私はあなたではない
Watashi wa anata de wa nai
I am not you.
Hirokazu Kore-eda · 是枝裕和 (Kore-eda Hirokazu)
Film and documentary director
For this Thursday, a reminder to begin a conversation with curiosity about the other person’s experience.
At a workshop with young broadcasters, Kore-eda discussed dialogue and portraying other people. This phrase points to the respectful distance involved in listening without assuming someone else’s experience is your own.
Language note: 私 (watashi) means “I”; あなた (anata) means “you.” ではない (de wa nai) is a plain way to say “is not.” Here, acknowledging difference makes room for respect.
Listening begins with leaving space for another person's experience.
Practice: 相手を理解するために、まず話を聞こう。
Aite o rikai suru tame ni, mazu hanashi o kikō.
To understand the other person, first listen.
Original workshop report: https://www.hbf.or.jp/magazine/13229/
Bunbuku — Hirokazu Kore-eda official profile: https://www.bunbukubun.com/member/koreeda_hirokazu/