Former Cross Gene idol-turned-actor and model Terada Takuya delivered a deeply moving moment as he reunited with his biological father after 25 years.
On a recent episode of the KBS2 variety show Mr. House Husband, the program followed Takuya’s journey to Japan to find the father he was separated from after his parents’ divorce when he was a child. “My father is 71. I just want to know if he’s alive,” he said, setting out on his own despite having almost no clues.
After confirming an address via the family registry in Hokkaido, Takuya traveled roughly 1,000 km to Tokyo. But when he learned his father appeared to be living in a newspaper delivery dorm, he confessed, “I’m worried about his health,” revealing his mixed emotions. At one point he even wondered, “Would it be better not to meet?”—but he kept going.
At the decisive moment, his father appeared first, and the two finally stood face to face. When Takuya asked, “Do you recognize me?” his father recognized him immediately, burst into tears, and kept saying, “I’m sorry.” He opened up about the day they parted and how much he had missed his children, and Takuya couldn’t hold back his emotions either.
His father remembered Takuya’s birthday and pulled out worn family photos, retracing the years gone by. Takuya handed over a photo of his younger sister to share how the family is doing now. After a short but heartfelt conversation, they bridged 25 years with a hug.
Before they parted, his father slipped him some spending money and said, “Thank you.” Takuya accepted it calmly, but later broke down in tears during the interview. “I wanted to show him that I grew up well,” he confessed, laying bare his complicated emotions. Their reunion after so many years left a lingering resonance.
Meanwhile, Takuya debuted as a magazine model in Japan in 2009, moved to Korea, and began promoting with Cross Gene in 2012. After the group ended activities in 2018, he has continued actively appearing on a variety of shows.