Idols are required to express their feelings in words in a variety of situations, including live MCs, television, radio, blogs, content for fan clubs, and various social media platforms. Their words have the power to move people to tears and to give them energy for their daily lives.
MOMONA, a member of the girl group ME:I, which made its major debut in April 2024, is known among fans as "ME:I's Japanese speaker," and the other members have great trust in her ability to put her thoughts into words. She says she developed a love for weaving words because she has turned small efforts into confidence.
"Ever since I was little, my mother would ask me for advice as if I were a friend, and she treated me as an equal, so I grew up in an environment where it was easy to express my opinions regardless of age. However, when I started working in the entertainment industry in my mid-teens, I sometimes felt conflicted. Even when I wanted to express my opinions to adults, I wondered whether what I was saying at that time was persuasive.
But it was that struggle that got me to where I am today. In our first year since debuting, there were many occasions when my words as the leader directly influenced the group's first impression, but I realized that in order to be able to express my feelings without hesitation at all times, it's really important to continue to be my persuasive self.
To achieve this, I wanted to have confidence in myself, so I tried to pay careful attention to even the smallest of details. It may seem like a small thing, but after using something, I leave it in a good state so that the next person can use it comfortably, and I take each and every action with sincerity towards myself and others. These small actions build up my confidence, and I can speak confidently even in big places."
Words that will melt into your heart in any situation
When conveying words to someone, it is important to be aware of the mental state and situation of the recipient. In situations where the message appears to be sent one-way, such as on a platform or blog, he tries to imagine the other person's face even more strongly.
"When I'm MCing at a live concert, I try to imagine what kind of emotion people want to feel after listening to the song, and what kind of words they want to hear. Since PLAME reaches people in all sorts of situations, I write with a feeling of empathy. Everyone experiences a lot just by living, and there are all kinds of happy and sad situations. I try to choose words that are intuitively easy to understand, so that they can easily reach people's hearts no matter when they read them. If I feel like I'm not getting my point across properly, I'll adjust them again and again, even if the sentences are grammatically incorrect."
The ability to imagine the other person's situation is also useful when conveying thoughts to the 10 members who work together and to the management staff who work across borders, such as Korea.
"There's a saying that birds of a feather flock together, but ME:I is the exact opposite. Each member has a different, wonderful personality, so while we have goals as a team, there are also times when I think, 'I think this member's best qualities will shine through if I don't interfere.' In the past, when there was something I wanted to tell a member, I would say it as soon as I noticed, but now it's my own timing.
I changed the way I communicate with my team members after I realized that there is an optimal time for them to understand the situation and try to improve it. I try to observe from a distance in order to deepen my understanding of my team members."
Just having respect at the core of your heart changes the way you communicate and receive.
"Over the past year, I've experienced many new things and built relationships, and I've come to realize that respect is everything when it comes to working comfortably with anyone. Humans have many unseen and immeasurable aspects, and if we don't have the mental space, we become selfish. In order to like myself, I want to respect others. If I have that feeling, I'm sure I'll be able to communicate politely."
This brings to mind the recording of "ME:I" that was posted on YouTube. MOMONA, who was in doubt about the Korean staff member's comment, replied, "I don't know," without being swayed by the atmosphere of the moment. This was a statement that comes from respecting one another as coworkers.
"One way of showing respect is to honestly express your feelings. I usually communicate with people from overseas through an interpreter, but after thinking about how I should communicate, I decided that I should convey my words clearly and concisely. Explaining too much can lead to misunderstandings, so it's important to use appropriate words depending on the situation. I still feel like I'm growing, so I think I'll change as I encounter new words, but I want to continue growing, including my ability to communicate."
MOMONA's rules for giving words of encouragement to her fans and members
- Always be able to speak with confidence and responsibility.
- Consider the situation and feelings of the recipient.
- Have respect and compassion for everyone.
