Atsuko Okatsuka: Can You Ever Really Go Home Again?

Summary

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What Now? with Trevor Noah

Episode: Atsuko Okatsuka: Can You Ever Really Go Home Again?

Release Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Trevor Noah
Guest: Atsuko Okatsuka

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Overview

In this vibrant, humorous, and deeply personal episode, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka joins Trevor Noah to explore the meaning of "going home"—both literally and metaphorically. Their conversation weaves through topics of immigration, family, identity, artistic growth, and the healing (and sometimes hilarious) chaos of life. With characteristic wit and authenticity, they swap stories about learning new cultures, chasing dreams, living between worlds, and the pressures and joys of making it against the odds.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. True Crime, Storytelling, and Humanity

• The predictability & sensationalism of true crime narratives
  • Both discuss how the formulaic nature of true crime media can desensitize people to real tragedy.
  • Atsuko: On how the storytelling style trivializes real loss for families:
    "My son died, bitch. My son died. Now everyone's singing the theme song. Is this a game to you? Jesus Christ." (01:36)
  • Trevor: Critiques the multi-part format:
    "It doesn't need to be four parts. Could be one. It should be one." (01:32).

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2. Working Cultures: TSA, Government Shutdowns & National Identity

• TSA Agents Working During Government Shutdowns (04:53–07:31):

  • Trevor: Compares American and South African work cultures, noting SA workers would simply not show up without pay, unlike American TSA agents:
    "South Africans have a really healthy relationship with their obligations and their government ... if you told South Africans that the government was shut down and so government workers couldn't get paid ... they will not be working." (05:29)
  • Atsuko: Wonders about Japanese perspectives, and expresses surprise that Americans accept such conditions; reflects on government accountability in Japan.

• Japanese & American Work Ethic:

  • Both share Disneyland/Disneysea stories to highlight cultural differences in hierarchy and access (12:07–14:13):
    • In Japan, even CEOs will wait in line like everyone else.

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3. Meeting & Chemistry: The Doorway Vibe (07:36–10:16)

• They recall their first meeting at Questlove's game night:
  • Atsuko: Prefers "doorway chats" over party games; values deep conversation:
    "I'm actually not a big game person. I like conversating more, so by a door is what I like ... Tell me about your mom. How's your mom doing? ... I like that more." (10:07)

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4. Family Origins & The Immigrant Experience (17:19–32:30)

• Atsuko’s Family Story:

  • Born in Taiwan, half-Taiwanese, half-Japanese. Her mother returned to Taiwan for Atsuko’s birth so Atsuko’s uncle (an OB-GYN in training) could deliver her ("You let him practice on me?!" 19:29).
  • Parents divorced before she turned one; childhood marked by her mother’s struggle with schizophrenia, difficult family dynamics, and being raised in Japan, then moved to the US after what she thought was to be a “2-month vacation,” which never ended.

• Undocumented Childhood:

  • Arrived in LA at age 8, lived in a garage, and learned Mandarin and English while adapting to American life—unaware of her undocumented status at first.
  • Trevor: Relates this to stories of “inspirational” people:
    "You're so inspiring' is shorthand for... O. Wow. Damn." (25:13)

• Religious Community as Survival:

  • Church in America provided Atsuko with crucial community, food, and connection as a new immigrant.

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5. Comedy as Survival, Expression & Accident (66:13–117:07)

• Origins of Atsuko’s Comedy (19:19, 66:13–70:12):

  • Family was reserved—“barely even talk at a dinner table.” Comedy emerged as her way to cope and connect.
  • Only got the idea to pursue stand-up at 19, when her boyfriend suggested she try it.

• Unexpected Career Path:

  • Trevor: "I feel like no comedian chooses their style of comedy. Their life is the style that then presents in their comedy." (17:38)
  • Both reflect on how their hardships and unique backgrounds fueled their art.

