Kiku

Haru Yamada's Kiku examines listening not merely as passive hearing but as an active, culturally framed practice that co-creates meaning between people.

Drawing on her experiences across multiple countries and academic research in social linguistics, she outlines different listening channels—informational, relational, credibility—and shows how cultural norms shape listening behavior.

The book mixes personal stories (including her partial hearing loss), ethnographic observation, and practical exercises to help readers become better listeners.

It emphasizes the space created between speaker and listener as central to understanding and connection.

Yamada argues listening is a skill that can be cultivated to improve conversations, relationships, and decision-making.