S'pore actor Adam Chen, 49, looking to retire in Japan with wife after leaving F&B industry

Mediacorp actor Adam Chen, 49, is planning to retire with his Japanese wife in her hometown.

According to Shin Min Daily News, Chen said the couple has begun planning for their retirement in a suburb of Japan where his wife is from, and will be making a trip there in the "next month or two" to see the place in person.

Actor turned restaurateur

Chen, who is known for his roles in both English and Mandarin local dramas such as Tanglin and C.L.I.F, stepped back from the media industry over the past decade to venture into the food and beverage industry.

While still playing minor roles on screen, he dabbled in a series of restaurants, including bars, cafes, Izakayas and donburi houses.

However, the stint came to an end in 2023, after he realised that the industry would only become increasingly difficult to thrive in. He cited seeing news of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System as a push factor for him to get out.

"Since it's an uncontrollable factor, I could only let it go," he told Shin Min.

Chen currently works at his wife's marketing consulting company, where he is responsible for its daily operations and human resources management. His wife, meanwhile, is in charge of business development.

He is also set to star in the upcoming Mandarin-language Mediacorp drama "Until Death Do Us Part", a decision he said "dug a hole" for himself as it required three months to film.

He also noted that he was no longer young enough to handle the physical exhaustion of working 20-hour days.

Marriage

The couple got married three years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic after dating for 10 years, in a simple ceremony that reportedly took only three days to plan.

When asked about the reason for their marriage, he described needing a sense of stability during the tumultuous period, exacerbated by his failing restaurant business.

They are yet to be considered legally married in Japan, where couples must register their marriage in-person for it to be recognised.

Chen said they do not plan to hold a wedding ceremony on their upcoming trip, reported Shin Min, but will instead begin planning their retirement, including potentially renovating their home.

It will be his second visit to his wife's hometown.

Top image via Shin Min Daily News