Amy Chavez arrived in Japan from America in 1993. After a few years enjoying the city life, she began a search for the "real Japan" and found it on Shiraishi (population 430), a tiny island in the Seto Inland Sea. For ten years she lectured at a Japanese university before becoming a full-time writer. For over 20 years she has penned a column for The Japan Times covering issues central to island life such as tourism, the environment, aging and depopulation. Chavez is the author of several books, including Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan: Do it Right and Be Polite.