David Tanaka

David Tanaka is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'', played by Takaya Honda. He made his first appearance in the main show during the episode broadcast on 21 September 2016. The character was introduced alongside his twin brother Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano), and they arrive in Erinsborough to find their long-lost biological father. The show's producer had planned their stories out six months in advance and was excited about the prospect of them joining the series. Both Honda and Kano auditioned for both roles and were later awarded their respective parts. David is characterised as the more self-conscious and socially awkward of the Tanaka twins, but he is career minded and confident in his role as a doctor.

Writers developed an issue-led storyline for David which saw him struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Having been pressured by his great-grandmother Kazuko Sano (Linda Chin) to settle down with a woman, David finds it difficult to deal with his attraction to the openly gay character Aaron Brennan (Matt Wilson). The mystery of David and Leo's paternity served as the character's most prominent story during their first year in the show. Long established character Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) was later revealed to be their father, linking the characters to one of the show's original families. After he comes out to his family and friends, David and Aaron's partnership proved popular with viewers and they became the subjects of the first same sex marriage on Australian television in 2018. Honda's final appearance was in the last episode of the show, which aired on 28 July 2022.

Casting

The character and Honda's casting was announced on 22 August 2016, along with Tim Kano who plays David's twin brother Leo Tanaka. Of his casting, Honda said, "I feel so privileged to have the opportunity to join the regular cast of ''Neighbours''. To learn from such prominent and longstanding Australian talent is truly seeing my dreams fulfilled." David and Leo come to Erinsborough in the hope of solving "a family mystery". David is a doctor, who has "a social conscience".

The show held a lengthy casting process for the characters because they wanted to find similar looking actors. Honda described it as a "strange" process with numerous call backs. He and Kano auditioned for both David and Leo to discover who was better suited to each role. Kano's first audition required him to switch from playing either character in a matter of seconds. Honda added that it was "tough" audition because the characters are completely different.

Development

Webisodes and introduction

Neighbours' executive producer Jason Herbison had planned the duo's storyline six months in advance. He was "delighted" to hire Honda and Kano and described watching them play the characters he had envisioned a "very thrilling" experience. Ahead of his first appearance in the main show, the character was featured in a series of webisodes titled ''Road Trip''. The series focuses on the brothers' road trip on the way to Erinsborough, where they were joined by Leo's love interest Milly (Eliza Charley). The webisodes were designed to give viewers a chance to watch the "brotherly dynamic" the Tanaka twins share. In addition they could witness the different personalities the two characters have. David and Leo made their first screen appearance in the main show during the episode broadcast on 21 September 2016. They arrive to look after their great-grandmother Kazuko Sano (Linda Chin), who has been admitted to the local hospital. Kano revealed that the twins had another motive for being in the area as they were searching for lost relative. When David and Leo spend more time in Erinsborough they befriend Aaron Brennan (Matt Wilson), Amy Williams (Zoe Cramond) and Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta), setting the characters up to become intertwined in one another's storylines.

Characterisation

David is characterised as kind and intelligent doctor who was born in Parramatta to an ambitious mother. Her influence taught David the importance of excelling in his medical career. His backstory details his teenage years spent focusing on studying instead of socialising. This meant the character had missed out on "normal teenage rites of passage" which resulted in him being socially awkward and self-conscious. Honda told a reporter from Tenplay that David had preferred to concentrate on his career rather than pursue romance. David been unable to understand how relationships work and coming to Erinsborough begins to change that. Playing a medic on the show requires Honda to research specific medical scenarios for hospital scenes. The production team also hired a medical adviser on-set to ensure factual accuracy. The actor told '' All About Soap's'' Claire Crick that his character was born to be a doctor. Despite it lacking in social scenarios, David's confidence excels in his work because it is a job he loves. Honda assessed that "when it comes to medicine David knows where he is and that he's good at it."

Despite being twins, David and Leo have different personalities. David is "more serious and conscientious" planning out his career path, in comparison to his impulsive entrepreneurial brother Leo. Honda believes that the two characters do share similarities ranging from a strong work ethic and sense of discipline. Though he noted that their methods of achieving their goals are completely different. They also have conflicting morals, but both believe they do things for the right reasons. Honda has described the pair as having an unspoken and "innate brotherly twin" connection which is apparent on-screen. The actor said: "it's underlying every line of dialogue and I think that Tim and I are pulling that off." Honda and Kano had natural chemistry off-set which helped them to play twins. They are both half Japanese with Caucasian mothers, which they thought was a "crazy" coincidence that helped them bond.

Paternity mystery

David's main story following his introduction to the show was his desire to find his biological father. David's initial findings lead him to a homeless man named Bradley Satchwell (Alfred Nicdao). He had been banned from visiting their mother in hospital when she gave birth. Various scenes are played out to suggest Bradley is their father. However, the character is reluctant to reveal details, and runs away. Months later Leo finds Bradley and bribes him with money to spend time with David. Bradley goes for a medical check up and is again reluctant to talk about his past. Writers introduced a "new twist" into their mystery story by ruling out Bradley as the twins father. David runs a blood test which reveals Bradley cannot be related to them.

