Ep.05 If It Suits Your Ears
Written by Cordelia Shan, edited by Grace
In this episode we are going to talk about a late night dorama from Summer 2021, called If It Suits Your Ears (耳に合いましたら。).
Listen to full episode :
If It Suits Your Ears (耳に合いましたら。) aired on TV Tokyo from July 9th to October 1st, 2021, in the TV Tokyo Late Night Drama timeslot, “Thursday Drama 24.” There are 12 episodes in total. This is also an original joint work with TV Tokyo and Spotify.
If It Suits Your Ears is a story about our main character, Misono Takahashi, and her personal development as a new podcaster and an adult. Misono (who works at a pickle-making company called Matsmaru Pickling Company), is not very good at public speaking, and has a hard time to step out her comfort zone. But she is very good at talking about what she likes and what she is passionate about to her friends and partner. There are two things Minoso are passionate about, one is Japanese Chain Restaurants and Podcasts.
[First off, let’s talk about] Misono’s Love of Chain Restaurants and Podcasts.
Before joining the pickling company, Misono dreamed of working at a broadcasting company, but she failed many of the interviews. She loved radio, and then podcasts, which accompanied her during many happy and sad times. Misono starts her day by listening to Kiyoshi Hikawa’s podcast, Kii no okaerigohan, or Kii’s Welcome Home Meal. This podcast actually exists, and is even available on Spotify! You can find the link to it in this episode’s description. Fun fact, Kiyoshi Hikawa is also Misono’s favorite enka artist.
One day after failing to speak up for herself at a meeting, Arisa, who Misono is very close with at work, suggests that she improve her speaking skills by starting a podcast. Misono refuses at first, and Arisa does not push her more, instead, Arisa just walks away from the topic of chain restaurants. So in a way, Misono had already lost a member of her audience. One day, while listening to a podcast, the host mentions, “If you don’t express your love in words, then your passion will die.”
As a result, Misono decides to record and publish her podcast, called 耳に合いましたら or If It Suits Your Ears in English, on a night while eating her takeout meal, and imagining herself at the chain restaurant where she ordered her food. Each episode features a popular Japanese chain restaurant that actually exists, and while Misono eats, she talks about why she likes the food, and recalls some personal memories related to it. Also in each episode of the dorama, different famous Japanese podcasters show up in Misono’s imagination to support her on the side while she is recording.
The podcast made by Misono is actually available on Spotify, and you can find the link to it in the description box. If you understand Japanese, please give it a try. I find it to be a really cute and easy to follow podcast!
There are all kinds of chain restaurants in Japan, which are not only limited to McDonalds, KFC, or other Western fast food chains. There are also Japanese-exclusive ex clue sive --chains like Matsuya for donburi or bento, Coco Ichibanya Curry Restaurant for Japanese Style curry and rice, Sushiro for sushi, Gyoza no Oshou for Gyoza, [CHAIN NAME HERE] for Japanese Style Chinese Food, and many many others.
Misono loves chain restaurants and enjoys talking about them constantly to people around her. Because chain restaurants are open to everyone, especially for lower middle class communities, anyone can enjoy the comforting food they provide from anywhere, and at anytime. Misono had a lonely childhood, and her mom was always busy at work and had no time to cook for her. So she often ordered food from chain restaurants for Misono if she had to work late. Therefore, chain restaurant food often brings comfort to Misono, and brings back a lot of memories for her, which… I can relate to a lot.
Stepping Out the Comfort Zone
Misono is not very keen to challenge herself or try new things. She lives in a normal, so-so lifestyle and does not like to face her fears.
The best way to change is to take action and do it. For Misono, when she is stepping out of her comfort zone, she is afraid and nervous, and gets uncomfortable. She is also embarrassed to listen to her own voice, and cares too much about what other people think. But soon, she faces her fears with the podcast, then eventually grows and overcomes her fears. But it was not an easy journey.
The podcast Misono makes opens many new opportunities and experiences for her. For instance, she begins to speak up more at work, and also expands her social circle and develops more professional opportunities. For example, to improve on her the recording quality, Misono goes shopping for recording equipment with Arisa and another co-worker named Sasaki. Sasaki even eventually becomes good friends with Misono, too.
Arisa’s encouragement and push helps Misono take a huge step. I had a similar situation where my friend, Grace, who is also the editor for my scripts, encouraged me to start this podcast.
What happened was, two years ago, during the COVID lockdown, Grace and I were talking about the podcast I wanted to make, and at the same time, I was facing some issues at work. I recorded a demo, and shared it with Grace, but did not want to upload it to the public because I was worried and afraid that people would make fun of my English. My English was often criticized by every single person I have met at work, and even on the street.
But Grace said to me, “This fear is something you have to get over with. If you don’t, you will never be able to start this podcast.”
So that day, after taking a deep breath, just like Misono, I pressed the button, and published this podcast.
Arisa is a good friend to Misono in the dorama, and Grace is a good friend of mine, as well.
Ending
Misono’s development as podcaster and adult is huge in the show, and is relatable because it can also happen in real life.
We all tend to live a flat, normal, safe lifestyle for a long time. Once our new experiences start overwriting our old ones, our view of ourselves and others may become far brighter than it is at the present. The best and the most healthy way to connect to the world is to connect to ourselves, to overcome our fears and get comfortable with ourselves. At the end of the dorama, even though she struggles, Misono finally embraces the changes in her life, and even takes on new challenges after facing and overcoming so much.
I wonder how many people were encouraged by Misono, and I wonder how many people started making their own podcasts after watching this dorama.
I know it can happen, because I am one of those people!
Reference
TV Show: 耳に合いましたら。 Original work: n/a Script Writer: Sunfish Yashiro(マンボウやしろ), Otoshi Michihiro (大歳倫弘)（European Planning ヨーロッパ企画), Atsuo Atsuo (灯敦生), Soshi Matsumoto (松本壮史) Director: Soshi Matsumoto (松本壮史), Hiroki Sugiyama(杉山弘樹), Rakeshi Matsuura(松浦健志) Timeline: July 9th - October 1st, 2021 Castings: Mari Ito (伊藤万理華), Hiroe Igeta(井桁弘恵), Hitoshi Suzuki(鈴木仁) Reference Links:
If You Can Hear Me Podcast (耳に合いましたら made by Misono) - https://open.spotify.com/show/5CQLnqF7uOfyP9YMu5fezw
Kii’s Welcome Home Meal (Misono’s favorite podcast) - https://open.spotify.com/show/7AuEhiPjjkRMKdjhknpum1
Official Website: https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/omimi/
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.co.jp/お耳に合いましたら。/dp/B098WTY17T
