In this introspective novel, a diary washes ashore on a remote Canadian island, bridging two disparate worlds. The journal, written by Nao, a troubled Japanese teenager, chronicles her life, her contemplation of suicide, and her relationship with her great-grandmother, a Zen Buddhist nun. The diary is discovered by a novelist, who becomes engrossed by Nao's story and is compelled to unravel the mysteries of Nao's fate and her own connection to the young girl. As the novelist reads, the boundaries between writer and reader, past and present, fiction and reality blur, creating a meditation on time, loss, and the intricate threads that connect human lives across the globe.

The book is a psychological exploration of the clash between Western and Eastern business cultures, as seen through the eyes of a young Belgian woman working for a major Japanese corporation in Tokyo. The protagonist's initial fascination with the company's traditional Japanese corporate culture turns into a harrowing psychological ordeal as she confronts extreme work ethic, rigid hierarchies, and the challenge of maintaining her identity in the face of overwhelming conformity. Through her experiences, the novel delves into themes of alienation, the search for self, and the often surreal nature of cross-cultural encounters.

The novel follows Cayce Pollard, a marketing consultant with an intuitive sensitivity to corporate symbols, as she embarks on a global quest to find the creator of mysterious video clips that have garnered a cult following on the internet. Her journey takes her from London to Tokyo and then to Russia, navigating the intersecting worlds of advertising, technology, and espionage. As she delves deeper into the origin of the footage, she encounters various characters with their own vested interests, and her ability to discern patterns becomes crucial in solving the puzzle. The narrative explores themes of globalization, identity, and the impact of technology on society.

The book is a semi-autobiographical novel that delves into the complexities of cultural identity and love. It follows a young Belgian woman who, infatuated with Japanese culture, returns to Tokyo with the intention of immersing herself in the language and lifestyle. She begins a romantic relationship with a Japanese man, which becomes a conduit through which she explores the nuances of cross-cultural understanding and personal identity. As their relationship deepens, the couple navigates the challenges posed by their different backgrounds, leading to a poignant exploration of the intersection between desire, belonging, and the search for self amidst the backdrop of a bustling, enigmatic Tokyo.