Legendary Hideshima Shika Teaches 'Conversation Skills to Listen to Others'

Sakura Tazaki, a freelance announcer, hosts the program 'SBI FX Trade presents Sakura Tazaki's Step Up! My LIFE' (every Monday from 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM). On the broadcast of Monday, March 23rd, radio DJ and narrator Shika Hideshima appeared. She spoke about her 'professional style as a radio DJ' and 'conversation skills useful in daily life'.

Shika Hideshima has been active as a radio DJ for many years. When Tazaki, who was a bit nervous meeting her senior announcer for the first time, asked, 'Do you get nervous when talking to someone for the first time, Ms. Hideshima?', she replied, 'Of course, I get nervous. But at the same time, I try to think, 'The other person is probably just as nervous.' By thinking that way, I feel a sense of camaraderie develops, and a feeling of wanting to create a good atmosphere together with the other person emerges.' Tazaki then asked a question unique to the season, 'As spring arrives, opportunities for self-introductions increase, are there any tips for speaking well?' Hideshima answered, 'It's important not to try to show off your good points. I think it's best to start with topics you can empathize with the other person about, such as seasonal topics.'

Tazaki, curious about Hideshima's work style, asked, 'Do you take notes on topics you'll talk about on the radio regularly?' Hideshima replied, 'I take notes as if I'm sticking sticky notes on small daily occurrences. Because even the most trivial everyday scenes can be topics that anyone can relate to. Especially for radio, I try to approach it with the feeling of talking to a dear friend about familiar topics.' Tazaki agreed, saying, 'It's important to stick sticky notes on small memories.' In addition, she received advice such as 'increasing vocabulary by reading books from various genres' and 'it's important to accumulate various experiences, including failures,' which Tazaki also resonated with.

Furthermore, Tazaki confessed her worries, 'When talking to someone for the first time, sometimes the conversation doesn't flow, and there's a pause of a few seconds...' Hideshima explained the importance of not rushing: 'To you, Ms. Tazaki, a few seconds might feel very long, but for the other person, that might be their normal conversation rhythm. Everyone speaks and has a different tempo. Instead of panicking and thinking you have to do something about it, it's good to look forward to what the other person will say next, while anticipating their conversation.'

Finally, Hideshima added, 'Rather than trying to speak well, the attitude of listening carefully to the other person is important. If you do that, your interest and concern for the other person will naturally grow, and the conversation will liven up.' Tazaki understood, saying, 'If you want to talk with someone, it's important to start by listening,' and vowed to step up as a radio DJ, 'I will keep this advice in mind and do my best.'

The program 'Sakura Tazaki's Step Up! My LIFE', which has been broadcast since October 2024, is airing its final episode this time. You can listen to it for up to a week afterward using the radiko time-free feature, so please check it out.