Sequel: I’ve got to ask Shinonome-san #04

Reiya Shinonome celebrated the third anniversary of his debut in September 2024. I wanted to ask him about his current activities as a porn actor and his next goals, and interviewed him again as a sequel to the interview (Part 1 / Part 2) published in June 2023.

November 27th, 2024
interviewed with Reiya Shinonome, edited by Mew, translated by Mio

−−Last interview was in May 2023 and it was the timing you began acting in the label for male, and the number of shootings has started to increase. Since then, your performance in labels for male increased more and more. I assume the way you receive the offers or how you approach to these work has been changed, but how do you see it yourself?

Reiya: My first performance in a label for males was Dec. 2022 and Jan. 2023 was the timing I started to perform fully in these labels. Then, the numbers have significantly increased since May-June in 2023. At that time, I performed the production called “Sekimen-Joshi（赤面女子）” mainly, as well as I performed in labels for females. On top, I was performeding for SOD from time to time. As shared during “FRIDAY” ’s interview, my first shooting experience was with group sex with multiple members and I couldn’t perform at all. Yet, the director at that time said, “It’s normal that you can’t perform well from the beginning. Even though, if you find it fun, pls come – I will appoint you again!”.

−−I see.

R: The director directly told me that “You’re Ero-men (エロメン), so you don’t need to scarify yourself by doing something you feel painful. Yet, if you feel it’s fun, I will take care of you until you perform well, then once you perform well, and if you feel like you want to try a different shooting scene, you can do that.”
As a porn actor, it’s kind of difficult to clearly say that “This actor is good at this”, and also difficult to evaluate the individual, especially there’s no certification or success criteria as numbers. Therefore, to recognize and evaluate self, any people working in this industry has common understanding that each one of us needs to try in various occasions and scenes, fail and learn from failure. With this mindset, I really appreciate the director who let me continue to try, with great messages that “you can build your experience until you feel you’re independent, then you can challenge at different occasions”. So I can’t say no to this director.

−−The director has given you such a kind word that “if you find it fun, you can continue to try”. Can you think of any reasons that the director said as such to you?

R: Hmmmm…, he may find the potential in me…?  Or I came from an athlete background, and I’m comfortable communicating without hesitation even with seniors and/or males dominant society, so he may have simply thought I would do, and he trained me. Or he may find chemistry in me.

−−I see.  Having chemistry might be the one. The work in that label has entertainment elements and I find you acting with fun. Not sure if the director has expected that from the beginning, but he may find you as someone who would act with fun.

R: That can be possible. I’m very casual when I go for the shooting with that label. I started as a learner in that shooting, but at a certain point, the production invited me as a professional performer. Around the same time, I also started to perform in other labels, and what the producer taught me really helped me to perform and they evaluated me as a result of that. Since then, whenever the timing of my performance as an actor is recognized, I feel happy and appreciative to him who raised me as a professional.

−−You would forever appreciate the director.

R: I mean it! Also, when I look back, which has been happening since this year (2024), one of the big milestones for me is that major adult video producting company started to appint me. They recognize me as a professional porn actor and it is the result of my growth.

−−By the way, you mentioned it’s difficult to measure the success of an actor’s performance with numbers. With that said, what is your strength as an actor?

R: Well…. What is that…? Maybe my acting, as I’m appointed for “Drama” work. Also, the major productions seem to often appoint me with the scene where I can leverage my “wildness” in the play. I look masculine and they expect me to perform with my physical power. On top, other director once told me that “You’re very reliable as an actor.”

−−Feel relieved.

R: I guess it’s like I wouldn’t require a lot of retakes and wouldn’t take longer time than expected…, yet he seems to have a good impression that I can do well….

−−I see.

R: Once, very experienced lighting professional, who I met for the first time, praised me with one of the scenes. It was the scene that I brought tensed atmosphere by getting off from the car, entering to Ryokan entrance and then saying “What are you doing?”, and after the shooting is done, he recognized me for my acting. These recognition made me realize my growth.

