ビジネス日本語講座

This episode explores the rise of “celebrity intelligence” in Japan—an age where entertainers speak as if they were thinkers, and fast, pleasant words replace real thought. Shigeki examines how media blurred the line between entertainment and philosophy, turning instant reactions into a substitute for genuine intellect. As silence disappears and speed becomes the new standard of “smart,” society trades depth for comfort. People no longer think; they consume the feeling of understanding. This episode asks: What happens to a culture when performance overtakes thought? And how can we reclaim the space to think slowly, responsibly, and deeply once more?

In today’s internet culture, “real” NEETs rarely appear on screen. Instead, we see performers—people acting broken, exhausted, or unhinged for clicks. This episode explores the gap between genuine isolation and the staged versions consumed as entertainment. Shigeki argues that modern audiences don’t want truth; they want believable lies—safe, sanitized realism. In a world where everyone is half actor and half critic, even despair becomes a performance. What does “authentic” mean when every gesture is recorded, edited, and judged? And how can we live honestly when reality itself has become an audition?

In Japan, being cheerful is not just a personality—it’s a survival skill.This episode explores the “brightly adapted” Japanese: those who thrive by smiling, reading the room, and avoiding depth. Shigeki argues that such lightness, celebrated as social virtue, hides a quiet exhaustion beneath. In a society where air must not be disturbed, conformity becomes the path to success. Yet, he asks: what happens to the thinkers who cannot laugh along? True dignity, he concludes, lies in silence—in the courage to pause, reflect, and reclaim one’s own words in a country that fears seriousness.

In an age that worships speed and instant response, we risk losing the art of slow thinking. This episode explores the silent space between input and output—the time when ideas ferment, deepen, and quietly mature into true understanding. Shigeki argues that wisdom is not born in reaction but in reflection, in the courage to wait and say nothing. Thought, like fermentation, needs darkness, stillness, and time to gain its fragrance. As social media rewards immediacy, we must reclaim the dignity of slowness. Only through silence can our words regain weight, and our minds rediscover 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In today’s hyper-visible world, even our efforts must be displayed. This episode explores the modern obsession with showing “proof” of hard work—posting study sessions, seminars, or self-improvement updates—and questions what we lose in the process. Shigeki argues that true growth doesn’t need witnesses; quiet, unseen effort can be more meaningful. Embracing “idleness” is not laziness but a subtle form of resistance against productivity worship. Through reflective commentary, this talk invites listeners to rediscover the dignity of doing nothing and the beauty of living without the need for validation in an always-performing 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Japan, “reading the air” once meant a graceful sensitivity—sensing others’ emotions without words. Yet today, it’s often replaced by sontaku, the fearful act of guessing superiors’ wishes and staying silent. True reading the air is born from empathy, not fear; it connects, not suppresses. It means feeling another’s mood, sometimes choosing silence out of kindness, not submission. This episode explores how Japan’s quiet art of empathy became distorted into obedience—and why recovering its gentler, more human form may be key to a freer, more compassionate 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In every company, the fiery salesman and the calm administrative “gentleman” embody two essential forces: passion and balance. The salesman lives in battle—sweating, persuading, chasing numbers. The silent gentleman, by contrast, maintains harmony, quietly stabilizing the air around him like invisible air conditioning. One fuels growth, the other preserves order. In an age obsessed with visibility and efficiency, we often forget that quiet competence sustains the system. True maturity, both for people and organizations, lies in balancing fire and water—ambition with serenity, speed with grace.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 the age of social media, many creators and entrepreneurs pursue being “loved.” But this desire often signals surrender—living by others’ approval rather than conviction. True leaders and strong brands do not seek affection; they pursue overwhelming value. Apple, for example, is not loved because it tries to please, but because it creates experiences people cannot live without. Love is the byproduct of mastery, not its goal. Only when we let go of the need to be loved can we finally be trusted. Approval fades, but authenticity endures.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 a world obsessed with updates—new phones, apps, and endless progress—we rarely question what “renewal” truly means. In this episode, I explore the wisdom of standing still. Factories must update their machines to survive, yet the human heart needs silence, not constant change. Like a sage in the mountains, we must learn to see which things should change and which should remain. True renewal begins not with replacing what is old, but with polishing the stillness within. In the noise of progress, stillness itself may be the strongest form of life.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 a quiet belief deeply rooted in Japan’s corporate world — the idea that if you work hard enough, someone will notice. This faith turns effort into performance: tired faces, loud sighs, and visible exhaustion become signs of virtue. True diligence, however, is silent and self-contained. When work exists only to be seen, people lose authenticity and become “air.” I argue that genuine effort should be witnessed not by bosses or society, but by one’s own conscience — that real freedom begins when we choose sincerity over approval.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 explore why so many brilliant communicators in Japan’s manufacturing world—people full of humor, insight, and real experience—never appear on the internet. Their silence is not due to inability, but to culture: a corporate faith that treats knowledge as company property and praises loyalty through quiet obedience. Speaking out feels like betrayal. Yet, I see expression as a new form of loyalty—one rooted in honesty, respect, and responsibility. By turning the “world of oil and iron” into voice, I aim to preserve the living spirit of Japan’s craftsmen before it fades into silence.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 discuss what I call the “thought hustlers” of today — intellectuals who pretend to be anti-establishment while profiting from the very system they criticize. These people turn ideas into commodities, trading integrity for influence and outrage for clicks. I explore how abstraction, staged anger, and brand-making have replaced genuine thought, and why modern audiences reward emotional theater over truth. True thinkers risk isolation and misunderstanding, while the hustlers chase views. I argue that real philosophy demands pain, honesty, and courage — not applause or algorithms.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 explore the idea of “trust with boundaries” based on my experiences in both Japanese and global workplaces. Many Japanese companies confuse loyalty with control, creating cultures that resemble religious devotion. True trust, however, is built on respect for each person’s freedom — on waiting, not forcing. Boundaries are not coldness but the highest form of respect. As Japan’s workplaces become more diverse, we must learn to coexist with people of different values, recognizing that genuine trust grows not from sameness, but from understanding across our differences.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 talk about the phrase “Japanese should not work for foreign companies,” which often appears in Japan’s public discourse. I question why such an idea still exists and what it says about our society. From my perspective, choosing to work abroad—or for a global firm—is not betrayal, but an act of freedom. I argue that true patriotism means improving one’s country, not restricting people’s choices. Working abroad can strengthen Japan from the outside, and I believe we should celebrate that freedom to choose where we work.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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, Shigeki talks with a recruiting professional based in Bangkok about how generative AI is transforming the world of work. From writing job postings to screening candidates, AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are now part of daily operations. They discuss rising salaries for AI specialists, shifting skill values between white- and blue-collar jobs, and what it means for the future of human work. The conversation also touches on Thai workplace culture, lifestyle changes, and even Bangkok’s growing matcha boom. A candid, ground-level look at AI’s impact on modern careers.⁠https://note.com/gensaisalaryman⁠（タイ現採リーマンさんに日系企業へのキャリアの相談をしてみたい人がいたら、上記のリンクからお気軽にどうぞ！）------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