• Transformation Through Comedy:

  • With success, Atsuko says her outer fashion and confidence became more authentic, paralleling her evolution as a performer:
    "When I found my voice in comedy, I think that's when I started being able to be my more true self, too ... being like, okay, yeah, I know who I am outside and inside now." (82:29)
  • Trevor: On the courage to let one’s brand or persona change:
    "We shouldn't allow our freedom to become the prison that we were trying to escape in the first place." (110:25)

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6. Art, Pressure, and Supporting Family (114:05–117:11)

• The double-edged sword of "making it":
  • Atsuko supports her husband, mother, and grandmother:
    "I'm like, me, I don't even know where my keys are at. So that's too bad for you guys that I'm the breadwinner." (114:38)
  • Feels artistic pressure as much from fans and society as from family: the need to keep growing, not repeating herself, and to stay authentic.
  • Trevor: Encourages everyone to find a path that makes use of their "one skill":
    "I think we've created too many funnels in the world now. We've made everyone doctor, lawyer, engineer ... We need engineers, we need doctors ... But I do think it's beautiful to be in a world where everyone's one skill just happens to be the thing that they can do." (115:49)

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7. Identity, Language & "Going Home" (32:07–38:12 & 119:28–122:21)

• Being 'Kidnapped' by Her Grandmother:

  • How she was brought to the US (“kind of like a kidnapping” 32:07) and lost connection with Japan.

• Language & Belonging:

  • From Japanese to Mandarin to English—polyglot life, but now uneasy performing in Japanese or Mandarin.
  • Touring Asia and returning to Japan after being "ripped away” as a child proved healing:
    • In Japan, greeted a packed house with “Tadaima” (“I’m home”), and the audience responded:
      "Thousands of them, all of them said back to me, welcome home ... Oh my God, I got so teary eyed." (121:42)

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8. Finding Rest, Play, and Pickleball Wisdom (138:08–150:16)

• The Artist's Struggle to Rest:
  • Both talk about their work habits, vices (Atsuko: tequila, weed, and simulated “busy-ness” through mobile games; Trevor: ice cream, pickleball).
  • Trevor: Shares wisdom from Chris Rock about not letting work consume life:
    "Comedy comes from life. You ain't living. You can't make comedy doing comedy." (139:10)

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9. Memorable Cultural Tangents & Playful Moments

• Cold Stone Creamery Worker Songs:
  • Atsuko sings a required tip-jar jingle from her first job:
    "Oh, oh. We got a tip. We got a tip. Cold stone, you're a cold stone ... When you tip the tip jar, we will try to sing in harmony." (88:00)
• Martin Smith—The “Basic” Archetype:
  • A running joke about unknown “ordinary” people who don’t make headlines or art—are they the lucky ones, or the backbone of society?
• Cultural Observations on Japan, Scandinavia, Norway’s salmon trade with Japan, minimalism, and high suicide rates.
• Stand-up Class on Craigslist:
  • Atsuko’s first comedy class was in someone’s house, found online, emphasizing vulnerability and luck.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On True Crime Formula:

  • Trevor: "They start to all do the exact same thing in the exact same way ... it'll be the same ... someone comes and sits down in a chair, and then they'll be like, 'So the first time I met Brian...'" (02:22, repeated at 79:26)

• Immigrant Survival:

  • Atsuko: "I was undocumented, learning two new languages and also being brought to a Chinese Baptist Church ... it was just a way of building community and friends really fast." (57:38)

• On Comedy Rooted in Life:

  • Trevor: "No comedian chooses their style of comedy. Their life is the style that then presents in their comedy." (17:38)

• On Authenticity:

  • Atsuko: "When I found my voice in comedy, I think that's when I started being able to be my more true self, too." (82:29)

• Pressure and Success:

  • Atsuko: "I want to continue being like a good artist for the people and not let them down. So I feel that pressure the most actually out of anything." (114:38)
  • Trevor: "When you've achieved beyond your wildest dreams, one of the scariest things is not knowing how it will or won't go, because it was never promised." (117:11)

• Homecoming in Japan:

  • Atsuko: "I just decided to say to the audience, I said, you know, 'tadaima' ... And thousands of them, all of them said back to me, welcome home. Right in Japan, in Japanese. And I was like, yeah. So I ... I got so teary eyed." (121:42)

• Comedy and Living:

