Meguro 10k: Informal summary/translation+thoughts amalgamation

[otp_of_otps]

Not meant to be a proper translation please don't read it as one!!!!!!!!
Aiming to fully translate over the weekend
**Full up on IwasakuFC !

Spoilers!!! spoilers!! Spoilers!! SPOILERS

Happy early debut anniversary Snow Man ♡


Quick summary/thoughts im typing out as I read [Meguro 10k]

(Bold is translation bits)

• Title page preview:
  
  
  • To the me back then that was told “We don’t need Meguro.” Look up. One day there will be a day when you will be told “Meguro can definitely succeed,” instead.
• they start off the interview saying this issue of myojo will be released on Snow Man’s debut anniversary (Jan.22) and Meme says
  
  
  • “The next year will be the year our real worth will be tested. In 2020, we had the topic of us being newly debuted, and I think that’s partly why we were invited to lots of TV programmes and events. 2021 will be where our real value will matter. We need to really strive to become even more popular. At the same time, I want to appreciate every job we get, and think back to the me that couldn’t get jobs no matter how hard I hoped, and spend my days truly letting it sink in that I am being allowed to do those things now.”
• he says he feels guilty/awkward when people tell him that Snow Man is really popular because to him that definition belongs to the level of groups like SMAP/ARASHI and its a way higher level and maybe people only say that to be kind
• then they delve into his pre-debut years
• he talks about the way his parents raised him like
  
  
  • “If someone does something to you, do something in return!” (this is such an awkward translation!!!! don’t be a pushover., hit back, etc.)
  • since he has a younger brother “Protect your brother and people who are weaker”
• lil bit about how he played soccer and how his dad was strict about it
• sent in his JE application in year 8/ jr high 2nd year
  
  
  • There was a gathering of my relatives and out of the kids, the only boys were me and my brother, everyone else was girls. In my cousin’s room there were posters of NEWS and KATTUN, and the whole time the TV would be showing footage of Johnny’s. At one point Takizawa Enbujyou (predecessor to TakiKabu) was on and the sword fight scene was so cool it left an impression on me, and it made us (Meme&Brother) want to try and audition, so I sent in my application first as the older one. I didn’t think I would get in, and it was completely a thing of the moment.
  • meme’s johnnys origin story is related to takikabu (well, the predecessor of) ????? the FATE???
• he talks about when he went to the audition and how he was nervous but his dad sent him this text:
  
  
  • “It’s okay if you pass and it’s okay if you don’t pass. Either one is fine. Your parents are always on your side. Go do as much as you like to your heart’s content.”
  • we stan supportive papa meguro 😭
  • Meme talks about how his dad growing up was relatively poor and stuff like his uniform and stuff for baseball (Meme’s dad played baseball) would be hand me down/second hand, so he was adamant about wanting his sons to do what they wanted to their heart’s content, to support them as much as possible as a parent. He said, “I don’t want to crush your potential.”
• he talks about the audition
  
  
  • You learn the dance copying the moves of the teacher/choreographer, but there were lots of small kids there, so since I was tall I danced at the very back. (I did so because) I would have felt bad if there was someone who couldn’t see because of me. I had neither dance ability, nor the strength to push someone aside to succeed. I think I passed because I was just lucky.
• he talks about from the beginning he wasn’t called upon very often (like once every few months) and the gap between him and his douki/same time entries widened a lot and he would always be placed in the back. he was frustrated/upset about it so whenever they would gather he would come to the studio an hour before and practice by himself in front of the mirror for that hour.
  
  
  • Up until then I had done soccer, and for soccer, the more you practice, the better you get, and the results follow. I believed that the same would happen. But, even if you work hard from an hour before, the people who come 5 minutes before the lesson starts will still beat you. That’s the world we’re in.
• he talks about how he was a corner person
• he talks about sexy zone / sato shori his douki debuting the year after entry
• his first “chance” arrived when he was picked as one of the dancers of SUMMARY (ABC-Z)
  
  
  • his first job for himself rather than a group job, and was with Hara for said job, but in the end their scene got cut
  • he and hara worked hard to help out with the stage effects and in the end that led them to being invited to help out for the stage effects for when Sexy Zone was on Kouhaku
  • (all with Hara)
• He talks about times he’s considered quitting but one episode in particular is from a filming of a Kisumai MV that many juniors were allowed to be in
  
