Snow Man’s Snow Life #127 - MemeRau’s two-shot and talk
Meguro Ren and Raul, the 2 youngest members of the group, appear in this issue for photos in the other’s member color. They also thoroughly talk about their thoughts on each other.
“Meme is straightforward and doesn’t put on airs. That is his number one charm.”
“The number of times Raul helped me is increasing.”
For these two who love each other, what are their wishes for the other?
It’s been about 3 years and a half since these two’s sudden addition to Snow Man’s member lineup. Raul, who was only a middle school student when he joined the group, also graduated from high school. As someone who saw his growth up close, how does Meguro feel?
Meguro: His personality and appearance both changed, and I think he really grew as a whole. I was the one helping him when we joined the group, but now the times he has helped me have increased. I am really grateful that he reaches out to me when I’m a little tired or when I’m feeling down.
Raul: Really? That makes me happy. I talk to him when I think he’s tired from the continuous drama and movie filming because I think it would be nice if he could rest during the time he’s with all the members, but there’s also a part of me who simply wants to talk to Meme (Meguro) (laughs).
Meguro: My mood does get better because of that. You’ve become really reliable!
Now that Raul has grown into a reliable man, is there still a part of him that you think is cute?
Meguro: (immediate answer) None.
Raul: Really?
Meguro: You’re already 18 years old after all.
Raul: Zero?
Meguro: Ahaha. Really. I do think Raul’s whole existence is cute!
Raul: Meme’s cute part is...
Meguro: None. I’m already 25 years old.
Raul: That humble side of you is also wonderful (laughs). He doesn’t go “me, me” but is always considerate of the people around him and puts them first. I also want to become someone like that, and I respect him because of that. Also, despite everything Meme is a tennen (t/n: can mean natural or airhead)! I don’t mean careless or stupid, but “natural”. He is straightforward and doesn’t put on airs. That is his number one charm.
Meguro: There are times that I’m too straightforward and I hate that. For example, I would be thrown off when someone says “Hey, do that” while I was in the middle of doing something else. Then I’d think I have to concentrate on the second task too, so I’d forget or make a mistake on the first task. I hate my character where I lose sight of what’s around me because I can only focus on one thing.
Raul: But on the contrary, I think that’s a good thing so it’s okay!
If you could mention a work of the other that made an impression on you...
Meguro: I think Raul’s talent as a model is amazing. I also thought of this when I saw the pictures of this year’s TGC, there are poses other people won’t nail if they do it but looks good when Raul does it.
Raul: Uwa-, I’m happy!
Meguro: That’s why I think it would be nice if he could broaden the places where he could be active as a model more. He really should become more active in more places.
Raul: I’m already overwhelmed by emotions. I’ve been allowed to do various works in Johnny’s but modeling is the only one aspect where I feel like I can be a pro. It makes me really happy to be complimented in a job that makes me feel that way. There are a lot of Meme’s works that made a deep impression on me but the one that really resonated with me was Kyojo II (2021, Fuji TV). This is an unforgettable work where I was able to differentiate (Meguro’s) idol side and actor side. There are times I watch it again.
Meguro: It was a big job for me too that’s why that (Raul’s answer) makes me really happy.
Furthermore, they gave the same answer when we asked them which job they challenged together was unforgettable.
Meguro: When the two of us unveiled our performance of Sexy Zone’s GAME in The Shounen Club (NHK BS Premium).
Raul: Right. The two of us really talked a lot that time. We remember everything even the camera cuts, and the “It would be better if we do it like this”. It was before our debut but I remember thinking that I shouldn’t forget that fastidious attention to detail.
Meguro: We haven’t really had a lot of chances to hold a microphone and sing in Shokura until then, so I think the feelings of wanting to produce results no matter what really showed. I feel like we talked about things like “I have to do it with this kind of mindset” at that time. And from time to time we affirm that experience and reminisce about it so we wouldn’t forget about the passion and feeling that we had then.
Raul: Honestly, I sometimes remember how hard it was to have the same fastidiousness as that time.
Meguro: You can get back your original resolve, right?
The feelings of “like” overflow between the two who occasionally look at each other and talk with a smile on their faces. Do they not have any complaints about the other?
Meguro: Limited to times when I’m busy, but he sends me long videos (laughs)! I think “I can’t watch this now!”.
Raul: Ahaha. I’m sorry. I understand that you’re busy but I feel like wanting to send you something alive. It’s because the feeling of “novelty” wears off as time passes. But it’s fine even if you don’t watch it immediately. I’m already satisfied that I sent it (laughs).
Meguro: So it’s for your self-satisfaction (laughs).
Raul: No! It’s the feeling of wanting to send something. It’s the feeling of “it would be nice if this made you smile and alleviated your fatigue”.
Meguro: Of course, there are times that I laugh when looking at the pictures you sent. But this (complaint) is limited to sending long videos when I don’t have free time.
Raul: So the timing is bad... this isn’t a complaint but a request. I don’t have clothes so I want Meme’s hand-me-downs.
Meguro: I don’t think even my size would fit you! I saw that Raul wore Fukka-san (Fukazawa Tatsuya)’s clothes and the size totally didn’t fit (laughs).
Raul: Fukka-san’s shoulder width is narrower than mine so his clothes didn’t fit me. But I want Fukka-san to look at my clothes and once I got to wear them the members told me “It doesn’t suit you”.
Meguro: Ahaha. Who said that?
Raul: If I remember right, it’s Shoppi- (Watanabe Shota) (laughs).
Meguro: Then, I’ll give you clothes if I find one that’s your size!