  • Trevor (on Chris Rock’s advice): "Comedy comes from life. You ain't living. You can't make comedy doing comedy." (139:10)

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Key Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Opening—True crime formulas | 00:04–02:29 | | TSA/government shutdown, work cultures | 04:41–07:36 | | First meeting, “doorway” vibes | 07:36–10:16 | | Disneyland, hierarchy, Japan vs America | 12:07–14:13 | | Atsuko’s family, birth, and early years | 17:19–24:55 | | Immigration, undocumented LA arrival | 32:07–38:12 | | Comedy origins/standup as destiny | 66:13–70:12 | | Cold Stone, first jobs, tip jar songs | 87:09–89:05 | | Pressures of artistic success | 114:05–117:11 | | Homecoming Japan, “Tadaima” story | 121:15–122:21 | | Chris Rock/Rest advice, art & life | 139:10–140:54 | | Final reflections/favorite cuisines/nature | 145:41–149:28 |

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Tone and Dynamic

• Playful: The banter between Trevor and Atsuko is light, quick, and witty, with plenty of self-deprecating humor.
• Vulnerable & Honest: Both share unfiltered life stories—trauma, family mental illness, struggling with belonging, and creative doubt.
• Philosophical: Extended ruminations on identity, artistic change, community, expectations, and the immigrant path.
• Warmth & Solidarity: Acts of encouragement, empathy, and admiration flow both ways, notably as they discuss what it means to “be seen” and find your authentic self.

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Closing Sentiment

In the end, Atsuko and Trevor celebrate resilience, creativity, and the life-long challenge of returning "home"—wherever, and whoever, that may be.
Atsuko: "Thank you so much for having me. Thanks for having my unhinged energy." (150:16)
Trevor: "This is more my ... This is so chill for me. Like, the way your brain works. I'm just like, ah, this makes sense." (150:27)

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Recommended for listeners interested in:
Comedy, Asian American experience, immigration, belonging, family, creative process, and the interplay between cultural identity and artistic growth.

Transcript

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

When you watch, like, a true crime or when you read an actual. Like, how a serial killer killed, there's a lot of clumsiness to it because it's a human person. There's nuance, so it's not as exciting and on your toes. Is that. Do you know.

[Trevor Noah]

So you know what it actually is?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I thought you were saying that.

[Trevor Noah]

No, what it actually is.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It drops the knife.

[Trevor Noah]

No, what it actually is is the formula that they tell the stories so they start to all do the exact same thing in the exact same way, Right? So it'll be the same. And then someone comes and sits down in a chair, and then they'll be like. So the first time I met Brian, I was working at an ice cream parlor, and, like, he just seemed like a regular guy. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I like that.

[Trevor Noah]

Local news. And they'll be like, a man is searching. The police are searching for a man in connection with four women who've gone missing. Din, din, din, din, din.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

This is good.

[Trevor Noah]

Brian was a really sweet kid, and, I mean, he was just a regular kid. He loved baseball. He.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He.

[Trevor Noah]

He loved hanging out with his friends. You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I would watch this version.

[Trevor Noah]

This.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But this, by the way, you were. That was very riveting.

[Trevor Noah]

This is.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's your next hour. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Brian.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, it's. It's so at some point, I'm just.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I bought ice cream from him. You know me.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, exactly.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It's also. I don't think they need to make it as many episodes as they do.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They do.

[Trevor Noah]

It's always like a four part. It doesn't need to be four parts. Could be one. It should be one.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I know. And it's like also, you know, as, like the. The. The families of the victims, you know, being like six episodes with boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. My son died, bitch. My son died. Now everyone's singing the theme song. Is this a game to you? Jesus Christ. Oh, a podcast. Three seasons. What about my son died do you not understand? Right? Jesus Christ. This is why I'm not a mother. I will just. I would stop every podcast.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know, this is humanity you're playing with, you know? And then they make the narrative version of it. Who's gonna play Brian the killer? Oh, w.

[Trevor Noah]

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[Atsuko Okatsuka]

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[Trevor Noah]

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[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I was doing shows. And then, you know, so with the connecting and then, you know, TSA agents being tired already, and then today's the day ICE agents are coming in to work as TSA agents.