  
  • There was to be a scene in the MV where 4 juniors would be featured very well. In the dance lesson preparing for the MV, the choreographers were discussing who should those 4 be. “How about so and so?” “Oh yeah, let’s put him in.” and among those were lots of my douki including Hara. I danced while wishing that I would be picked, when I happened to hear “How about Meguro?” And then I heard it. “Not Meguro. We don’t need him.”
  • In the world of professionals, that’s just what’s expected. The me at that time wasn’t worth enough to be picked. That’s all it is. But at the time, my heart broke at those words. “We don’t need Meguro” were such shocking words to be that I went home a mess, crying to my parents. I said “I’ll quit.” Then immediately they said back “Yes, Quit.” “You worked hard enough to cry this much. You should quit.” I thought they might try and stop me but they didn’t at all, and that in turn made me become rational again. [..] “I’ll try a just a little more” I said.
  • So you stopped yourself just in time.
  • It’s not really that cool of a story. From then on, going to lessons every time was depressing. Especially the day of the MV filming for the 4 of which I was not picked, my feet were heavy/dragging. I thought about getting off at a stop in the middle on the way there many times. That’s why, back then, I would close my eyes and listen to SMAP’s “この瞬間、きっと夢じゃない” many times over and over again, to somehow cheer myself up and arrive at the studio. I did that many times.
  • Don’t you wish you could tell the Meguro at that time what would be waiting for you in the future.
  • I want to tell the past me, “Look up.” That song that supported you so much, one day, you’ll be in a drama with the actual person who sang that song, Kimura Takuya-san. Look up. One day you’ll be able to directly say thank you to Kimura-san.
• he talks about how at first he thought debuting was impossible, how all he could do was just do his best with whats in front of him, but how he started to become a person who just did as was told, and was personality-less / boring. then when he was 19 a friend of him (non Johnny’s) said to him “Why don’t you speak up when there’s something that you want to do?” and it shook Meguro, he never thought about saying opinions to The Adults. But, you only live once. You have to do what you want to do. If you fail, at least you’ll be satisfied that you tried. After that, I changed the way I thought and made lots of decisions.
• He talks about how he then made a 2 year time limit for himself; if he didn’t see that there would be a chance for him by then, he’d quit. In exchange, in order to not leave any regrets, I’ll say out loud what I want to do. I won’t think about if it might be improper, first and foremost I will show my will. It’s okay if it doesn’t succeed or if I am embarrassed. What do I have to lose if I’m quitting in 2 years?
• I started writing my dream journal then. I wanted to write down every dream I want to accomplish till my time limit is up. It’s okay even if it’s impossible. You’re free to dream as much as you wish. And so with trembling hands I wrote the words I never dared to say aloud even once: “I want to debut.”
• I also wrote things like I want to model, things that seemed impossible. At the time, I wrote 8 dreams, and by now, they’ve all come true.
• Then he talks about joining Uchuu6, how someone told him he looks like he isn’t a member of Uchuu6 but backdancing for them.
  
  
  • I realized then that it wasn’t enough to just think that I wanted to change. I really /had/ to change. Then, what should I change? I thought, what can I do to make fans realize at one glance that I had changed. That’s when I got the techno cut. [..] I used to hide my expressions and weak self with my long hair. I wanted to change that about myself, so first I changed my hair.
  • he says he doesn’t want to reveal the name of the senpai who gave him that advice yet because he wants to say thank you to him once he properly becomes someone with results / success, he wants to say to the senpai “Those words changed my life”
• he talks about his first time being in takikabu & takki ….
  
  
  • When I went to greet him, I thought about how it was the last day of the stage of a play that I had poured my heart into, and the moment I saw Takizawa-kun’s face I burst into tears. [..] More than anything I wanted to be in Takizawa Kabuki the next year, too. I didn’t know if I’ll be picked. That’s why, just in case, I moved to the neighborhood of Shinbashi Enbujyo [one of the Takikabu performance locations], so I could go immediately if I was ever called.
  • ?????? he moved for the slim chance he might be in takikabu??????
• he talks about how he was called to replace the jr. who got hurt on the night before the showings started. he learned all the dances and choreo and positions through video that night
  
  
  • Takizawa-kun said “Meguro can definitely do it/succeed.”
• oof now they move on to 9nin snow man and how he felt when invitation to join Snow Man was first offered
  