−−I’ve actually watched that scene, it was a very impressive one. By the way, I would like to ask about specific work you do.  Recently you’ve been performing with S-cute label continuously and is it something you’ve once mentioned in one of your broadcasting?

R: That’s right.

−−This series is that you spend whole day dating with an actress, you hold a camera and shoot actresses from dating scene to actual sex, and I find the girl is always cute in whatever the scenes and I personally feel it’s very relaxing. Each actress has uniqueness, yet you shoot them charmingly and beautifully, so I’m very impressed. At the same time, I wonder how you spend time with them.  Is there anything you keep in mind?

R: As I want actresses to show cute faces in films, I try to have ice breaks when camera is off, or I care about having good distance with them. I don’t want them to feel nervous or tense. For example, on the day, I would say “I look forward to the shooting today.” as I greet, at the same time, I also tell that “I may show wired part of me, like middle aged men behaving strangely…. If you find wired, simply tell me!”

−−Laugh….

R: It’s one of the ways to help her feel close to me.

−−I see. That makes sense.

R: Not sure if that can be the right answer. In other situations, if I want the smile of the actress, I try to do something crazy, like I suddenly run and leave the actress behind….

−− I saw that scene – it’s the work with Mizuki Yayoi-san.

R: The one shooted in Yokohama! I literally ran that time!

−−“Don’t leave me!” is what Mizuki-chan said, and she looked very cute.

R: Laugh. Also, given the work is for male, I can be more relaxed as  I don’t need to act prince-like as I do for females. I can be authentic self – being a unique and naughty self, like I show myself in some events or broadcasting. Rather than me being “Sweet-sadist prince in Raiwa”, I can act similar to my own characteristics, and actresses also feel my authenticity which helps them not to prepare themselves too much but act naturally. As a result of that, they show good smiles. That’s what I can do well.

−− I see. All the actresses look having fun, and I like it. While the work is developed for males, I have an impression that females also like S-cute work. Females like to also watch the dating scene, and it has demand among females.

R: With that said, the actresses are, of course, acting when shooting is on, so I’m scared to off the camera…. What if suddenly they turn into themselves and no smile at all….

−−I see (laugh).  By the way, at the shooting, does the director rely on you for all the acting and what to do in different timings? I assume the director usually stays close to you.

R: In general, They rely on me. When we do POV sex, they don’t give much direction.

−−Is it like, please go ahead and act as you like..?

R: Yes. I sometimes check with the director just in case, “Would you need any particular positions?” or sometimes the directors give his directions, but in general they rely on me.

−−I see. But if you’re relied on so much as the actor, wouldn’t that give you pressure?

R: Actually, at the beginning, I felt pressured that this work would be produced and released only with my shooting? But they continue to appoint me after several times, and that made me feel I’m trusted, and this can be my unique strength, so with this, I don’t feel pressured much any more. Rather, it’s easy going for me.

−−Wow, that’s great.

R: As I can rest when I feel tired!

−−This may be off topic a bit, but in S-Cute work, there was a scene which the mirror was reflecting you holding the camera, and I was surprised with the size of the camera you hold for shooting. You can still have sex holding such a heavy looking camera….

R: Yeah, that camera is used for events like “SILK CARNIVAL” broadcasting. It’s VERY heavy, and one of the heaviest among the cameras we shoot for POV sex.

−−I see.

R: So, if I shoot 3 times a day, my arm shakes and I can’t throw darts. It doesn’t hit the bull’s eye…(laugh).

−−I can imagine…(laugh). Not only as a porn actor, but you can probably be a shooter….

R: I don’t think so. Shooter actually has a lot of understanding and interest towards the equipment, but I don’t have much interest into it. I’m not a geek in nature….

−−I still imagine you remember about the performance of cameras.

R: It’s just memorization. Anyone who loves shooting does it as they like, so these people are good as professional shooters. Ryo-san searches even outside of his work and shares with me saying “Recently there was a new model released and I’m interested”.  While I’m interested in technological progress, I’m not into collecting these items.

−−If you are equipped well with shooting, you would be a good shooter….

R: Maybe I find it interesting because of POV sex shooting. I’m interested in creating my own work, but if I were to shoot other people as a 3rd person, I may feel frustration.

