Ren Meguro of Snow Man Opens the Door to "World Standards"—The Current Position of 'SHOGUN' and the Era of Pop Idol Crossovers

1. Why Ren Meguro Now? — The Background of His "Unstoppable Success"

Ren Meguro was born in 1997. He joined Snow Man in 2019 and made his CD debut in 2020, so the group has only a few years of history since its debut. However, in recent years, his name has rapidly gained presence in the Japanese drama and film scene.Wikipedia

In the TV drama "Silent," he delicately portrayed the challenging role of a young man who lost his hearing, establishing a quiet and profound love story while sparking discussions about the depiction of hearing impairment, which enhanced his reputation.Wikipedia
In the subsequent financial entertainment "Trillion Game," he played Haru, a man who aims to conquer the world with bluff and action, garnering support from business people.Wikipedia

Furthermore, in the Monday night drama "The Beginning of the Sea," he took on a delicate human drama depicting the struggles and growth of a father, showcasing his ability to embody a "living human being" that includes a sense of life and vulnerability, proving he is more than just a "handsome actor."Wikipedia

Additionally, he has played major roles in films such as "The Waxing and Waning of the Moon," based on a Naoki Prize-winning work, and the romance film "My Happy Marriage," establishing himself as a young actor who "draws numbers in both dramas and films," earning high regard within the industry.Wikipedia

The culmination of these achievements is his challenge to the "heart of the global market" with "SHOGUN."

2. What is "SHOGUN"? — A Foreign Drama Depicting Japan Recognized Worldwide

"SHOGUN," which started in 2024, is an American-produced historical drama series based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell.Wikipedia

• Setting: Japan during the transition from the Sengoku to Edo period around 1600

• Main Character: Daimyo Yoshii Toranaga, modeled after Tokugawa Ieyasu (played by Hiroyuki Sanada)

• Another Key Character: Shipwrecked English navigator John Blackthorne (played by Cosmo Jarvis)

• Production: FX (USA)

• Language: Bilingual in Japanese and English

This work gained global attention for being "a Hollywood-funded production with a perspective and cast largely open to the Japanese side." Many of the main cast are Japanese actors, and the drama, with Japanese as a primary language, was distributed and broadcast by a major American network, achieving a historic feat of winning 18 awards, including in the Emmy Awards drama series category.Wikipedia+2People.com+2

The series also won awards for Best Ensemble, Best Actor, and Best Drama at the SAG Awards, with foreign media praising it as "ushering in a new era for Japanese-language dramas."People.com+2Reuters+2

In other words, "SHOGUN" is a "turning point work" that achieved great success in the global market by adopting a format that was seemingly possible but unprecedented:

"A Japanese-language drama set in Japan, produced by America."

3. Ren Meguro Joins Season 2 — A New Character Named Kazutada

Following this great success, it was announced that "SHOGUN," initially considered a mini-series, would proceed with the production of Seasons 2 and 3. Ren Meguro's name was reported worldwide as a new cast member for Season 2.Variety+3Wikipedia+3hollywoodreporter.com+3

• Character Name: Kazutada

• Role: A key samurai in the power struggles at the end of the Sengoku period (details expected to be revealed later)

• Casting: Reportedly selected through auditionsWikipedia

Foreign media introduced Meguro as a "J-pop star," "member of nine-man boy band Snow Man," and someone with "a burgeoning film and television career," highlighting him as both an "idol" and a "serious actor."hollywoodreporter.com+2Deadline+2

In Japan, the topic tends to be consumed as "a top idol appearing in a foreign drama," but overseas reports rather discuss it in the context of "an actor who has already built a track record taking on a Hollywood-type project as the next step."

4. The Difference in "Star-Making" Between Japan and Overseas

4-1. Japan: "Comprehensive Entertainment Type" Handling Variety Shows

Japanese male idols have long been expected to play the role of "comprehensive talents" who handle multiple fields simultaneously, such as

• music programs

• variety shows

• MC

• dramas

• stage performances

Snow Man is no exception, engaging in diverse activities such as group singing and dancing, hosting their own shows, appearing on variety shows, and performing on stage.

Snow Man is no exception, engaging in diverse activities such as group singing and dancing, hosting their own shows, appearing on variety shows, and performing on stage.

4-2. Overseas: Clear Specialization

On the other hand, in the entertainment industries of Hollywood and South Korea,

• actors pursue a career as actors

• idols pursue a career as musicians

There is relatively clear "specialization." Of course, there are cases where singers become actors, but in such cases, they undergo rigorous training and auditions to be evaluated as "actors."

What is expected of Ren Meguro in "SHOGUN" is, naturally, not "Ren Meguro of Snow Man," but "actor Ren Meguro playing Kazutada." In the global market, while "idol background" may become a topic, the simple rule is that the acting itself is what ultimately gets evaluated.

5. The "World Standard" Demonstrated by the "SHOGUN" Set

"SHOGUN" has established a world-class system in its production process.Wikipedia+1

• Historical verification and research by a multinational staff

• Supervision by cultural consultants from Japan and overseas

• Scripts with both Japanese and English versions

• Reproduction down to the details of sets, costumes, and sword fighting

Japanese cast members, including Hiroyuki Sanada, have played a role in bridging Hollywood-style set operations with Japanese mannerisms and spirituality in such an environment.People.com+1

In Season 2, which Ren Meguro will join,

• acting in English

• long overseas shoots

• communication with international staff

are expected to be part of the workflow, which is rarely experienced in Japanese dramas.

In Japan, it was announced that some activities would be temporarily suspended to focus on the filming of "SHOGUN."Smart FLASH/Smart Flash [Kobunsha Weekly Magazine]
This is more than just a matter of schedule adjustment; it is evidence that the agency, group, and Ren himself share the importance of "fully committing to a world-class set."

6. Snow Man as a Group with "Global Potential"

Snow Man has already gained overseas fans, mainly in Asia, and is noted for its affinity with K-POP fan bases in South Korea and Southeast Asia.

In domestic surveys, Ren Meguro often ranks high in the context of "members of Snow Man who could succeed globally," frequently being discussed in the context of "global expansion."All About News+1