The essence of communication lies within oneself.

This series asks Professor Toshiro Murase of Waseda University about the essence of communication. In this industry, where terms like communication, collaboration, relationship, and engagement often appear in succession, what exactly is their true nature? Professor Murase provides a clear explanation.

Are you running away from that "frustration"?

At the start of the interview, Mr. Murase shared this story: "I went to America right after graduating high school. What I felt there was this frustration: I had the knowledge, but I couldn't output it. I wanted to convey something, but I couldn't. Of course, my limited conversational skills were part of the problem, but that wasn't the whole story. Even if I acquired superficial English skills, my true feelings wouldn't reach the other person. For example, how could I convey something like 'the beauty of Japanese autumn' to an American? No matter how well I could speak English, this feeling wouldn't get across. Ah, how frustrating. It was from that feeling that I thought, 'I want to study communication scientifically.'"

Toshiro Murase:
Associate Professor, Waseda University School of Commerce. After graduating high school in 1997, he moved to the United States. Earned his Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida in 2011. Served as a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University and Georgia Institute of Technology before teaching at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Assumed his current position in September 2017. Specializes in research on leadership and teamwork.

It's really a pain to constantly think about whether saying something will effectively convey what you want to communicate at work. Describing that pain as "frustration" somehow feels just right. It's that feeling of not being able to express your feelings to your first love. If you haven't learned how to overcome that, then no matter how old you are or how high your position, in terms of communication skills, you're still at a middle school level.

Mr. Murase points out: "Whether in personal relationships or corporate management, efficiency is prioritized, right? But I believe the crucial thing is finding the optimal balance between 'opposing forces.' Put another way, it's about overcoming that frustration of wondering, 'Why won't they understand what I'm trying to say?' That's where communication skills become vital. Just because you can speak English fluently doesn't mean you've mastered communication." That makes sense. If asked to describe in English how delicious the persimmons ripening in my parents' backyard taste this autumn, I'd struggle to convey it well. It's frustrating. So, what should one do? That's precisely the core of this series.

"Getting absorbed" is what sparks change

Mr. Murase says the foundation of communication is becoming "absorbed" in something. It's a surprising observation. We tend to think the absolute basics of communication are reading the room and being careful not to hurt others' feelings. "I think the essence becomes clear when you translate terms like 'engagement' as 'I'm someone who's absorbed in this and that,' or 'we're a company absorbed in these things,'" Mr. Murase says.

I see, I thought. When put that way, it certainly sounds appealing. It doesn't necessarily have to be empathy. It's about conveying the sentiment: I, we, hold this conviction and intend to dedicate ourselves to you, to society. That is the essence of engagement. You feel nothing from formulaic slogans like "For people, society, and the planet." I've worked as a copywriter for over 20 years, and looking back, I realize I've written mountains of copy like that. It made me reflect.

For example, just hearing "We're completely absorbed in the potential of such-and-such bacteria" somehow feels reassuring and trustworthy. That's where communication begins. Messages that resonate with the heart inevitably spark some kind of "transformation." This holds true in business, in romance, in everything. (Continued in #02)

Waseda University, where Mr. Murase serves as Associate Professor

[Editor's Note]

The words "frustration" and "obsession" felt fresh. There's a tendency to explain human relationships and the ideal state of companies and business using various foreign terms, but they never quite hit the mark. Diversity, collaboration, transformation, and so on. They're all concepts, not expressions of feeling.

Mr. Murase explains these concepts using simple, resonant phrases. When he says, "Ah, this frustration. How can this feeling be resolved?" – that's where it all begins – it makes perfect sense.

Whether it's romance, work, academics, parenting, or anything else, it's the same. Mr. Murase argues that communication is crucial for resolving that frustration.

Now that he mentions it, it's true for everything. Take cooking, for instance. You think, "Why can't I get it to turn out like the restaurant's? Why does it always end up so dry and tough?" Only by engaging in a dialogue with the ingredients does the ideal form become clear. What world awaits at the end of this series? I'm very much looking forward to it. I think the key point is the word "team" in the series title.