Takaya Honda

{{Infobox person

| name = Takaya Honda

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|09|06|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=http://randommanagement.showcast.com.au/?actor=takaya-honda|title=Takaya Honda|publisher=Random Management|access-date=14 October 2016}}

| birth_place = Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

| occupation = Actor, television presenter

| education = *Barker College

University of Technology Sydney

| yearsactive = 2009–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Amy Schwab|2020}}

| children = 1

}}

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

Honda was born in Canberra, but moved to Sydney when he was young.{{cite web|url=http://joy.net.au/interview-with-takaya-honda-from-the-family-law-play-school-now-neighbours/|title=Interview with Takaya Honda (from the Family Law & Play School) now Neighbours!|date=5 September 2016|publisher=Joy House Productions|access-date=14 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019001455/http://joy.net.au/interview-with-takaya-honda-from-the-family-law-play-school-now-neighbours/|archive-date=19 October 2016}} Both of his parents coached gymnastics. His father, Kazuya Honda, was the coach for the Australia women's national gymnastics team.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/sites/playschool/about/presenters/?presenter=TAKAYA|title=Presenters – Takaya|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=14 October 2016}} 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. Honda was a talented junior baseball player and at one stage considered playing at College level in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.realestate.com.au/news/takaya-honda-reveals-the-stories-behind-some-of-his-favourites/|title=Takaya Honda reveals the stories behind some of his favourites|last=Hawkins|first=Joanne|date=9 March 2019|publisher=Realestate.com.au|access-date=1 February 2024}}

Honda became an ambassador for Dementia Australia in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dementia.org.au/media-releases/2017/neighbours-and-play-school-star-joins-the-race-to-tackle-dementia|title=Neighbours and Play School star joins the race to tackle dementia|date=23 April 2017|publisher=Dementia Australia|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415134711/https://www.dementia.org.au/media-releases/2017/neighbours-and-play-school-star-joins-the-race-to-tackle-dementia|archive-date=15 April 2018}} His mother Rhonda was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009 when she was 52 years old.{{cite web|url=https://tenplay.com.au/channel-eleven/neighbours/show-news/takaya-honda-on-alzheimers-awareness-month|title=Takaya Honda on Alzheimer's Awareness Month|date=15 September 2017|publisher=10Play|access-date=22 August 2023}} Honda announced the death of his mother in August 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a44866323/neighbours-takaya-honda-mum-rhonda-death/|title=Neighbours star Takaya Honda announces death of his mum Rhonda|last=Alexander|first=Susannah|date=21 August 2023|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=22 August 2023}}

Honda became engaged to his partner Amy Schwab in May 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.newidea.com.au/neighbours-takaya-honda-proposes|title=Neighbours' Takaya Honda proposes – see the amazing pics|last=Brown|first=Jenny|date=20 May 2019|work=New Idea|access-date=23 July 2019}} and they married in November 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/neighbours/takaya-honda-wedding-66089|title=Inside Neighbours star Takaya Honda's romantic Byron Bay wedding to partner Amy Schwab|last=Brennan|first=Bella|date=30 November 2020|work=TV Week|access-date=24 January 2021}} On 31 July 2024, Honda and Schawb confirmed that they were expecting their first child,{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a61763676/neighbours-takaya-honda-baby-news/|title=Former Neighbours star Takaya Honda announces heartwarming baby news|last=Warner|first=Sam|date=1 August 2024|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=1 August 2024}} and their son was born on 20 January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a63613703/neighbours-takaya-honda-birth-first-child/|title=Former Neighbours star Takaya Honda and wife Amy announce heartwarming family news|last=Sayce|first=Rebecca|date=30 January 2025|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=30 January 2025}}

Career

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. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportforjove.com.au/?page=040300|title=About Us|publisher=Sport For Jove Theatre Company|access-date=14 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportforjove.com.au/?page=020000|title=Sport For Jove Our Season|publisher=Sport For Jove Theatre Company|access-date=14 October 2016}} In 2012 and 2013 he also appeared in the company's critically acclaimed production of Hamlet.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stagenoise.com/review/2012/hamlet|title=Hamlet {{!}} Stage Noise - Diana Simmonds|last=Simmonds|first=Diana|website=www.stagenoise.com|access-date=2018-09-19}}

