I went back to my old radio station for the first time in 10 years.
Last month, I received an email from the head of programming asking if I would be a guest on the show, and although I wondered if I was the right person for the job, I decided to accept.
The plan that was sent to me in advance stated:
"Every week, the host Teppei invites a guest to his fictional bar, where he works as the owner, and interviews him about his past, present, and future."
Hmm, maybe I'm not good enough after all?
After all, it's a project that assumes that famous people will appear.
As expected, when I look at the past guests, it says singer-songwriter Aiko. I want to hear about Aiko's past and future.
In contrast, I'm an old man who is unknown to all listeners. I don't really care about the past or the future.
Hmm, it looks like I'm stuck with guest bookings.
That's right, it's pretty hard to book a show that relies on guests. I know what you mean.
Still, Iwasu.
Well, Teppei and I did a show together when I was a radio director, and he often comes to Bokumo for drinks. He hosted the 10th anniversary event for Bokumo, and really livened up the event.
If I can be of help to the program of the person who has been kind to me, I have no choice but to go. It would also be interesting to talk with Teppei-san alone. I decided to visit the studio for the first time in a while.
But what about the problem that I'm not interested in the stories of some old guy I don't know?
That's right.
Who is this guy? Well, if you listen to him, he might say something useful, so I'll let him off the hook.
I guess that's what we should aim for for our listeners.
With that in mind, I decided to go in prepared with a few ideas.
On the day of the recording, I was a little nervous.
I've been going to the studio for 13 years since I started working there as a part-time assistant director when I was 19. Naturally, I have a lot of memories there.
I wonder if going back there after a long time will bring back a flood of memories.
No, after 10 years, things will surely have changed drastically. I might feel like I'm in a different era, but I won't feel sentimental.
Ah, this is something similar.
That's right. It's the same feeling you get when you go to a class reunion. You and your older friends meet for the first time in a long time. What do you think of each other? Are you aging well?
With that in mind, I opened the door to the floor.
And then.
Oh... this feeling...
Over time, my former workplace has remained surprisingly unchanged.
The table arrangement, the location of the CD library, the three studios, the meeting space. The view from the window. Everything was the same.
Naturally, most of the people working there were young, but there were also a few veterans who had been there for nearly 30 years.
"It's been a while. But it feels right to see Naoki here!"
That's what my seniors told me.
Although it has been 14 years since we last worked together, I was grateful to hear them say that, and it made me feel a bit like I had traveled back in time, seeing my seniors still working as they always have.
However, I was a little disappointed at how little things had changed, but at the same time I thought that this was quite amazing.
After all, it means the radio industry has remained pretty much the same.
In comparison, I'm struggling with this and that. I'm constantly changing.
At first, Bokumo was more of a wine bar, but it started to be known as a wine bar, and now it's a New Zealand wine bar. Two years ago, we started selling our wine online, and every day we try different things.
I think it's far from being a good idea.
No, wait.
The restaurant remains in the same location, and both the chef and I have been working there for 14 years.
From the outside, does this look like a keep?
Maybe so.
Maybe it was because I only stayed there for about an hour that I thought the radio station was the same as it was back then. I'm sure everyone was struggling with a lot of things inside. It just so happened that what I saw was the side that was being kept.
If you think about it, the same is true for class reunions.
Even if we meet up for the first time in a while, have a toast, and say things like, "How are you doing? You haven't changed at all," the reality is that we all have our own issues at work and at home.
Everyone lives in their own position, somehow managing to maintain their identity. Even if it doesn't seem like anything has changed on the surface, our cells are replaced and we change a little bit every day.
I see.
If you think about it, maybe it's not the visible things that we should be concerned about keeping.
What can I say? "A feeling I want to cherish forever." I should have looked at that. Next time I'm invited to a studio, I have to look at the feelings of the person, not the exterior.
What does that mean to me?
I guess it's "doing what you think is interesting".
I thought radio was interesting, so I got into the radio industry, and I thought eating and drinking was fun, so I started working in the food and drink industry. I thought it would be fun to go to the studio again this time, so I went. And the recording was actually very fun. I'm glad I went.
By the way, the material I prepared for the show I'm appearing on this time is "a surefire way to win on matching apps."
This is a method that a wine bar owner came up with after listening to the stories of the troubled men and women working at the counter.
For more details, please listen to the broadcast (it will also be available as a podcast at a later date).
Saturday, September 23, 2023 23:30~24:30
ZIP-FM "Limelight" Host: Teppei Guest: Naoki Iwasu
Even though it was late at night, there were some dangerous parts. Teppei was making some dirty jokes. I guess they'll cut that part out. Young director, do your best with the editing.
