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ビジネス日本語講座
ビジネス日本語講座
Author: Shigeki Sensei
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© Shigeki Sensei
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🎯 Want to learn real Japanese used in business?
Book a lesson with me on Preply now!
👉 https://preply.com/ja/tutor/3450777?utm_medium
———
📣 このポッドキャストでは、日系企業で働きたい方向けに、ビジネスで使われる日本語やマナー、面接・業界研究のコツなどを解説しています。
◆ 無料メルマガ(濃い学びを得たい方に)
https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng
◆ YouTube(ビジネス日本語を動画で)
www.youtube.com/@Shigeki-Sensei
◆ブログ
https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/
◆Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/shigeki_sensei555/
◆電子書籍
www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DSWMHJRZ
◆オーディオブック(海外在住者向け)
https://payhip.com/ShigekiSensei
◆ご意見・ご感想・ご質問はこちらへどうぞ。
info_n6@my162p.com
Book a lesson with me on Preply now!
👉 https://preply.com/ja/tutor/3450777?utm_medium
———
📣 このポッドキャストでは、日系企業で働きたい方向けに、ビジネスで使われる日本語やマナー、面接・業界研究のコツなどを解説しています。
◆ 無料メルマガ(濃い学びを得たい方に)
https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng
◆ YouTube(ビジネス日本語を動画で)
www.youtube.com/@Shigeki-Sensei
◆ブログ
https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shigeki_sensei555/
◆電子書籍
www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DSWMHJRZ
◆オーディオブック(海外在住者向け)
https://payhip.com/ShigekiSensei
◆ご意見・ご感想・ご質問はこちらへどうぞ。
info_n6@my162p.com
616 Episodes
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In this episode, Shigeki explores the idea of “quiet happiness” and what a peaceful life without constant struggle might look like in modern Japan. While society often celebrates people who achieve great success or overcome hardship, many of the truly content individuals appear to live ordinary, stable lives. They avoid conflict, maintain harmonious relationships, and focus on small, everyday stability rather than ambition. This lifestyle creates a sense of safety and calm, but it may also carry a subtle emptiness beneath the surface. The episode reflects on whether this calm acceptance of life—without chasing meaning or grand achievement—might represent a unique form of modern maturity.
In this episode, Shigeki examines a common belief in Japanese society: that hard work and sacrifice will eventually be rewarded. Phrases like “work harder than your salary” or “suffer when you are young” are often presented as moral virtues. However, Shigeki questions whether this idea actually works as a reliable model. While some individuals succeed through extreme effort, the broader reality shows long working hours, stagnant wages, and limited upward mobility. The episode argues that the issue is not a lack of effort, but a structural imbalance in how effort is rewarded. Instead of demanding more sacrifice from individuals, societies should focus on designing fair systems that properly recognize and reward work.
In this episode, Shigeki reflects on the modern obsession with “creating individuality.” On social media and platforms like YouTube, many people try to build a personality or character from the very beginning. However, Shigeki argues that true individuality does not start with performance or branding. Instead, it emerges slowly through long effort, experience, and practice. Using the example of sumo wrestlers, he explains how unique styles appear naturally after years of training. In contrast, today’s culture often promotes “instant individuality,” similar to instant noodles. In the real world, however, trust, reliability, and consistent work matter far more than a quickly manufactured personality.
In this episode, Shigeki explores a curious aspect of Japanese workplace culture: the small talk of middle-aged salarymen. Contrary to the common belief that good conversation must be witty or intellectual, the small talk that many office veterans enjoy is often simple, familiar, and comfortable. The goal is not to debate ideas or share deep insights, but to create a safe atmosphere where no one feels challenged or uncomfortable. As a result, workplace conversations often drift into harmless social commentary rather than serious political or philosophical discussion. Small talk in Japanese companies, Shigeki suggests, functions less as communication and more as a ritual for maintaining harmony.