During my week-long stay in Bangkok’s Pratunam district, I faced a confusing Airbnb situation. On the second day, the hotel staff suddenly told me my room had been given to another guest and that my belongings were “already outside.” In reality, nothing was lost—but the chaos revealed much about how things work here. This episode reflects on travel uncertainty, cultural differences in responsibility, and what “service” means when order meets the tropical rhythm of Bangkok.

During my stay in Bangkok’s chaotic Chinatown, I saw a man riding a motorbike in nothing but an undershirt. In that moment, I felt a strange kind of freedom — the kind that ignores rules, appearances, and social approval. This episode reflects on what true freedom means, how Japanese order contrasts with Southeast Asian chaos, and why the simplicity of living “as you are” can be a quiet form of enlightenment. Sometimes, wisdom hides in the heat, noise, and sweat of everyday life.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 moral landscape of modern business through the lens of Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s “The Spider’s Thread.” Many enterprises today resemble a thread lowered into hell—offering salvation while profiting from people’s fear and weakness. I discuss how “hope” has been commodified by self-help industries and why exploiting insecurity is not wisdom but cruelty. Instead, I believe in business built on empathy—stepping into the mud together rather than dangling false rescue from above. True value arises not from manipulating anxiety, but from believing in people’s potential and helping them stand on their own feet.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 how modern society has stopped believing in ideals. Today, any vision for a better world is dismissed as “unrealistic” or “naive,” replaced by endless debates about money and feasibility. When imagination fades, people cling to the past—tradition, pride, and nationalism—because it feels safer than dreaming. Yet, a world without ideals slowly decays, drifting without direction. I argue that to speak of ideals, even at the risk of being mocked, is an act of intellectual resistance. As long as someone dares to imagine, hope—and humanity—will not disappear.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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 question how “life struggles” have become a form of currency in today’s empathy-driven culture. On social media, people turn pain into content and seek validation through shared suffering. But true hardship, I argue, is often silent—it cannot be packaged or sold. I explore how excessive dependence on empathy weakens our ability to think, creating a society that feels deeply but reflects little. Genuine strength lies not in being understood, but in facing loneliness with quiet dignity. “Struggle,” I conclude, is not something to market—it’s something to live with.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------●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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------