A collection of questions that will liven up conversations with friends. Talk themes to deepen your bond.

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Looking for conversation starters that naturally liven up chats with friends? With social media everywhere, there should be plenty of shared topics.

Still, it’s not always easy to think of them, and figuring out how to ask the first question can be tricky.

So this time, we’re introducing a set of classic questions that can help deepen your conversations with friends or even spark them in the first place.

These are all questions that can reveal new sides of the other person, help you share values, and bring you closer.

Give them a try in your next conversation!

The ultimate multiple-choice questions that liven things up (1–10)

Which would you rather work at: a job with low pay but good relationships, or a job with high pay but terrible relationships?

When it comes to choosing a job, “salary” and “relationships” are often cited as key factors.

Ideally, both would be great, but this question asks what you prioritize when you can only have one.

Are you the type who can endure poor relationships for a higher salary, or would you rather live healthily in a good workplace environment even if the pay is low? It reveals each person’s approach to work.

Starting with extreme examples as an ultimate question and then discussing what balance feels ideal could make for an engaging conversation.

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Ultimate multiple-choice questions to liven things up (11–20)

If you had to be told either the date of your own death or the cause of your own death, which would you choose?

The question is whether you want to know when your life will end or how it will end.

If you could know the date of your death, you could think about what kind of life to live leading up to that day, and if you could know the cause, you could consider ways to prevent it.

It’s a question that seems likely to prompt reflection on how to live one’s life, and it could also reveal each person’s goals and what they fear.

Perhaps the best approach is to value both perspectives, pay attention to accidents and health, and aim for a fulfilling life.

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Which are you better at, the straight man or the funny man?

You might be able to tell from everyday conversations! Here’s an idea: Are you better at being the straight man (tsukkomi) or the funny one (boke)? In chats with friends, some people are always quick with sharp comebacks, while others can’t help cracking jokes and playing the fool.

The fun part of this game is that you can debate after choosing your answer.

You might discover that people see you as the complete opposite of how you see yourself.

It’s great with close friends, and also a fun question to ask someone you’re talking to for the first time.

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Which could you not live without: your smartphone or music?

Which would you choose? Here are some ideas for the debate: Which is more essential to life—smartphones or music? In recent years, many people keep their phones in hand from morning till night, since smartphones can control home appliances and offer a wide range of apps.

At the same time, music has also become easily accessible—not only Japanese music but also international artists and even past works.

Some people play their favorite tunes after waking up and listen to sleep-inducing music at bedtime.

It sounds like a topic that could really spark excitement.

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Which do you want: freedom or happiness?

A profound theme! Here are some ideas for “Which do you want: freedom or happiness?” Everyone’s definitions of freedom and happiness differ, but let’s start by choosing casually.

After that, it might be good to define the terms and then choose again based on the theme.

“Freedom” sounds very easygoing, but even if only you are free, there are still rules in society, so it’s complicated, isn’t it? “Happiness” sounds nice, but there’s the mystery of what standard that happiness is based on.

It seems like a theme well worth debating!

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