TERU Opens Up About His "Dark Days" — The Roots of His Two-Base Life With Hakodate

On October 25, 2026, GLAY's TERU appeared as a guest on Nippon TV's "おしゃれクリップ" (Oshare Clip). The program delved into his harsh years of struggle in his hometown of Hakodate, as well as the feelings behind the two-base lifestyle between Hakodate and Tokyo that he continues to this day. For GLAYERs who know of his difficult early days, it was content that once again struck a chord.

Details

The program featured footage of Hakodate shot by TERU himself, alongside episodes from what he calls his "dark days." He spoke in concrete detail about the harsh days before his breakthrough — working on songs in a studio he could only use late at night, and having to give up a gift from his mother because of financial hardship.

TERU decided to move to Tokyo with his bandmates as a teenager, but it's said he only told his parents after he had firmly made up his mind to leave Hakodate. Looking back on that time, his parents revealed they cried out of the loneliness of his leaving. TAKURO also appeared on the program, saying that TERU's vocals recorded in Hakodate carried a value different from anything before. Ryota Yamazato of Nankai Candies, who is said to visit TERU's home, also gave testimony about TERU's private side spent with family.

Playback!

The band was formed around TAKURO and TERU in 1988. HISASHI and JIRO later joined to form the current four-member lineup, and the band made its major debut in 1994. This year, 2026, marks the 32nd anniversary of that milestone.

It was in 2018 that TERU set up a home and studio in his hometown of Hakodate and began his two-base life with Tokyo. The Hakodate episodes discussed on this program trace back to that starting point. As for his journey as a vocalist, it's also known that he decided to quit smoking in 2003. Just recently, on the October 23, 2026 broadcast of "Music Station"'s 40th anniversary special, "誘惑," released in 1998, was performed on television for the first time in 28 years, and the discussion touched on his days as a heavy smoker back then.

Plus One

Life in Hakodate is also said to influence TERU's musicality itself. The story of TAKURO discovering new value in vocals born from a different environment seems like a clue for GLAYERs to keep in mind when listening to future songs.

The program also touched on how the members of GLAY remain bound by feelings unchanged since the band's formation. It's said the four sometimes gather privately to play music together, and TERU revealed the resolve that "even if GLAY were to end, the four of us would do something else together." For those who want to learn more about TERU's journey, the book "TERU GLAY : SPECIAL ARTIST BOOK" is also recommended.