Reading "The Study of Preparation for Communication" by Ichiro Furutachi

I used to think Ichiro Furutachi was a genius.
Words would come out one after another, speedy, smooth, and as if by magic.
I thought he was someone chosen by the god of speech, with his unique expressions and combinations of words.

However, just five pages into "The Study of Preparation for Communication",

A declaration of not being a genius.

Wait, if Mr. Furutachi isn't a genius, then who is?
Then how was that play-by-play commentary born?

It was "preparation."

This book generously writes about the many "preparations" Mr. Furutachi has made so far, starting with why he began to "prepare."
Is it okay to write this much?
Oh, what a waste.

Above all, thesix pages of handwritten notes
prepared for his F1 commentary. When I saw them, I let out a cry of amazement.
Just seeing this makes the book worth buying.
It is no wonder that Hironobu-to Co., Ltd. President Hironobu Tanakawas wild with joy as if a national treasure had been unearthed.It was so detailed, and I couldn't see it well, so I took a picture with my smartphone and zoomed in to look at it.
Do you really go to such lengths to "prepare"...?

There are many interesting expressions written here that I want to write about.

But I won't.

I won't even post the photos on purpose.
Because this is a "treasure" that only those who bought the book can see.

Is this what Mr. Furutachi means by "preparation"?

I was suddenly hit with a karate chop and even put in a卍-hold.
I surrender.

And what is even more surprising is that he says you need the "courage to throw away what you have prepared."
If you prepare this much, you want to be proud of what you've prepared.
You want to show it off to everyone.
But he says sometimes you have to throw it away.
No way.

What I like is the story about the "deeply roasted face" in Chapter 5.
It is an episode that shows Mr. Furutachi's personality: he welcomes detours in preparation and cannot rest until he verifies anything that bothers him.

Waste, futility, detours, and perhaps even going the long way around.
Mr. Furutachi does not race through every day at the speed of sound.
I realized that the reason he is so captivating, despite his seamless speech, is because of this grounded, earthy attitude.

"Come to think of it, that was also preparation."
The feeling that this is exactly right is written in the supplementary reader for "The Study of Preparation for Communication," the special dialogue between Ichiro Furutachi and Hironobu Tanaka.

Hironobu Tanaka says he has been reading the first edition of "If You Don't Speak, You Lose," which Mr. Furutachi published about 30 years ago, and has made what was written there part of his own flesh and blood.

When I think that there was such a reason for Mr. Tanaka's unusually nervous appearance and his incredibly happy expression at the publication commemorative event, my heart feels touched.

This book, "The Study of Preparation for Communication," is the culmination of thoughts and time that took 30 years to build—not intended as preparation, but resulting in preparation.

Moments are created by preparation.

Preparation won't make your dreams come true.

However, it can create your life.

"Preparation" is similar to "effort."
However, I believe what Mr. Furutachi wants to convey is not the abstract concept of "effort," but the concrete act of "preparation."
That is why it is helpful.


As I read on, I still couldn't shake the feeling that Mr. Furutachi must be a genius after all.
Those F1 notes—you can't write those unless you're a genius.

But the final three lines on page 252, the very end of this book, made me realize that was wrong.

Preparation, preparation, and more preparation.
Mr. Furutachi became Mr. Furutachi and remains Mr. Furutachi because he has done the "preparation."

I am sorry for suspecting you were a genius.

Reading this book changes your image of Mr. Furutachi.
Mr. Furutachi is not a genius.
He is not a genius, but a legendary talker and a master of preparation.