Learn Japanese with Noriko

English Summary : In this episode, Noriko talks about the importance of listening in communication, inspired by the bestselling book 人は聞き方が９割 by Shigehisa Nagamatsu.
Many language learners feel pressure to speak well, say smart things, or avoid mistakes. But this episode shifts the focus from speaking to listening. According to the book, good communicators are not those who talk the most, but those who make others feel comfortable and heard.
Noriko reflects on her own experiences in Japanese, English, and podcast conversations, and explains why the listener is the true main character of a conversation. She introduces the idea of “魔法の傾聴 （まほうのけいちょう）” and shares five key listening behaviours.
Finally, Noriko encourages Japanese learners to stop worrying so much about perfect grammar or vocabulary and to focus on listening with genuine interest and asking simple, thoughtful questions. By doing so, conversations can become more natural, relaxed, and enjoyable.
聞き方｜ききかた｜way of listening

聞く力｜きくちから｜listening skills

会話の主役｜かいわ の しゅやく｜main character of a conversation

聞き手｜ききて｜listener

安心感｜あんしんかん｜sense of security, feeling of safety

うなずき｜nodding

相づち｜あいづち｜verbal listening responses

否定しない｜ひていしない｜not to deny, not to reject

受け止める｜うけとめる｜to accept, to take in

質問を投げかける｜しつもん を なげかける｜to ask questions, to prompt with questions

宮島未奈『成瀬は天下を取りにいく』
宮島未奈『成瀬は信じた道をいく』
宮島未奈『成瀬は都を駆け抜ける』
宮島未奈『婚活マエストロ』
新書
齋藤孝『思考を整えるメモ力』
中林くみこ 『独学で英語を話せるようになった人がやっていること』 
齋藤孝『こども孫子の兵法』
滝沢 カレン（たきざわ カレン）日本のモデル・タレント
片山 龍峯（聞き手）、姉崎等（あねざきひとし・狩人）『クマにあったらどうするか』
外山滋比古（とやま しげひこ）『思考の整理学』
稲垣 えみ子『老後とピアノ』
夏目漱石『こころ』
太宰治『人間失格』
English Summary
In this episode of Book Talk with Yuko, we talk about reading during a slump and how books still leave traces even when we can’t fully immerse ourselves.
From novel series and essays to non-fiction, we reflect on taking notes, thinking through reading, and continuing to learn along the way. It’s a gentle conversation about reading as a process, not a goal.
🎧 Listener Questions｜リスナーさんへの質問
① 読書スランプについて
🇯🇵最近、読書スランプを感じたことはありますか？そのとき、どんな本を手に取りましたか？
🇬🇧Have you experienced a reading slump recently? What kind of book did you pick up during that time?
② メモと読書
🇯🇵本を読むとき、メモを取りますか？記憶に残った言葉を心の中にとどめるタイプですか？
🇬🇧Do you take notes when you read? Or do you prefer to keep meaningful words in your memory?
③ 学びのプロセスについて
🇯🇵「ゴール」よりも「過程」が大切だと感じた経験はありますか？それは、読書や学びの中でのどんな場面でしたか？
🇬🇧Have you ever felt that the process mattered more than the goal? In what situation—reading or learning—did you feel that way?

In this episode, Noriko continues her conversation with Yasuyo, reflecting on a deeply inspiring trip to Japan. Yasuyo shares how meeting the works and philosophies of artists and architects she admires renewed her energy and outlook on life.
They talk about creators who stayed active well into old age, including Saburo Yunoki and Tadao Ando, and reflect on the powerful idea that youth is not about age, but about continuing to create, challenge, and feel curiosity.
The conversation explores how art, travel, and music can awaken our senses, lift us during moments of self-doubt, and remind us to live with gratitude. The episode closes with a warm reminder to say out loud, “I’m happy right now,” and to keep passing inspiration forward — because as long as we’re alive, it’s still youth.

青春｜せいしゅん｜youth
生きている限り｜いきているかぎり｜as long as one is alive
現役｜げんえき｜active (still working), in service
生涯現役｜しょうがい げんえき｜active for one’s entire life
尊敬する｜そんけいする｜to respect, to admire
人生の先輩｜じんせい の せんぱい｜life mentor, senior in life
生き方｜いきかた｜way of living, life philosophy
作品｜さくひん｜work (of art), creation
展覧会｜てんらんかい｜exhibition
インスピレーション｜いんすぴれーしょん｜inspiration
挑戦｜ちょうせん｜challenge
年齢｜ねんれい｜age
言い訳｜いいわけ｜excuse
前向き｜まえむき｜positive, forward-looking
直感｜ちょっかん｜intuition
旅のハイライト｜たび の はいらいと｜highlight of a trip
縁｜えん｜connection, fate, bond
縁結び｜えんむすび｜bringing connections together
感覚を呼び覚ます｜かんかく を よびさます｜to awaken the senses
循環する｜じゅんかんする｜to circulate, to pass on

📌 ポッドキャスト理解のためのキーワード（10語）
スロースタート ー すろーすたーと ー a slow start
調子が出る ー ちょうし が でる ー to get into a good rhythm / to feel back on track
積読 ー つんどく ー buying books and not reading them (book pile-up)
読書量 ー どくしょりょう ー the amount of reading one does
現実逃避 ー げんじつとうひ ー escape from reality
道草を食う ー みちくさ を くう ー to take a detour / to get sidetracked
寄り道 ー よりみち ー stopping somewhere on the way / a detour
急がば回れ ー いそがば まわれ ー more haste, less speed / slow down to go further
初心忘るべからず ー しょしん わするべからず ー never forget you are still learning / stay humble as a learner
仕組み ー しくみ ー a system or structure (that helps you continue)a system / structure (that helps you continue)
Summary (English) In this episode, Noriko shares a relaxed January reflection. She talks about starting 2026 slowly, focusing on reading, writing, and consistency rather than rushing for results. She reflects on reducing her unread book pile, reading across multiple languages and formats, and finding comfort in books amid overwhelming news. Noriko also explores Japanese expressions like michikusa o kuu (taking detours) and isogaba maware (slow down to go further), linking them to language learning and life. The episode highlights the value of small, steady habits, showing up regularly, and finding joy in everyday moments.

Takeaways
やらないことを決めることで心に余裕が生まれる。
新年の目標はやりたいことではなく、やらないことを考える。
他の人と比べないことが大切。
完璧を求めすぎないこと。
無理をせず、休むことも大切。
一度にたくさん詰め込まない。
楽しさを忘れずに勉強する。
目的のない作業を続けない。