−−I can kind of understand.

R: That’s why, I’m the player. I like to play basketball, or ride a bicycle as a racer, but do I want to be the empire, it’s not like that.

−−That’s true. Maybe you’re right….

−−Now I want to ask about your owned label Egoist Cloud. It started with the series “Hammelar”, and it’s shifted to more conceptual work. Recently, it has become the norm that you invite the actress as a guest and shoot two different works.  Will you continue in this way moving forward?

R: Yes, I want to continue doing so. It’s actually more about preferences, but i don’t mean to shoot graphic work, rather I understand that people prefer different kinds of situations and work, so I want my fans to find the work which they like, rather than collecting all of them. And with that in mind, it would be better that I create different works with various actresses who fit to the work.

−−I see. Do you also decide on casting?

R: We first ask productions to nominate several actresses, consult with Ryo-san who fits the most among them with our taste, then finalize.

−−Do you prepare the script, then decide the actress?

R: No, we choose the actress first. Unless we know who would act – whether the person is cute type or beautiful type, it may vary, so, we have been choosing the actress first so far.  Among the work we release later, we do have the one we decide the theme of the work first, then decide the casting.

−−Interesting. All the actresses who’ve performed look like very kind people, they are reliable even they are young and they are having fun shooting. Maybe because I watched them talking naturally in your YouTube channel.

R: I agree with that. Some of them, I met them for the first time, or not a long relationship yet, but all of them were very good people.

−−Everyone was very pleasant, and I was watching with a very peaceful mind.

---

−−Now, changing the topic from shooting, I would like to ask you about the events you lead. During the last year (2023) September’s “Egoist Monday” broadcasting, you mentioned that “I will try my best to increase the opportunities to meet with fans in my 3rd year”. In reality, last one year between 2023 and 2024, you’ve participated into many events, and I actually counted how many you’ve participated, and you did at least some event every month, every week. Even you have a lot of shooting plans, you also joined so many events, so you “walked the talk”. How do you reflect on these situations, in which you interacted with fans?

R: Well…. I’m really the person who likes to entertain other people. I really like when someone feels fun and happy. I’ve been living with this philosophy, and if I live with that in mind, I don’t know who enjoys my work until I meet them. Therefore, I was satisfied that I could feel whom I’m offering my work to. That said, it was only at the beginning. Towards later I found myself being “content” which means, I perform beyond as a porn star, but offer something else.

−−Well…, ehhh…. You haven’t noticed your quality of talents!?

R: I originally thought people may want to see me as the porn star, given they like the work I perform. Yet, during the last one year, I noticed there are a chunk of people who come to enjoy myself as entertainer. And as I noticed that there are people who find happy to meet me, then, I want to do more standard events monthly which people will not find boring, or share the fun time together with my hobbies such as poker. Or, I want to let them try something new which they’ve never tried unless they meet me. And I made all these thoughts come true.

−−Interesting! That’s true that muscle training would be one of the examples – participants look tough, but they may not have even tried if it was not led by you. Poker is another one – which has become a standard event by now, but there may be someone who never tried in their life if they didn’t have an opportunity to get to know you….

R: Yes, unless I didn’t provide such an opportunity.

−−When I met one of the fans at the event, the person said “I’m experiencing something which I wouldn’t have experienced if I didn’t get to know Reiya-kun”, and it’s really true.

R: If I think of revenue or think of it as a business model, there might be more effective ways of doing so, but I want everyone to experience something beyond what they’ve been doing, and I don’t mind investing myself for others. With that, it has become the current style.

−−By the way, again go off the topic a bit, but how are you managing your schedule? I’m simply curious how you manage it, as you have so much shooting schedules and you have events on top…. Are you leveraging a notebook? Or leveraging some smartphone apps?

R: Everything is in Google Calender which I’ve been doing when I was working as an office worker!

−−Google Calendar!?

R: I mark yellow for shooting, red for some of the important plans which I can’t miss, sky blue for meeting…, like that.

−−Wow, you manage it yourself so well…. And you’re…,well-organized as I expected, such as coloring….