[Trevor Noah]

You know, I. So I don't know, actually, I wonder what this is like for you, what your perspective on this.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm like, hurry, record. He's having a good thought. It was a trap. I was Sent in to trap you into having this. We all wanted to hear your thoughts on tsa. I got sent in.

[Trevor Noah]

You sent in to trap me?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes, that's right. Yeah. They said, get the good stuff out of Trevor. I said, don't worry, I got it. I'll just act tired. Oh, I have three drinks. Ha ha, ha. Nice shirt. Nice shirt. Okay, now that we're here, Trevor, them agents coming in.

[Trevor Noah]

I was thinking, if this. If this was happening in South Africa, we don't. We don't have. I think South Africans have a really healthy relationship with their obligations and their government in that if you told South Africans that the government was shut down and so government workers couldn't get paid, government workers in South Africa would very politely tell you that then they will not be working. It's as simple as that. Do you know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Like, I. My brain doesn't comprehend how TSA agents

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

continue to show up, go to the airport. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

When they're not being paid just because some people in Washington are squabbling. Do you know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, for sure. It's not very American, actually, though. Like, I don't think typically they would. I don't know how the payment works. I wonder if they still get back pay. Is that why.

[Trevor Noah]

No. So last time they were saying, I think you're supposed to get back pay. But then last time there was an issue, and then they said, they won't get back pay. I don't know. I don't know how it turned out.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Because.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, you're supposed to get back pay, I believe.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And that's why we keep a person showing up. Not because they care about. Not out of the goodness of their hearts. Volunteer for five weeks.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, it's free. But as South Africans, we just wouldn't show up. We'll be like, don't worry about the back pay. We still. I'll come back when you pay me. It's as simple as that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. I would think that's an American way of doing things, too. No, no, I think there's.

[Trevor Noah]

I think there's. There's something really. There's a. There's a thing that. That American people in certain, like, services have. That's. That's. That's. It's. It's admirable, actually. That's why I was wondering what your opinion on it is, like, from a Japanese perspective, because I was going. There's a. There's a part of, like, the TSA where they go, like, we have an obligation to keep people safe and we're doing this. And when you go through tsa, you see how serious they are. And, like, every time they scan my luggage and I see them going through the bag, I'm like, you're really looking through my bag?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Now, I'm not saying they shouldn't, but I'm saying if I worked in tsa, at some point, I'd be like, I'm just gonna take a guess. I'm gonna look at people and be like, you don't look like you got

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

shit by vibes alone. See, that's where it could go wrong, right? Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

But that's the chance I'm gonna take.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm like, oh, man, my vibes are messed and fucked. My vibes are fucked up. Coming back from Indonesia, have we started. Did we get that introspective, insightful thought? Well, you missed that whole thing about South Africans. Oh, okay. Oh, my God. I just wanted to make sure. Because you have a twinkle in your eye when you're about to have an introspective thought. When we met recently for the first time at Questlove's game night.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That happened. And I was like. And I've been such a fan.

[Trevor Noah]

Wait, are you being serious right now?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, I thought you were joking.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm so serious. I've been a fan for so long, and I know that twinkle. That twinkle in your eye when you're about to. And we're at a party, we're talking. There's people drinking, People are having games.

[Trevor Noah]

It was a fun party. It was a nice games night.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And I asked you about something, and then you just. The twinkle came, and then you. I was like, oh, my God, is this recording right now? There's no cameras, and he's about to have an introspective, insightful thought about actually performing abroad. You know, when there's, like, restrictions.

[Trevor Noah]

We were talking about Saudi Arabia. We're talking about the Saudi Comedy Festival. Yeah, that's what I remember. The doorway. We were literally stationed. It was myself, you and Ezra, and we were. It was just by a doorway. It was a perfect moment of. I really had fun talking to you. I had loved your comedy because I had seen clips of it. But, like, I don't necessarily say I could, like, become a fan of anyone just because of their comedy. Like, because, like, them, the person. But I became a fan of you just from our conversation.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

By a doorway is how I thought I would meet you.