In this episode, Shigeki explores an interesting question: why do Japanese salarymen engage in so much small talk? While it is often explained as a cultural trait, the real reason may lie in the structure of Japanese companies. In many workplaces, performance is not judged by numbers alone. Personality, trust, and the ability to read social situations also matter. Small talk becomes a way to observe character, share informal information, and maintain relationships. These casual conversations function as a hidden system that helps organizations operate smoothly. By looking at everyday office chatter, this episode reveals deeper insights into how Japanese corporate culture actually works.
In this episode, Shigeki explores an interesting pattern found in the comment sections of YouTube videos about semi-retirement and FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). Many viewers post comments describing their own assets, retirement plans, or progress toward financial independence. At first glance, these comments may look like simple bragging. However, the behavior reveals something deeper. Shigeki suggests that long years of working in Japanese corporate culture—where constant reporting is expected—condition people to explain and report their life status even outside the workplace. Writing such comments becomes less about boasting and more about seeking confirmation that their life choices are correct.
In this episode, Shigeki explores a fundamental question about Japanese society: has a true civil society ever existed in Japan? He begins with the figure of the Japanese salaryman, whose identity is often closely tied to their company. Unlike many Western societies, where individuals participate in society as independent citizens, Japanese social life has historically been organized around communities such as the village, the family, and eventually the corporation. As a result, companies often functioned as surrogate social institutions. But as lifetime employment weakens and corporate communities decline, a new question emerges: can Japanese society transition from company-centered belonging to a society built around autonomous citizens?
In this episode, Shigeki examines a surprising weakness many people have: the belief that “I am not the kind of person who gets scammed.” While people often assume that only the uninformed or careless fall for fraud, the reality is more complicated. Modern scams increasingly target individuals who see themselves as rational, skeptical, and intelligent consumers. By appealing to a person’s self-image as someone who can judge carefully, scammers create just enough curiosity to draw them closer. The real defense, Shigeki argues, is not simply suspicion, but maintaining distance. Recognizing that anyone can be deceived is the first step toward avoiding manipulation.
In this episode, Shigeki discusses a practical survival strategy for working in traditional Japanese companies: do not raise your employer’s expectations too high. While exceeding expectations may initially lead to praise or promotion, it often creates a cycle where standards keep rising without corresponding increases in pay or rewards. Over time, this can lead to burnout and long-term exhaustion. Instead, the key is managing expectations carefully—perform your responsibilities reliably while maintaining a sustainable pace. By controlling expectations rather than constantly surpassing them, employees can protect their work-life balance and remain stable within organizations where evaluation and compensation do not always grow proportionally with effort.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this episode, I reflect on the growing popularity of the “digital nomad” lifestyle. Social media often portrays working from cafes, traveling the world, and escaping office life as an ideal form of freedom. But what exactly are these stories offering? Many of them provide neither practical knowledge nor a reproducible path. Instead, they function as a display of lifestyle. Similar to FIRE content, these narratives often present a life that appears free from social friction—no bosses, no commuting, no workplace conflict. Yet real societies operate through friction and collective effort. Perhaps the digital nomad phenomenon reveals something deeper: our modern desire to imagine a life without friction.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this episode, I examine the recent popularity of the idea of “verbalization” in Japan. While many people now emphasize the importance of expressing thoughts clearly, Japanese society has traditionally valued harmony, restraint, and reading the atmosphere rather than openly stating opinions. I explore how the rise of social media and online platforms has changed this dynamic, making confident speakers appear more knowledgeable and persuasive, even when their ideas may lack substance. The episode questions whether verbalization is truly a new essential skill, or whether it has simply become fashionable in the digital age. Ultimately, I suggest that words alone should not replace real experience and knowledge.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode examines the history of Japan’s internet side-hustle culture and explains how the 2010s produced what the speaker calls “the last men.” After the global financial crisis and the rise of smartphones and social media, many people began seeking freedom from traditional corporate careers. Online gurus promoted the idea that anyone could earn large incomes through simple methods. In reality, many participants ended up performing repetitive, low-value tasks while chasing the illusion of freedom. In the 2020s, however, audiences have become more skeptical. The episode argues that the future belongs not to empty business models, but to creators with real experience, ideas, and intellectual depth.