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Takaya Honda

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Takaya Honda
Born (1987-09-06) 6 September 1987 (age 37)[1]
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Education
Occupation(s)Actor, television presenter
Years active2009–present
Spouse
Amy Schwab
​
(m. 2020)​

Takaya Honda (born 6 September 1987) is an Australian actor and television presenter. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Josh in the children's television series A gURLs wURLd, Klaus Thomson in the comedy series The Family Law and David Tanaka in Neighbours. Honda has also presented episodes of My Great Big Adventure and Play School.

Early and personal life

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Honda was born in Canberra, but moved to Sydney when he was young.[2] Both of his parents coached gymnastics. His father, Kazuya Honda, was the coach for the Australia women's national gymnastics team.[3] He attended Barker College and graduated in 2005. The following year he briefly attended UNSW College of Fine Arts, studying digital media, before he transferred to the University of Technology Sydney, where he studied a Bachelor of Arts in communication.[2] Honda was a talented junior baseball player and at one stage considered playing at College level in the United States.[4]

Honda became an ambassador for Dementia Australia in 2017.[5] His mother Rhonda was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009 when she was 52 years old.[6] Honda announced the death of his mother in August 2023.[7]

Honda became engaged to his partner Amy Schwab in May 2019,[8] and they married in November 2020.[9] On 31 July 2024, Honda and Schawb confirmed that they were expecting their first child in mid-2025.[10]

Career

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Honda was invited to perform with the Sport For Jove Theatre Company by its founding member Damien Ryan. It led to him receiving representation within the acting industry.[2] Honda has appeared on the Australian stage in the company's 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 summer festivals of outdoor Shakespeare; The Sydney Hills Shakespeare in the Park, The Leura Shakespeare Festival and The Sydney Morning Herald Autumn of the Arts Shakespeare in the Gardens. He performed as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Paris in Romeo and Juliet and Dennis and Forester in As You Like It.[11][12] In 2012 and 2013 he also appeared in the company's critically acclaimed production of Hamlet.[13]

From 2010, Honda began playing Josh in the children's television series A gURLs wURLd.[3] The series was Honda's first audition and first television role.[2] Honda appeared in an episode of The Code in 2014.[14] He also joined the presenting team of ABC3 series My Great Big Adventure, along with Kayne Tremills, Stephanie Bendixsen and Nancy Denis.[15] The following year, he became a presenter on Play School,[3] and appeared in the drama film Skin Deep.[16] In 2016, Honda joined the cast of The Family Law as Klaus Thomson.[17] Honda was part of the ensemble cast that won two Equity Ensemble Awards.[4] In 2017, he appeared in Lincoln Hall's comedy drama film Naked Strangers.[18] He also starred in Peter William Francis' short film Boyz filmed in Kurnell.[19]

Honda also joined the main cast of long-running soap opera Neighbours as David Tanaka in 2016. He made his first appearance on 21 September 2016.[20] Alongside Matt Wilson, Honda was part of the first same-sex marriage in an Australian television series since being legalised in Australia in 2017.[21] The wedding episode aired on 3 September 2018.[22] Honda told producers that he planned to leave Neighbours in 2021 in order to pursue new acting roles, but he stayed on until 2022 when the serial was cancelled.[23] He was asked to return to finish off David's story when Neighbours was revived in 2023, which he agreed to do.[23] His character was killed-off during the episode released on 1 February 2024, after producers realised that it was the only way David would ever leave his family.[23]

In December 2022, Honda signed on to star in Joy Hopwood's romantic comedy film The Gift That Gives, alongside Lily Brown-Griffiths, HaiHa Le, and Damien Sato.[24] Released in 2023, The Gift That Gives won Best Film at the New York International Women's Film Festival.[25]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2010–2011 A gURLs wURLd Josh Supporting role
2014 The Code Jase Episode: "#1.3"
2014–2015 My Great Big Adventure Himself (host) 10 episodes
2015 Skin Deep David
2015–2023 Play School Himself (host)
2016–2019 The Family Law Klaus Thomson Recurring; 15 episodes
2016 Road Trip David Tanaka Web series
2016–2024 Neighbours David Tanaka Main cast
2017 Neighbours vs Time Travel David Tanaka Web series
2017 Naked Strangers Alex
2017 Boyz Julian Short film
2023 The Gift That Gives Callum Mori

References

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  1. ^ "Takaya Honda". Random Management. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Interview with Takaya Honda (from the Family Law & Play School) now Neighbours!". Joy House Productions. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Presenters – Takaya". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b Hawkins, Joanne (9 March 2019). "Takaya Honda reveals the stories behind some of his favourites". Realestate.com.au. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Neighbours and Play School star joins the race to tackle dementia". Dementia Australia. 23 April 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Takaya Honda on Alzheimer's Awareness Month". 10Play. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  7. ^ Alexander, Susannah (21 August 2023). "Neighbours star Takaya Honda announces death of his mum Rhonda". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  8. ^ Brown, Jenny (20 May 2019). "Neighbours' Takaya Honda proposes – see the amazing pics". New Idea. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  9. ^ Brennan, Bella (30 November 2020). "Inside Neighbours star Takaya Honda's romantic Byron Bay wedding to partner Amy Schwab". TV Week. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  10. ^ Warner, Sam (1 August 2024). "Former Neighbours star Takaya Honda announces heartwarming baby news". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  11. ^ "About Us". Sport For Jove Theatre Company. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  12. ^ "Sport For Jove Our Season". Sport For Jove Theatre Company. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  13. ^ Simmonds, Diana. "Hamlet | Stage Noise - Diana Simmonds". www.stagenoise.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Ramsay Street is getting two new residents". TV Week. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  15. ^ Knox, David (12 November 2014). "ABC2 / ABC3 / ABC News 24 2015: highlights". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Skin Deep (2014)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  17. ^ Knox, David (6 January 2016). "The Family Law". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  18. ^ "Lincoln Hall's Naked Strangers will have its world premiere in Sydney this month". Cinema Australia. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  19. ^ Heary, Monica (5 January 2016). "Film brings action to the sand dunes". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Double Trouble on Ramsay Street". Tenplay. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  21. ^ Mitchell, Bea (30 May 2018). "Neighbours reveals first look at Daaron's wedding". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  22. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (2 September 2018). "Neighbours star reveals David and Aaron wedding gossip". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  23. ^ a b c Knox, David (1 February 2024). "Neighbours shock death: "It felt like a true ending for the character."". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  24. ^ Slatter, Sean (14 December 2022). "Takaya Honda, HaiHa Le, Lex Marinos prepare to film Joy Hopwood's 'The Gift That Gives'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  25. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel; Dainty, Sophie (1 February 2024). "Neighbours star responds to shocking death in latest episode". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Takaya Honda". StarNow. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
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