From 2010, Honda began playing Josh in the children's television series A gURLs wURLd. The series was Honda's first audition and first television role. Honda appeared in an episode of The Code in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvweeklogieawards.com.au/news/articles/2016/8/ramsay-street-is-getting-two-new-residents/|title=Ramsay Street is getting two new residents|date=22 August 2016|work=TV Week|access-date=14 October 2016}} He also joined the presenting team of ABC3 series My Great Big Adventure, along with Kayne Tremills, Stephanie Bendixsen and Nancy Denis.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/11/abc2-abc3-abc-news-24-2015-highlights.html|title=ABC2 / ABC3 / ABC News 24 2015: highlights|last=Knox|first=David|date=12 November 2014|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=14 October 2016}} The following year, he became a presenter on Play School, and appeared in the drama film Skin Deep.{{cite web|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/skin-deep-2014/33466/|title=Skin Deep (2014)|publisher=Screen Australia|access-date=14 October 2016}} In 2016, Honda joined the cast of The Family Law as Klaus Thomson.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/01/the-family-law.html|title=The Family Law|last=Knox|first=David|date=6 January 2016|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=14 October 2016}} Honda was part of the ensemble cast that won two Equity Ensemble Awards. In 2017, he appeared in Lincoln Hall's comedy drama film Naked Strangers.{{cite web|url=https://cinemaaustralia.com.au/2018/07/10/lincoln-halls-naked-strangers-will-have-its-world-premiere-in-sydney-this-month/|title=Lincoln Hall's Naked Strangers will have its world premiere in Sydney this month|date=10 July 2018|publisher=Cinema Australia|access-date=1 February 2024}} He also starred in Peter William Francis' short film Boyz filmed in Kurnell.{{cite news|url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/3637679/film-brings-action-to-the-sand-dunes/|title=Film brings action to the sand dunes|last=Heary|first=Monica|date=5 January 2016|work=St George & Sutherland Shire Leader|access-date=1 February 2024}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://tenplay.com.au/channel-eleven/neighbours/show-news/the-tanakas-have-arrived|title=Double Trouble on Ramsay Street|date=22 August 2016|publisher=Tenplay|access-date=22 August 2016}} Alongside Matt Wilson, Honda was part of the first same-sex marriage in an Australian television series since being legalised in Australia in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a858303/neighbours-first-look-david-tanaka-aaron-brennan-daaron-wedding-same-sex-marriage/|title=Neighbours reveals first look at Daaron's wedding|last=Mitchell|first=Bea|date=30 May 2018|website=Digital Spy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116004410/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a858303/neighbours-first-look-david-tanaka-aaron-brennan-daaron-wedding-same-sex-marriage/|archive-date=16 January 2019|url-status=live|access-date=16 January 2019}} The wedding episode aired on 3 September 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a865277/neighbours-spoilers-matt-wilson-david-aaron-wedding/|title=Neighbours star reveals David and Aaron wedding gossip|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=2018-09-02|website=Digital Spy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116005053/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a865277/neighbours-spoilers-matt-wilson-david-aaron-wedding/|archive-date=16 January 2019|url-status=live|access-date=16 January 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/02/neighbours-shock-death-it-felt-like-a-true-ending-for-the-character.html|title=Neighbours shock death: "It felt like a true ending for the character."|last=Knox|first=David|date=1 February 2024|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=1 February 2024}} He was asked to return to finish off David's story when Neighbours was revived in 2023, which he agreed to do. 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.

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.{{cite web|url=https://if.com.au/takaya-honda-haiha-le-lex-marinos-prepare-to-film-joy-hopwoods-the-gift-that-gives/|title=Takaya Honda, HaiHa Le, Lex Marinos prepare to film Joy Hopwood's 'The Gift That Gives'|last=Slatter|first=Sean|date=14 December 2022|work=IF Magazine|access-date=16 December 2022}} Released in 2023, The Gift That Gives won Best Film at the New York International Women's Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a46600973/neighbours-spoilers-shock-death-february-2024/|title=Neighbours star responds to shocking death in latest episode|last1=Kilkelly|first1=Daniel|last2=Dainty|first2=Sophie|date=1 February 2024|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=1 February 2024}}

Filmography

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

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row" | 2010–2011

| A gURLs wURLd

| Josh

| Supporting role

scope="row" | 2014

| The Code

| Jase