Writers developed the story further with the introduction of Jasmine Udagawa (Kaori Maeda-Judge), an investor in the local hotel Lassiters. She has a vendetta against Leo and keeps a secret file titled "Tanaka". Amy over hears Jasmine telling Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) that Leo could potentially inherit Lassiters and she informs him about the news. This leads Leo to believe he is related to the Udagawa family, who are also Japanese. Jasmine offers the Tanakas ten thousand dollars to leave Erinsborough. He refuses, and it leads Leo to suspect that Jasmine's uncle Hiro Udagawa is their father. Amy joins Leo in his search to track down Hiro to his last known address. However, their search is shortened when they discover that Hiro died the previous year.

The show introduced a further red herring by releasing information suggesting that historic character Scott Robinson was the father of the twins. Producers rehired actress Jenny Young to reprise her role as Kim Taylor (now Tanaka) after a thirty-two year absence. She is revealed to be David and Leo's mother, having been pregnant during her last appearance in 1985. Kim had been romantically involved with Scott, suggesting him as a possible father. The 2017 storyline develops as David discovers Kim's connection to Scott, and confronts his mother. Kim denies Scott is the twins' father, but is shocked to learn Leo has taken Amy away for a romantic weekend. She rushes to prevent the pair from sleeping together. This makes David think his theory is correct because Kim would not want Amy, who is Scott's relative, to sleep with Leo. This episode brought about the culmination of the mystery storyline as the Tanaka's biological father was revealed. In one final "twist" in the storyline, Scott's brother Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) was revealed to be their father. This meant that Amy is David and Leo's half-sister, which shocks the latter having fallen in love with her. The actors knew about the outcome of the story when it began but were forced to be secretive. Kano told Sarah Ellis from ''Inside Soap'' that Kim was not certain Paul was their father but knew he could be. He added that could not wait for the audience's reaction to the shock revelation.

Honda later explained that his character was nervous about forming a relationship with Paul because he is a "conservative businessman". However, unlike Leo, he accepts the news that Paul is their father. He also researched the Robinson family's history within the show to provide realism. Honda added "There has been a lot of thought in terms of history and trying to stay true to everything. We wanted to make sure that it didn't come across as just a random thing that was thrown together. We thought a lot about it."

Sexuality

David has been portrayed as struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. When he arrives in Erinsborough it becomes apparent that he is attracted to men but David ignores these feelings. Honda said that David struggles and feels pressured by those around him to make a decision. He decides to focus on work until he can make sense of his feelings. The actor explained that "he doesn't quite understand who he is or what he is attracted to. He thinks he's meant to fancy girls, but it's never really worked out with them in the past."

Honda felt pressured portraying a sensitive subject that real people experience. He wanted to make David's story "respectful and understanding" for the show's audience. On-screen, Kazuko pesters David to find himself a girlfriend to settle down with. Honda said that because of Kazuko's interference David presumes he may have not met a compatible female and even questions if there is something "wrong" with himself. When David spends time with Amy, the pair share a kiss, but David knows he is not attracted to her. The actor told Rachael Gavin from ''TV Soap'' that Amy is "an almost perfect person" for David but there is no "chemistry" between them when they kiss. He then begins to spend more time with Aaron and there is an attraction between them. Assessing David's situation Honda explained that "It tortures him because he can't understand it. He's always tried to intellectualise it and once stuff develops with Aaron he comes to more of an understanding of what is going on and then he start to break down some of the barriers." Aaron believes that David is gay following an intense moment the pair share. He warns Amy of his suspicions and confronts David, who then denies it, claiming to be heterosexual.

Aaron organises a day out for Kazuko and he urges David to question her about his father. She does not react well and David blames Aaron. He apologises to David, who thinks Aaron is trying to seduce him. He insults Aaron in a homophobic manner. David later apologises for his behaviour which leads to their "most intense" and "charged" moment together, but David stops himself from kissing Aaron and runs away. The storyline reached a turning point as David decides to confide his fears about being gay to the local priest, Father Jack Callahan (Andrew James Morley). However, writers were quick to add more turmoil to David's sexuality struggle. His great-grandmother's health begins to deteriorate in hospital. David visits Kazuko and she orders him to not pursue his homosexual feelings any further. She then dies, which leaves David feeling as though he has to adhere to her dying wish.

David receives encouragement from Paige to accept his feelings for men. David then realises he should be honest about both his sexuality and the baby. A promotional trailer released by ''Neighbours'' teased David paying a late night visit to Aaron's home to confess his feelings. However, in a twist, as the scenes aired, Aaron reveals he has just slept with another man, forcing David to hide his feelings once again. When David comes out to his family and friends he tries to kiss Aaron. Wilson told Tenplay that David acts on impulse and wants to explore his sexuality after being honest about it. He explained that Aaron wants David to have fun with other men to fully understand his sexuality. Although David interprets Aaron's advice as a rejection, Honda believed that David was not ready to be with anyone.

Relationship with Aaron Brennan

David and Aaron later begin a relationship; viewer reaction had been positive, with many hoping they would get together, even earning them the portmanteau

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