Joshua Medcalf is the author of Chop Wood Carry Water, though he does not appear as a character in the book until the final chapters. In these chapters, the parable format is no longer utilized as Medcalf speaks directly to the reader in the fashion of a motivational speaker. In Chapters 29 through 31, Medcalf shares the moments that changed his life and how readers might similarly alter their own trajectories. More than any of the various lessons in the book, Medcalf returns to the idea that living a mission-driven life is more prosperous and successful than living a goal-oriented life.

In the extended parable in the book, Medcalf’s voice appears through the character of Akira. The samurai teacher is meant to be a proxy for Medcalf, whose philosophy on mental training and positive mindset is a blend of Eastern and Western motivational training. Akira is Medcalf in costume, delivering the same advice Medcalf offers in other self-help books he has authored. However, the use of a proxy for the delivery of this advice enhances the Eastern worldview, giving equal weight to both through the narrative storytelling mechanism.

Medcalf took a spartan approach to training in his early years, shedding friends and time commitments that did not align with his vision for a successful future.