Atsuko Okatsuka discusses fans cutting their hair and surviving an earthquake on stage

Atsuko Okatsuka, a comedian and actor, recently shared some interesting details about her life and career. When asked about her favourite movie, she surprisingly chose White Chicks, a comedy from the Wayans brothers. The film is about two brothers who pretend to be wealthy white women. Okatsuka explained that she enjoys silly and simple humour, and a particular scene where the characters have to fake knowing a song reminded her of her own experiences navigating different cultures and languages.

She mentioned that watching the movie for the first time at 16, when she understood English and slang better, and appreciated the physical comedy, felt like a perfect reflection of her identity as an Asian American. This blend of relatable humour and cultural context made the movie especially meaningful to her.

Okatsuka also recalled her time working as a dog walker in Los Angeles, which led to a memorable, albeit negative, experience with a Yelp review. The review claimed she only walked a dog named Charlie for 10 minutes instead of the agreed-upon 30. She admitted this happened on a rainy day because the dog was unhappy, but she didn't know she was being watched and timed by the owner's friend.

Reflecting on advice from her friend and fellow comedian Chelsea Handler, Okatsuka emphasized the importance of not comparing oneself to others. Handler's advice is that there is enough room for everyone's success in any field. Okatsuka believes that everyone has a unique role to play, and focusing on personal growth rather than competition is key.

One of the most dramatic events Okatsuka experienced happened during a stand-up performance in Pasadena. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck as she was walking onto the stage. Despite the terrifying situation, she managed to remain relatively calm. She humorously noted that her lack of specific earthquake survival skills was offset by her quick thinking and ability to connect with people, which she attributed to her experiences growing up with a mother who had schizophrenia and living in the US as an undocumented immigrant for seven years.

Okatsuka shared that she doesn't easily feel at home, even in her own house. She believes this feeling stems from moving frequently as a child and living in a garage for several years. This constant state of readiness to leave has made her feel like a stranger in many places, always anticipating being asked to move on.

She also spoke about memorable fan interactions. Some fans have gone as far as to cut their hair to resemble her signature style, a significant gesture. Another fan, named Atsuko, who shared her name, expressed gratitude that Okatsuka's visibility had made it easier for people to pronounce her name and helped her feel more seen and less alone.