Why Hideaki Takizawa Didn’t Recruit His ‘Favorite Disciple’ Snow Man

“Snow Man has a flagship show, ‘Let Snow Man Do It,’ in TBS’s prime time, and members like Meguro, Sakuma, and Watanabe receive constant offers from various TV networks for solo activities. They have become the agency’s new flagship, replacing the hiatusing Arashi.

For Takizawa, who had decided to establish a new agency, Snow Man was surely highly desired. However, Takizawa ultimately did not approach them, and the members decided to stay on their own volition. If they had moved, Snow Man would likely not be as active as they are now, and it might have had a significant impact on the revenue of STARTO, the company that took over management from the former Johnny’s” (TV industry insider).

TOBE, which did not acquire Snow Man, has members such as former V6 member Ken Miyake (45), and former King & Prince members Sho Hirano (27), Yuta Jinguji (26), and Yuta Kishi (28), who have formed the group Number_i, as well as trainees. In March, they held a four-day live performance at Tokyo Dome featuring all the group’s affiliated talents, indicating that the agency is on track.

While it’s true that they managed without Snow Man, a certain insider speculates that Takizawa, given his inherent nature, may have considered various circumstances and, setting aside personal interests, chose not to approach them.