午夜剧场

"I can't seem to convey my thoughts well."

"The conversation doesn't flow."

"I get nervous and the words won't come out."

Because of my profession, I often receive consultations about these kinds of worries and anxieties. Even before I started working, back in my student days, I would share these concerns with friends, and we would sigh together, saying, "Sigh, if only there were something we could do..."

In my teens, I overthought everything and agonized over every single word exchanged with friends or the opposite sex. After entering the workforce, I cried over the difficulty of handling language. Since then, I've dealt with conversations with fellow moms, communication with my children and parents, and how to speak within a changing career. Every day, I am acutely aware that worries about "speaking" never end, no matter how old you get.

In the midst of all this, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the once-ordinary act of "having a conversation with someone" suddenly became difficult. Personally, I found myself increasingly comforted by the casual talk I heard on the radio and the sense of security that human voices provide. It seems that the number of people listening to the radio actually increased during this period, triggered by the rise in remote work. While new methods of communication like "Online [X]" continue to increase, it feels as though we have come full circle back to the basics of "speaking and listening."

Why is it that we feel such a sense of familiarity despite it being "voice only"? Why do we want to keep listening?

If I could put this into words, perhaps it would provide the answer to communication-related worries. As a listener who loves the radio and as a DJ working in this world, I tried to verbalize the charm of the radio, which is once again attracting attention.

Even though I am naturally prone to nervousness, shy, and a worrier, I auditioned out of pure admiration and started my first program 25 years ago. I have made countless mistakes, and there are still moments when my heart pounds inside. That is precisely why I hope those with similar worries can feel even a little more at ease. With that wish in mind, I wrote about the small tips and habits for "conveying" that I value in the live broadcasting field. I would be happy if this could serve as a hint in any situation, from casual daily small talk to "big moments" and interactions with people you find difficult.

Fumika Hideshima

Asahi Shimbun Publications

256 pages, 1,540 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are those at the time of publication.