R: You think so? Maybe, some people may not do it in such a way. But for me, numbers of yellow tells me how much I have shooting planned and how much I need to make myself up for it.

−−Well, how is your one of the day schedule? Previously, you mentioned in the broadcasting that you have shooting at late night, so wonder if you have shooting schedule without considering day or night….

R: That was because the numbers of shooting have been increasing, yet in principle it starts from 9am, and finish by 13pm if it finishes quickly or could be by 16pm. After that, I sometimes have other shooting. For example, one of the productions set schedules with AM and PM, and AM shooting starts at 9am and finish by 13 to 14pm. Then PM shooting starts and finish by 18 to 19pm. Once it was all day shooting and it started at 9am and finished mid night….

−−Right….

R: Anyway, it depends, but usually, I go for shooting either AM or PM, or I go for both, stay in one shooting studio whole day and shoot 3-4 different kinds of work.

−−Even you have strong physical, if you continue to have multiple shooting per day, it would sound very challenging. If it were one of the days in the week, it sounds still manageable, but how do you manage your health?

R: It’s practice!

−−Practice!?

R: When I started, it was physically tough if the shooting continued even shooting starting 9am and finish by 15pm, but I’m OK and can manage even if I continue to have whole day shooting for 3 days. I’ve learned how to rest in between shootings, and can take a nap in short hours. During shooting, I can understand how to relax. For example, S-cute’s shoowting with dating scene requires around 12 hours, starting by 9am and finishing by 21pm. During that time, we shoot 3 times, so I can leave the camera more often to keep my energy for the next round, or a certain position makes me feel tired, so try tough one first, then keep the easier one later. Also, position at sofa could require more energy, so I would try later. As such, I can control what to do through out.

−−Wow… you’re really great…. And sorry, I go back to earlier topic, but are there any events that you want to do in the future.  Of course you would continue doing for what you’re doing now.

R: I want to continue poker events, and maybe I may want to try durts competition in the future. Well, I also want to do Taiyo-kun（大空太陽）’s exhibition! Actually, I want to support my Eromen’s juniors, organize something which they can leverage their strength or unique talents. None of them have experienced producing their own event. Even myself, I didn’t know how to organize the events, so I would like to pay back to my juniors with what I’ve experienced.

−−I see.

R: I enjoy spending time with others, and Tendo-kun（天道一然）or Taiyo-kun（大空太陽）has been helping me a lot. So now, rather than creating my own content for my event, I would like to expand the opportunities by supporting them that they can leverage what they are good at!

−−That’s nice.

R: When it comes to porn actors as a profession, there’s no system that they are hired in one production. Yet, they need to brand themselves, they leverage SNS, and promote themselves to increase the opportunities to perform. Yet, it’s challenging to do all well. Considering that, it would be helpful to show milestones, or roadmap for them to follow, even small.

−−Well, various opportunities to perform, or something they can continue….

R: Yes, we really need so. I was also trying to follow the method how to sell myself at the beginning, yet I performed for the work for females originally, then started to perform the work for male as well where I enjoy doing so, continue building the career, leverage SNS, fan site or produce my own events….  These are all what I’ve done and these are easier said, difficult to do!

−−Recently, I’ve noticed that you’ve been saying that you want to expand your opportunities for work at Egoist Monday or other broadcasting. As the last question, would you please share how you would like to build your career further? Of course, share within what you can share now..?

R: Maybe, what I’m currently doing is pretty unique. I had several opportunities to be exposed in the media as a porn actor, the number of followers in SNS has been increasing. So I want to leverage my exposure to contribute to the industry. As I have been saying since my debut, one of my goals is to make porn products for females to be broadly exposed in society, so this experience is accelerating what I do. Yahoo article has gained great PV numbers, yet it was not included into ranking of popular articles, so it’s still challenging to be accepted in society yet. But I want to try different things with flexibility yet sensitively.

−− I said at the previous interview, but I have an impression to you that your behavior is as the influencer, not like you became an actor for your own interest.  Therefore, I want to continue to support you and I’m curious how you will make your way forward.

(END)