I first meet Matthew Cox for coffee in the summer of 2000. He wants to talk about writing, get feedback on a couple of articles, and doesn't yet get the lesson to be learned from American compatriot Raymond Carver.
He does, however, work hard enough to strike lucky, placing features on his first love, skiing and snowboarding, with a number of English-language magazines, including the former Tokyo Classified (now Metropolis), and writing a column, Chairman of the Board, for Ski Japan Guide.
In September 2001 comes a hysterical e-mail: "downsized" by the bank for which he was working in central Tokyo, Matt has been compensated with "the most enormous golden handshake." He can't believe his luck. Now he can make his dreams come true. Trouble is, which dreams?