The Reality Behind Saying “Yes” or “No”
Recently, I saw Tomoko Nagano on TV discussing how “announcers are people who can clearly say yes or no.” At first glance, her words seem to commend those who take their work seriously, but upon deeper reflection, I realized there’s a risk that it could imply those who can’t say no are somehow
inadequate. Hiroyuki’s opinion echoes this sentiment. He stated that “declining unpleasant invitations is only natural,” which sounds like a portrayal of an ideal society. However, reality is far more complex. In the entertainment and media industries, where power dynamics are clear, it is not easy to refuse invitations from influential figures. The anxiety of potentially not being invited again if you decline is a very natural feeling.
The Responsibility of Unrefusable Situations
While it’s important to work towards eliminating “unrefusable situations,” the current discourse seems overly focused on “individual coping abilities.” What about the responsibility of the seniors who have ignored this situation for years, or the industry as a whole? If there were individuals who could refuse, why didn’t they raise their voices? I resonate with an opinion I saw on X, which pointed out that “the ability to say yes or no indicates that we’ve allowed such situations to persist, relying on individuals’ refusal skills.” This observation is quite sharp. The alumni who failed to sound the alarm are also part of the problem. Now is the time to reconsider the structure itself rather than merely addressing superficial words.
From My Own Experience
I, too, have felt the difficulty of refusing in settings like university clubs and part-time jobs. For instance, while working part-time at a judicial scrivener’s office, there were times I couldn’t decline requests from my seniors and ended up overextending myself. Of course, some seniors understand such situations, but others may think, “Isn’t this just part of the job?” In those moments, I often felt ashamed for not being able to voice my own opinions. Through these experiences, I’ve come to believe that while “refusal skills” are important, they are not the only solution. Until the industry’s culture and structure are improved, many issues cannot be resolved solely by individual efforts.
Share Your Thoughts
How do you all feel about these issues? I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts in the comments. Perhaps our opinions could help spark some change in society. Let’s continue to think about these matters together.