[Trevor Noah]

You know, I do have doy vibes by a doorway.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Not like, I'm like, again, I was saying earlier, I don't know if it was recording or not, when you went insightful, but you weren't like, partying. You weren't like, in the middle of a game. You were like, Trevor, Noah by the door. Come. You come talk to me. No, because I might have something wise to say. This is kind of how I felt.

[Trevor Noah]

I was like, this is in the

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Lord of the Rings.

[Trevor Noah]

No, this is like a. This is like a perception thing that people have sometimes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Did you play games that night at all?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I did. There's photos, by the way. That's the. There's evidence, which is good.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. I got stuck in a long game of Scrabble. That's why I was in.

[Trevor Noah]

I was in this game of Scrabble.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, well, big words. Words. I don't do good with words.

[Trevor Noah]

You know what? The words are not the problem for me. It's the letters that you can combine that aren't words that are worth something.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

That I don't understand. That that's, to me, is like. It's not words.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm actually not a big game person. I like conversating more, so buy a door is what I like. Like, oh, kitchen. Like, you know, chatting about something.

[Trevor Noah]

That's the vibe.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Getting to know a person, thoughts on something. I like that a little more than, like, calling out Uno, I guess, you know, or describing who I'm looking at in a game of Guess who. Tell me about your mom. How's your mom doing? You know, I like that more. So. Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

You should make like your own games night, where all the games are just about getting to know people.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

Just, like, do your own thing.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I would love that.

[Trevor Noah]

Suko's game night.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'll put down a bunch of, like, gadgets and. And dice and cards, and I'll say, psych, and I'll swipe it off the. The table.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Just like, roll the dice. Who are you?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Who are.

[Trevor Noah]

Roll, roll. A six. What are six terrible things that happen to you in your life?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

100%.

[Trevor Noah]

You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

The twinkle in your eye. Yeah. And so that. That's just what I was talking about when we just talked about the, you know, TSA agents. South Africans would not work for free, which they shouldn't.

[Trevor Noah]

Do you think Japanese people would?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's the thing. It's hard to imagine because it's hard to imagine the government would allow for something like that to happen.

[Trevor Noah]

I wouldn't even. Yeah. You know where I'm thinking downstream and you're like, yeah, but step one can't happen.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It would be hard to imagine. Yeah. The people might fail, but the government, usually, I feel like someone in the. It's very dark, but the government would, like, off themselves before they let that happen.

[Trevor Noah]

I think I thought that was like a. A myth. Not the offing themselves, but like.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And it could be just firing themselves. Not necessarily suicide, but. Yes, that too.

[Trevor Noah]

When. When I went to Japan for the first time, I had all these ideas of Japan.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, right.

[Trevor Noah]

I grew up loving the idea of Japan. It was, you know, manga or anime, and then like, you know, movies, documentaries, food, et cetera. But when I got to Japan, so I. I went to. Is it Disneyland or Disney World? I. I never know which one it is.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

There's a Disneyland and a Disney sea. Yeah. Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

So I went to Disneyland, right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. Picturing you there.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And in America, you know, you buy, like, the little flash pass where you, like, skip the line and you do the whole thing. So when we get there in Japan, we thought there would be some method for us to, like, skip the lines because the lines were quite long. And then they were like, no. There was no way for you to skip the line.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then I remember asking one of the people, I said, oh. And I was using. I was using a phone to translate for me, because the people there spoke Japanese, and that was it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

And so I was using the phone to translate to have this conversation. And then I said, what if the CEO of Disney comes?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Well, you know, the CEO of Disney, of course.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I don't. But I was. I was just saying, what if the CEO comes?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

What happens then? And then they said, he waits in line just like everybody else. And genuinely, at that Disney, they were saying oftentimes, like, the. The CEO of. Or the, The. The. The. The presence of that park or like the. Whatever The. The top executive was.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Would regularly come to the park and they would wait in the line with everybody else and they would ride all of the rides. And I was like, damn, Japan is on another level.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I can only think of one person who didn't, like, who skipped the lines. Was down with actually, I think, shutting down the park. And it was actually, I think the Japanese princess.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But she had studied abroad, like Western, I think, like Sweden or something. So of course she came back different. She was like, I'll shut. I'll shut down the whole park.

