On November 12, 1929, John B. Holway was born to Edward J., an engineer, and Frances (Rimbach) Holway, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He eventually attended the University of Iowa, where he received his bachelor of arts degree in 1950. The following year he joined the United States Army, and while in the service he met his future wife, Motoka Mori, marrying her on October 15, 1954. The couple have four children, two boys and two girls. Holway reached the rank of first lieutenant in the army, but he left the service in 1956, whereupon he took a job with the United States Information Service (USIS). This job provided him with his primary source of income while he pursued his literary interests.

Howlay began by writing about sports, publishing Japan Is Big League in Thrills in 1955 and Sumo in 1957. He published articles in several magazines such as Look and American...