But others keep talking about Memi. Habu-chan wrote in her blog about the Nogi and Keyaki members who worked with her in the Zambi stage play. Her praise for Memi was about the highest she gave to any Keyaki-chan:
"Motomiya Karen, played by Memi-chan
- in rehearsals, she was the first to drop her script [i.e., she had memorized it]
- she has a terrific ability to concentrate
- I love her acting; the way she puts emotion in every line is wonderful
- I kept thinking how together she was"
This sounds like Memi to me. People keep trying to force her into the "cute little girl" meme -- and that's not false -- but she is also a serious, hard-working member who forges ahead with what she is doing and is not deterred; and she is always ready to step in and make sure things are proceeding smoothly (in her opinion). She's an irresistible force.
Kubo Shiori of Nogizaka also wrote about her:
"Memi-tan was always calming the team down. And on the acting side, she was a leader. We're the same age, but Memi-tan is much, much more adult than I am...and I got incentive from that and worked harder. I really thank her. As the youngest combo in the team, we worked hard together. It was good she was there. Thank you so much"
What looks like good news for Memi came today in a new clip from Joyful Love, used in a Lawson TV ad for buying Christmas Live tickets from them:
The ad was for a pre-sales application period November 22-25. It includes scenes we've seen before, but adds one of Memi alone and a second of Nao alone. This continues to reinforce my impression that management is going with a central trio for the new song, with Nao at centre, flanked by Memi and Miho. I doubt this is anything permanent, but it is opening up centre to younger members and 2gens.
Someone in Memi's thread on 5channel made a gif (Memi peeking around a wall is from the making-of video):
Since Zambi ended, Memi has posted 3-4 really great pics of herself in Keyaki Message. She is one of the members who posts least often, overall. But when she does post, we get some great photos. When she does not post for a while, it always seems to be during a time when she has important work in hand. I think she likes to concentrate on one thing at a time, and not get distracted -- when she is rehearsing or acting in a play, for example.
via Anakamirikarutenani