[Trevor Noah]

I don't.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm not like everyone else anymore, so. And she also left the royal family. She, like, married a commoner.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, so she's a real rebel.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So she's different. But yeah, for the rest of, like Japanese CEOs and stuff, that is something. So them. So I don't know. I feel like the workers would probably still suffer through and show up if for some reason.

[Trevor Noah]

Right, right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

The government was like, we're. We're. We're not paying you. We can't figure out ourselves if in the rare case that happens.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I bet Japanese people would still show up and work like the American tsa.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Folks have been.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Because they tell them they're essential and so they can't not show up to work. But then I go, if I'm so essential that I can't not show up to work, shouldn't it just be that I'm so essential that I just have to get paid?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes, 100%. Thank you. It seems logical, Trevor, for TSA head.

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, no. I just. TSA passenger.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

TSA passenger.

[Trevor Noah]

I feel like I have an intimate relationship with TSA workers because of how much time I spend with them. Because of how much. I'm sure you're the same.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. Right. I mean, I shout it.

[Trevor Noah]

I shout it myself. When it comes to, like, the trays. Sometimes I get there and then I'll. I'll literally shout out the thing that they were going to shout out to just make them feel like somebody's on the same page, you know?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So you're like laptops out. You're like, yeah. Or.

[Trevor Noah]

Or if they've got the new machines, like, I think they're like the Anal Logic machines. Very weird name, but that's the Anal Logic.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, that's what it's called.

[Trevor Noah]

Next time you go through the airport, look at them. There's a big round, like, it's a white tube.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And it says analogic on the side.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. I didn't see that part, but I did. I. I know what you're talking about.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And so when it's those ones.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Don't take anything out of the bag.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

Just leave everything in the bag.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You do the announcements for them. I say that, you go, sweetie, I got this.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. I say that. And then I can see them going, oh, thank you. Somebody who knows what's happening.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right? Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You're just a little bit of the load off.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Are they like, hey. You're like, hey, Matt.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. No, I do know a bunch of, like, I'll see when somebody has switched. Sometimes they're on touchless id, sometimes they've moved them to the actual machine. Sometimes they switch over to, like, searching the bag sometimes. And I'll be like, oh, you're doing this today? And they're like, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, you were here. And then, you know, sweetie, you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You need a rest. You know them by name. And when they're doing touchless or not.

[Trevor Noah]

Someone.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Someone please just pay Trevor enough, finally, so that he get. He could just stay home for a couple of weeks. Wow.

[Trevor Noah]

Can you stay home?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I cannot. I have a mom and grandma that, you know, I'm trying to finally help, you know, pay for and keep afloat.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

Tell me a story, like, because I know, like, just little slices of it, but, like, where does your journey begin?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We're also so far.

[Trevor Noah]

What do you mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Like, from each other, physically.

[Trevor Noah]

We're not far.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

When we hang out. When we hang out, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

Well, normally there's a doorway between us, so it helps.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

There's a doorway.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But this is. Yeah. Anyway, I just wanted to acknowledge the physical distance, but.

[Trevor Noah]

But the emotional distance is. Is nothing.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my God.

[Trevor Noah]

I mean, we're basically the same.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're like. You're the TSA agent to my Trevor.

[Trevor Noah]

Well, thank you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

English isn't my first language, but you're the TSA agent. Like, you know what I mean? We're close like that.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. I appreciate that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

What's up, Trevor?

[Trevor Noah]

I appreciate that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Laptops out of bags.

[Trevor Noah]

You do that well.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Thank you.

[Trevor Noah]

You see, I like that. Where does your journey begin? Like, take. Take me through your life. Cause I love meeting people, especially comedians, to be honest. And then, like, going back through their journey to figure out, like, how their comedy became their comedy.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Cause I feel like no comedian chooses their style of comedy. Their life is the style that then presents in their comedy.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. We're forced into this. We are, in many ways, our personalities. Yeah, yeah. No, for real. Nobody in my family is comedic or likes to joke. They barely even laugh, talk. Let's be honest, they barely even talk at, like, a dinner table or something. Do you have a lively family?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, right?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, definitely. My family will sit and eat in silence. Like, who died? You know, it's like that. That's the energy. Very tragic. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Wait, so where were you born? In Japan.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So I was actually born in Taiwan. I'm half Taiwanese.

