Starting a business as a high school student is an impressive act of initiative. Were you the type of person to try things out when you had an idea from a young age?

It might be an opportunity to express yourself and get to know yourself better.

Thank you for saying that. You're right, on a live broadcast, you can't take back or follow up on the words that come out of your mouth. That moment is everything, so I try my best to avoid speaking based on speculation or my own thoughts. Still, I often have to make a statement on the spur of the moment, so I have no choice but to take in as much news and events as I can before the time to go on air and reinforce myself. I take great care, but if I still say something wrong, I think the only thing I can do is sincerely reflect on it and regain trust through my subsequent communications, my attitude, and the way I deal with people.
The broadcast time is short, and I think to the viewers it looks like everything is proceeding smoothly, but in reality, a lot of work is going on behind the scenes. I feel like if we don't do that, we won't be able to fight.

What we do in private accumulates as knowledge and experience, and has a connection to the words we use, so in the past, I used to think, "If I go to a place like this, it might be useful for work," and I used to think of all my activities on my days off as work-related. Now, I work while raising children, so I have no choice but to limit my time and the time I spend on work. However, there are many people who are doing the same thing, juggling work and family life, and I think there are many people who are struggling between something other than raising children, such as caring for the elderly, fighting illness, and work. I would like to be a voice for such people. I try to be sensitive to things I notice in my daily life, how I feel while juggling work and raising children, and how I find hope.

It's really difficult, and it's trial and error. In an age where opinions tend to become radicalized, I try to consciously incorporate multiple perspectives on certain matters, to see how they are perceived from perspectives that are different from my own. Currently, I am in charge of "news23", which places importance on presenting diverse opinions and has adopted a new style in which the cast members discuss around a round table. It is difficult to cover all perspectives, but I would like to convey as many diverse opinions as possible. And it is the intention of the entire program to firmly support those who are absolutely in trouble or in a vulnerable position in society, and it is a value that I myself cherish in my work. Properly conveying the words of those who find it difficult to get their voices heard in the world. I would like to continue to hold that belief unwaveringly.

School of International Politics, Economics and Communication offers many options for classes taught in English, and I recall that about 70% of the classes I took were taught in English. The curriculum allows students to hone their English skills, expertise, and communication skills at the same time, which is very meaningful in a globalized society, and is also useful when interviewing people from other countries.
Also, what I feel is directly related to my current work is what I learned in Professor Sueda Kiyoko 's seminar. Professor Sueda's specialty is intercultural communication, and she taught me about the concept of non-verbal communication, and how actions, facial expressions, and gestures other than words can also convey messages. Mr. Zama, you work on the theme of words, but have you ever been conscious of non-verbal communication?

There are many different ways to communicate and many different possibilities. I remember an experiment that Professor Sueda did in his class. Three people, A, B, and C, lined up diagonally in the classroom, with B and C facing away from A. In this state, if A calls out "Heyyy," can B and C tell which way the voice is directed? The person calling out also tries to change the tone of their voice and the way they say things, but although it seems simple, it is quite difficult. I realized that even if the person who wants to communicate has strong feelings and struggles to communicate, self-centeredness does not necessarily mean that the message will reach the other person. I still feel this way as I work, and even if I try hard to find and refine the words, sometimes it doesn't actually work. Furthermore, what I want to communicate can change depending on the receiver's feelings, so I feel that the act of communicating is like a "living thing" that I cannot control on my own.

I had a great time in Spain. I had a very interesting Spanish teacher at university, who recommended that I study abroad, and I studied in a foreign course at University of Salamanca one of the oldest universities in Europe. The Spaniards all act on their emotions, and their natural cheerfulness was very healing. University of Salamanca attracts international students from all over the world, so it was a valuable experience to have the opportunity to interact with people from many countries. What was especially big for me was meeting an international student from Taiwan. As we became closer, we started talking about our impressions of each other's countries and regions, and they brought up the word "comfort women." I was shocked by the unexpected words. It made me realize that there is a "common sense" on both sides that can only be understood through intercultural exchange.
Looking back, my desire to become an announcer started with my experiences abroad. I lived in America for two years when I was 6-7 years old, and was exposed to a world beyond my own, including various races and cultures. I felt the joy of "knowing." This sparked my desire to become a bridge for others through "knowing." I would like to encourage everyone to broaden their horizons by studying abroad or traveling abroad while they are still in school.

As the chairman of the assembly committee, I was in charge of producing a music festival where the school's bands performed live, which was a memorable experience for me. I love music, so I remember having a lot of fun thinking about how to present the bands and what colors the lights should be during performances. However, I ended up getting sick from thinking too much... It was a tough experience, but at the end of the event, the band members came up on stage and said, "The assembly committee did a great job." It was an unforgettable experience for me, as I had always worked behind the scenes as a "silent supporter," to feel the joy of being rewarded for my efforts and to feel that there were people who were paying attention to me.

That's right. The words "the power behind the throne" were carefully taught to us by teachers from the elementary school onwards, and I was able to feel the importance of not only those in prominent positions, but also those who support others.

Although newscasters appear to be on the front lines on screen, I think their actual role is that of a "behind the scenes powerhouse." The main characters in the news are the people being reported on. We newscasters are like relays who connect the thoughts of others to the viewers, adding background and social meaning to the news. I feel that perhaps being involved in this job is the point where the dots connect.

For example, I once interviewed someone who was running a wonderful business, but was struggling financially and was forced to give up the business. Someone who had watched the broadcast offered to help, and the business was able to continue. When I heard the news, I felt that our thoughts had been connected, and I felt really happy from the bottom of my heart that I was glad to have shared my message. I don't often have the opportunity to hear the reactions of viewers in front of the TV, but I feel this way especially when I hear a response like this that reaches my ears.

Aogaku respects each individual's way of being, lifestyle, and thoughts, and has an environment where we naturally accept each other as wonderful. In an age where social media has developed and it is easy to compare ourselves to others, I hope that you will cherish the desire to affirm those who have things that you don't have and to find the good in others. Doing so will lead you to take a good look at yourself. Also, once you enter society, you will have less time to do things as you please. During your student days, take action as soon as you have an idea and try to do what you want to do, opening the door to various knowledge and interests.