Right now, I wear three hats.
The career I have the longest is radio.
It's been about 27 years since I was a 19-year-old college student AD.
Until I was in my 30s, I went to the studio every day and worked as a director, but now I just work as a writer, writing manuscripts and sending them out.
I'm currently in charge of about 10 programs a month. I mainly write the scripts from morning to noon (although I still can't keep up, so I'm not at the store on Tuesdays when the deadlines are concentrated, sorry).
This year marks my 14th year in the restaurant business, my second career. I once expanded to two stores, but now I'm back to one (the second store, "Rockmo," is now run by a new owner, Mr. Suzuki, and is doing well).
And since last year, Waraji Wine Shop has been added to the group.
Of these three, restaurants and wine shops are in close proximity to each other, so they have a positive influence on each other.
For example, if you run a wine shop, your connections with importers can make it easier to get good items into restaurants.
Then, when introducing products in a wine shop, they can include the reactions of customers when they actually tasted the wine at Bokumo.
Also, we have had cases where people who buy wine from our wine shop say, "If I go to Nagoya, I'll eat at Bokumo," which makes me so happy.
On the other hand, many people also use our wine shop saying, "I want to enjoy the same taste I had at Bokumo at home," which we are also very grateful for.
but.
The oldest form of work, radio, somehow doesn't seem to fit in here.
The mid-career employee who joined later and the new recruit who just joined are very good friends and are having a great time.
The oldest members can't get in there.
It's the kind of relationship that might exist in some workplaces.
Sometimes, people at the counter of Bokumo say, "I listened to the radio show that you wrote the script for," but it's very rare.
Oh, but last year, a couple who were avid listeners of one of my shows even came all the way from the Kanto region to see me.
It was a kind of "tingly, happy" feeling.
Either way, it's a very rare situation. Radio and restaurants, and radio and wine shops, are quite a distant relationship.
I've always thought that.
However, just recently, I had the opportunity to work on "Radio & NZ Wine" !
yay!
The program we were contacted about was one that would connect New Zealand and Japan via live broadcast to introduce the appeal of New Zealand wine.
I am the host of a podcast (internet radio) by FM802/FM COCORO in Osaka .
And the facilitator!
Radio has always been a behind-the-scenes role, so I wonder if it'll be okay?
I was a bit worried, but when I found out that her partner lived locally, I felt a bit relieved.
The people we will be talking to are Gene Nagao , a former radio DJ, and his husband, Bill, a New Zealand wine professional .
Yes, I am an amateur sandwiched between two professionals.
In that case, let's jump on board this big professional ship.
I'm sure it will be fine, as the bad parts will be edited and instructed by a talented director!
I hope that the appeal of New Zealand wine will spread even a little.
The title of the program is "Jean's Holidays."
There will be a total of nine episodes. They will be distributed once a week for two months from October to November. The first episode will be distributed on Tuesday this week. In other words, you can already listen to it.
Click here to listen to the podcast▼
For YouTube, click here▼
▶ Jean's Holidays Podcast vol 1-YouTube
My first impression after trying it was...
It's a great learning experience!
Not only during the actual event but also during meetings, I have the opportunity to speak with experts living in New Zealand, so I learn a lot.
I studied New Zealand wines in my own way and thought I knew quite a bit, but I was being a bit conceited. I'm a total underachiever.
You still have room to grow, Iwasu!
Also, I was reminded once again how great audio media is. It's a lot of fun to talk and listen while imagining the other person's and the listener's situation.
But...
Unfortunately, there are too many times when I have to repeat myself or stumble over something. I really feel that I don't have a solid foundation.
When I was a radio director, I would arrogantly tell speakers, "That was good" or "Do it more like this!", but I never imagined that after all this time I would be the one being told such things.
It's like a super long-throw boomerang that goes around the entire zodiac sign...
I think this ninth time will make me realize how difficult it is to speak on the radio, and I'm sorry for being bossy and telling people what to do back then (I already realized this after the first time).
I have to somehow avoid causing any trouble for the director with editing.
I'm also excited about my potential to grow as a spontaneous speaker.
First, practice your pronunciation.
"The rainbow is red, A-I-U-E-O!"
