I think I've written this before, but I'm not very good at writing.
I spend a fair amount of time writing, whether it's my work as a radio writer, articles for an online shop, or this weekly blog, but it's rare for me to think, "Wow, I wrote that well."
I entered the Faculty of Literature at university. However, to be honest, it wasn't because I loved literature, but because I was so bad at math that there was no math in the second round of the entrance exam.
So when I entered university and saw everyone reading novels during breaks, I was shocked.
Damn, I don't know anything about literature. The only books on my bookshelf are Shinichi Hoshi's short stories.
With that in mind, I quickly started reading Murakami Haruki, followed by Higashino Keigo, Isaka Kotaro, and Onda Riku. I read their books, which were stacked in the bookstore, in that order.
But, as a "real book lover," I think it's pretty shallow. Proper literature students talk about Dazai Osamu and others. I read those, but I still prefer Higashino Keigo. It's like I just like Ricardo Lassen more than Van Gogh.
In the meantime, I started working part-time at a radio station, writing scripts. Soon after I started, the director said to me, "You're in the literature department, so you can write, right?", and I ended up being in charge of writing the scripts for a segment. I remember that the program was sponsored by Chubu Telemessage, a pager company (it feels like a different era).
Of course, there was no way that a hastily-prepared literature student like me could write so fluently. I would groan and take manuscript paper to the university lecture hall and write my manuscripts during lectures so that no one would notice.
After that, he became responsible for Katsuya Kobayashi's program, where he wrote scripts for music-related topics and comedy sketches.
Oh man, that was a tough time. I can't count the number of times I'd spend a week racking my brains over a script, only to have it rejected in the studio right before the show went live, and then have to rewrite it in a cold sweat even though the show was already on air.
I thought over and over again, "Oh, I have no talent."
However, looking back, I think that period may have been my growth period. I hadn't read many books and hadn't written much, so I had to somehow produce something that would satisfy professionals. So I had to read books and train my writing muscles. With that in mind, I was always reading books on the train to work during that time. I also went to the theatre and watched a fair number of movies.
After that, I left the radio scene and started working in the restaurant business, and then I got a direct offer from Katsuya Kobayashi, and now I do regular work on three stations: Nippon Broadcasting System, NACK5, and bayfm. Now I do about 10 shows a month.
We have a regular Bokumo fan who is grateful to listen to our longest-running Nippon Broadcasting System program every week. When he says to me, "The last episode was great," I can't help but pour myself an extra glass of wine.
However, there is one job that I just can't do.
It's a job that I get to do once a month on NACK 5. It's a segment called LOVE TIME, where we present radio dramas about love with music, and it's quite tricky.
No matter how many times I write a radio drama, I never feel like I've written it well. I really think that novelists are amazing. And I don't have enough romantic experience to base it on. This is fatal.
When I was offered this job, at first I said, "No, I'm not sure if I can write it." But then I thought that even if it was an area I wasn't good at, being asked to write it might be an opportunity for me to improve, so I said this.
"I talk about all sorts of things with customers at the counter every day, and sometimes we talk about love, so if I could expand the story from that, I might be able to write it."
"Well, that's fine, I'll ask you."
...It was sweet.
I quickly exhausted that strategy.
At first, I wrote about things my customers told me, but I quickly ran out of material. Of course. I don't just talk about love, and even if I did talk about love, not everyone is in a dramatic relationship.
Right now, it feels like I've just been messing around with my own delusions and somehow managed to make it fit.
Every time a deadline approaches, I get a stomach ache.
I'd like someone to come and talk about their love life at the Bokumo counter. Please tell me your story. Of course, we will protect your personal information. I'll pour you plenty of wine.
You might be thinking, "Oh no, if I go to that store, will I be asked every detail about my love life?" But that's not the case! It's only something I use as a little reference when the conversation turns to love.
By the way, what I'm enjoying writing at the moment is the column I'm contributing to NZ Wines, a comprehensive website about New Zealand wine.
It's easier to write about something that you have some experience with. Of course, that's natural. Writing is the act of extracting what's inside of you, after all.
I'm writing about how to make New Zealand wine more widely known. If you're interested, please take a look.
▶ Spread the word! New Zealand Wine Part 2 | New Zealand Wine Comprehensive Site