  
  • There was a time where I never held a mic, never had a group, even a point where someone said “We don’t need Meguro.” I know what an amazing thing it is for there to be a place that needs/wants you. If there is a place that needs me, I want to respond to that with all my might. So there was never really an option to say no. When I recieved the offer, and when I started doing activities in both groups, all there was was “I will leave results in both places.” It’s not an either or, I was serious about both. Then, Uchuu6 members said to me “You working hard helps Uchuu6’s name spread further too” and those words really saved me.
  • Still, Meguro-kun, Mukai-kun, and Raul-kun’s entry caused a big stir/controversy.
  • Of course the 6 of them welcomed us warmly. But still there was harsh treatment/criticism against us 3, particularly Raul since he is center position. The Takizawa Kabuki ZERO after we joined, he cried so many times under lots of different thoughts/pressures. I would go and comfort him, but there was not much I could say. In the end, I said to him “You have value by existing. Don’t think too much. If anything happens, I will definitely protect you!” as I hugged him the stage sleeve till he stopped crying, and I sent him onto the stage. I think that happened about 2, 3 times. During the play, Raul and I were part of the 黒影組 [their roles] so we were together a lot on stage, so I had decided if Raul was unable to stop crying and even if he forgot his lines, I would be close by and be able to cover for him.
  • But, even as I said I would protect him, I think that deep inside, I was also scared. There was a scene where we would go off the stage and run through the audience aisles. The audience is our supporters, but inside I was shaking, afraid maybe somewhere where I couldn’t see were our enemies lurking about, and maybe they’ll stick their leg out and make us trip.
  • There were many times I would comfort a crying Raul in our off times as well. At the time, Raul was 15. I wanted to protect him no matter what.
  • Something I was really happy about was, when we did the stageplay “Shounentachi” there was a section where we would read letters, and Shoppi said “Koji, Meguro, Raul. Thank you for joining Snow Man. We’re family now. The 9 of us are Snow Man.” I was really happy that he said the words “The 9 of us are Snow Man” on the stage.
• he talks about how they got told they would debut and johnny-san in hospital and all
• he talks about parting with Uchuu6 on the day of 8.8 Matsuri (debut announcement day) and how they supported him and how he really appreciates Uchuu and how much they taught him and how they are everything he is today
• next, member messages
  
  
  • Fukka: He says he’s really helped by Fukka a lot, and how he’s helps to bring the group together and creates an environment that feels safe
  • Sakuma: He says how even pre-9 nin Sakuma would be kind to him and the bath buddies story. He also says he doesn’t think he could’ve gotten into uni without Sakuma because Meme’s interview was a mess, but Sakuma bowed his head to the professor and asked him to take care of his kouhai/Meme.
  • Shoppi: He says how Shoppi and he were good friends pre-9nin. He would go to Shoppi’s room at night and talk a lot about work and such. After joining Snow Man, Meme thought maybe he should hold himself back a little since he’s the type to say what he thinks and that caused some trouble, but Shoppi advised him “I don’t think you have to change your style. It’s not a bad thing to say what you think, it’s a good thing.”
  • Date-san: He says how Date-san used to take him to meals pre-9nin. A reliable senpai. Rather than words, you learn from his actions. Now that we’re in the same group, of course we’re on good terms, but I think right now we’re still trying to break the walls between senpai and kouhai.
  • Hikaru: Someone who has the power to bring things together, someone who has a strong existence. His is the genius of choreography.
  • Abebe: Abechan is amazing for properly identifying in his time as a junior what would be his weapon and put aside time for himself to strengthen his weapon. To be able to do that as a junior is amazing. As a result, he has the biggest weaponry of us all. Meme also says Abechan helped him with his thesis so Sakuma helped him get into uni, and Abechan helped him graduate
    
    
    • (im so shook he not once used the words “kind”)
  • Koji: He talks about how Koji’s variety sense is impressive, and how he really goes for those laughs. Re: I think he might for example be somewhat referring to something like Kinsuma, Meme says Snow Man is too serious and afraid of offending the MC but the MC wants them to be more forwards, so Koji is that someone who will go forwards and answer to those calls. I’m always applauding him in my heart. He is simply an amazing/cool man.
    
    
    • (memekoji shippers……………………are we alive)
  • Raul: He talks about how Snow Man have a really good balance in how they interact with Raul, that they can’t all be strict, everyone has their role (in raising him). The one who is most strict to him is Meme. He mentions how Meme’s little brother is jealous of Raul.
• ending talk
  
  
  • He mentions Arashi and how he backed for them as Uchuu6, how they tease him about his name and help to create an impression of him and he hopes to be able to do the same for his kouhai
  • He mentions Jesse is an important presence in his life; they became friends in high school, and Jesse was really popular then, the top of the juniors and Meguro was just some potato, but now and then Jesse treats him the same exact way. He says he’s grateful to Jesse.
• What would you like to say to the fans?
  
  
  • It’s not me. It’s the fans that are amazing.
  • He talks about his FINEBOYS cover and how the server crash due to all the fans
  • He talks about how the fans hyped their single releases and how he really felt the power of the fans
  • For those of you that have supported me from a long time ago, I want to make your heart go -kyun- and make you fall in love with me all over again. For those of you who became fans recently, I want to make you go -kyun- so much that you’ll be unable to look at anyone else.
• From now on, the year to prove yourself.
  
  
  • Yes. The jobs I’ll do this year will also probably jobs that I dreamed of doing in my junior years. The world that was a dream to me, I am now living in. I plan to enjoy myself as much as possible. If there’s someone out there who is worried about something, and sees us, and is able to think ‘Those people are having such fun, I want to change too, I want to try something new!’ I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than that as an idol. That’s the one thing I want to say to my fans: “I changed, too. That’s why, people are capable of change at any time!”

For those of you that know me from Twitter, here is the bingo board conclusion of his 10k lol.. only 1 bingo. But many reaches