing his career as a Japan specialist and professor, the author advises navigating between assimilation and going native, consulting and negotiating to gain leeway, and remaining a professional foreigner.