Two veteran editors who have been making books for a long time
A powerful reference for women's lives, about a better life and a more fun life.
It was an exchange interview where we asked each other curious questions and wrote down the answers.
Affectionate and solid advice for juniors!

In an era of crisis for paper books, two editors who have consistently insisted on making paper books ask and answer questions about how to edit life in a way that is both stylish and valuable, just as they edit books.
About relationships and work skills, about things I enjoy like books and magazines, about the long road ahead for women's equality and self-esteem, and about the everyday habits and fun that bring me happiness and joy.


A candid discussion about the lives of two women who seem similar yet different: a senior who worked as an editor for over 25 years and is now in the second act of her life as a best-selling author with witch-like stamina, and a junior who has been working at the same company for over 30 years, becoming an editor and then a vice president, and who is continuing the first act for a long time. It is also a warm and powerful piece of advice for all women who want to live a better life here and now!

As a magazine reporter and book editor, and as an editor-in-chief of magazines and books, the skill of 'editing'—repeating and rewriting repeatedly, cutting out unnecessary things, and carefully selecting and placing the most appropriate items in the right places—was applied not only in work but also in life.
Even though they don't have the title of "editor," everyone edits their daily lives and lives in their own way, thinking about what to do and what not to do every day, and how well they want to do what they want to do, and allocating their time and resources.
So we are all partners in some way!
--- p.5

Well, I thought about what are the big, important principles of life that I really want to stick to, compared to the small routines.
Do not wield power over the weak in society.
Maintaining dignity even in difficult situations.
Be quick to judge and quick to reject.
Always remember the help you received and repay it.
When exchanging emails, don't forget to say hello first and last.
Take better care of struggling juniors than successful seniors.
Even if you miss the wedding, try to go to the funeral.
Pay more attention to the old people around you rather than focusing on the new, talented friends you've made.

--- p.44

That may be the reason why Magazine B, in publishing a new book series titled “Jobs,” chose “Editor” as the first of many occupations.
I agree with the definition of editor they chose.
'A person who picks out good things from things he likes.'
I'd like to add one more.
"A person who wants to spread the good things they've selected to others." As my junior said, this kind of behavior isn't just a technique used in books and magazines.
It's a skill that can be applied to any business in the world, transcending the realm of content.

--- p.49

So, when juniors who are considering changing jobs or careers ask me, I tell them to try changing jobs if they are so worried, and that it looks better when you look at it from the outside.
If it's better to move, you can just keep going, and if it's not, you can find a way to come back.
Unless there were a lot of problems and the company was extremely poor at its work, it wouldn't necessarily prohibit former employees who understand the company culture and organization from re-entering the company.
So, the way and manner of resigning is important.
When you quit your job, don't burn any bridges you might have to cross again.
--- p.72

No matter what happens, I was told not to be scared or 'timid', so when I met boys who lifted up their skirts in elementary school or the 'burberry men' who occasionally appeared in middle and high school, instead of crying in surprise, I would run to them with a mop. But when I got a little older, that was nothing.
The world was much more organized and tightly guarded.
Compared to my mother's or my sister's generation, it's a bit of a weaker defense, but I still have to work hard to create a gap to squeeze through.
--- p.148

It's not a waste of money to spend money on adventures or experiences that you can only experience now.
When I travel, I always try to find performances, events, and art exhibitions that can only be seen locally.
It would be nonsense to hesitate or give up because you've spent all your time and money coming this far.
Buying a souvenir that will make the experience last longer is also my own 'luxury'.

--- p.191

I've often heard people say that you should study all your life.
It's important to listen to other people's stories in lectures or acquire new knowledge through books, but the new atmosphere and new trends that I experience with my whole body through seeing, hearing, tasting, and walking are a great stimulus to my life.
When I see how many people in the world are so sensible, smart, honest, and unique, I think, “Wow, I can’t stay like this.
The end of the weekend, I return home with a pounding heart, determined to “try something new.”
I'll probably forget it after just one or two times, but if I get this kind of positive stimulation every weekend, wouldn't there be some change in my life somewhere?

--- p.236

I asked all the questions I had about each other's differences and got some satisfying hints.
We had a lively and enjoyable forum for discussion about similar interests.
It's like meeting a wonderful female comrade who is aging with a pretty solid appearance.
As it was for us, I hope that "Two Women's Life Editing Techniques" will be a book that shares easy yet wise life tips with readers.
I hope that this will be a fulfilling meeting, a mixture of seriousness and fun, like sitting at a heavy table with the same texture but different patterns, and munching on sweet macarons with bitter coffee.

--- p.255