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode explores the idea of “safe” and “dangerous” addictions in modern society. While people admire passion and obsession, their evaluation changes depending on what the object is. Reading or fitness may be praised, while drug use is condemned, even though the underlying psychological mechanisms are similar. The difference lies in social approval and control. “Safe addictions” are those that fit within the system and keep people occupied and manageable. In contrast, “dangerous addictions” disrupt order and are rejected. Ultimately, the episode argues that society teaches us which forms of obsession are acceptable, shaping how we express desire and identity.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode explores why self-help continues to sell so well by analyzing its underlying structure. The key argument is that the true product is not knowledge or techniques, but anxiety. Self-help content identifies vague personal fears and offers reassurance, creating a cycle that keeps people engaged. Abstract language plays a major role, allowing ideas to feel meaningful without clear definitions. The episode also explains why people struggle to leave this world, as doing so requires admitting uncomfortable truths about themselves. Ultimately, self-help aligns with modern social systems that emphasize personal responsibility, turning structural problems into individual issues and sustaining a stable, self-reinforcing market.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode explores why Japanese society does not truly allow people to start over. While the ideal is a system where anyone can change careers at any age, the reality is different. Companies prioritize young graduates, organizations struggle with hierarchy when older beginners enter, and cultural values favor staying on one path. As a result, people become trapped in “octopus pots” — narrow career paths they cannot easily leave. The solution is not to rely on the system, but to prepare individually by diversifying skills and keeping options open. In a society that resists second chances, survival depends on mobility and strategic flexibility.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode explores the concept of the “octopus trap” as a metaphor for modern careers. In traditional systems, people were encouraged to specialize deeply within a single field, often staying in the same role or company for decades. While this provided stability, it also led to identity becoming tightly bound to one domain. As industries shift due to automation and structural change, these “traps” can disappear, leaving individuals vulnerable. The episode proposes an alternative approach: develop skills deeply, but avoid attachment. Move between domains when necessary, maintaining flexibility. Rather than rejecting specialization, it suggests treating each role as temporary, enabling resilience in a rapidly changing world.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode examines why modern content often feels shallow or uncomfortable. It introduces a three-stage model: an earlier era where meaning was serious and tied to responsibility, a later period where lightness and meaninglessness were accepted honestly, and the present, where light content is forced to appear meaningful. The result is a mismatch—superficial ideas presented as if they carry depth. The episode argues that the problem is not “lightness” itself, but the need to disguise it with artificial meaning. Understanding this distinction helps listeners better interpret today’s media, messages, and self-expression in a society driven by constant pressure to appear significant.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode explores a fundamental question: do we really choose freely, or are our choices shaped by society? From music and careers to life decisions, we believe we act on our own will. However, the available options are often pre-structured by media, culture, and social expectations. The sense of “free will” may function more as a psychological mechanism that enables action rather than a true expression of independence. The episode also examines how people rely on external standards throughout life, from youth to retirement. Ultimately, it argues that human choice exists in a gray zone—neither fully free nor fully controlled.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode explores why many Japanese workers appear overworked, focusing on the concept of “overquality.” Using everyday examples like convenience stores and comparisons with Thailand, the talk shows how Japan’s high service standards have become the default expectation. What was once a bonus—exceeding expectations—has turned into a minimum requirement, leading to overwork and stress. The episode argues that this is not just a workplace issue but a social structure. Rather than lowering quality, Japan needs to rebalance it. Fair work should match fair pay, and anything beyond that should remain optional, not mandatory, to create a more sustainable society.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This episode explores whether social media connections are truly useless. While likes, follows, and comments create the illusion of connection, they often function as temporary relief from deeper loneliness. The discussion reframes these shallow interactions as “waste” that can be transformed through a process of “fermentation.” Drawing on Nietzsche’s philosophy, traditional Japanese agricultural cycles, and modern art, the episode argues that meaning is not given but created. Social media itself has little inherent value, but individuals who can process, reinterpret, and turn these experiences into thought or creation can generate real worth. The question is not the platform, but what you do with it.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信していますhttps://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