[Trevor Noah]

I did not know this, you see.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Ah, yes. Yeah, I know. That's why it's good. We're at this table.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay, wait, so born in Taiwan, half Taiwanese?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yeah. So my grandma's side. My mom's side is Taiwanese, and so I was Born there because. So my dad's Japanese. And, you know, my mom and dad had met at a speed dating event in Japan once. They, you know, they courted each other, and then they got married very fast.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, from speed dating, you have to. I mean, you want to keep the speed.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's in the name. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Why would you. Why would you slow things down after that?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No. Oh, wait, hold on. That was too fast. Let's go back to our respective countries and take it slow. No, she was like, I'm gonna move here.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know, and so once she got pregnant with me, you know, my. She went back to Taiwan to give birth because her brother, my uncle, was studying to be an obgyn. And so he said, I'll. I'll do it for you.

[Trevor Noah]

I will practice on.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Studying.

[Trevor Noah]

He was studying.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Sweetie, that doesn't mean you are it. Studying is worse. Studying is, but it was cheaper, I think, because of it. I was like, was it because of a discount? My family loves a discount. I was like, you let him practice on me.

[Trevor Noah]

Wait, so your uncle was the obgyn?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He was always studying to be one.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, but he was still the person.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He was. He was the one that, like, caught me or pulled me out or how.

[Trevor Noah]

I hope it's that. I hope it's, like, guided you. Caught you is like.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. Guided me out. Yeah, he's the one that guided me out.

[Trevor Noah]

All right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

She's, like, very, like.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. Just like. Oh, this way.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay. Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's a girl. I don't know what it is. I'm still shy around him. Day one. My family has always been very. Just DIY whatever it takes to, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Do things both sides of the family or.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, actually both sides of the family kind of like that. Okay, so that's. That. That's day one. That's how I came out is, you know, with my uncle helping out.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh. From day one.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Day one.

[Trevor Noah]

And so how long did you. Did you live in. In Taiwan for then? So you're born there?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Just very brief. Just for my mom to, like, recover from it. And then we reconnected with my dad reunited back in Japan, and that's where.

[Trevor Noah]

In Japan.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So I was in Chiba, where Tokyo Disneyland is. Tokyo Disneysea.

[Trevor Noah]

Right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And. Yeah, just live, like, a normal, chill life, you know, My parents got divorced when I was not even one yet. My mom has, you know, schizophrenia and a lot of other mental issues. Oh, wow. And so. So she was very. My dad already had Two kids from his first marriage.

[Trevor Noah]

Right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And so my mom suddenly had to be, you know, in a foreign country with the schizophrenia kind of bubbling up, especially after giving birth to me. She had to be a stepmom. You know, my dad was her first boyfriend, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

How old was she at the time?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

She was in her 30s. She. So like, a little later to be getting, you know, to start hearing voices and things like that. Yeah, usually it's, I guess in your 20s is when something like paranoid schizophrenia hits.

[Trevor Noah]

How does it. How does it present? Like, you know, because you. You'll hear people throw the term around loosely, but. And I. I know you can't speak broadly, but how. How did it present for your mom? Like, what was her schizophrenia like, from

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

what I am told, because, you know, I'm now talking with those siblings again. They had a very traumatic time with her. My mom was very abusive to them. You know, she was the stepmom, you know, I'm sorry. And so it presents itself, you know, how do I. So there's. Right. There's like movies about. I talk about representation in TV and movies.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And I joked that, you know, there's like, sure, there's Fresh off the Boat, an Asian family on tv or Crazy Rich Asians, the movie. But you know, when people ask, like, was your family kind of like that? And I'm like, no, it's more like, have you seen the Ring? You know, like the, you know, the. That comes out of the tv. That's my mom. So it's more like that.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, man. My family is like, we're the worst. We're truly the worst.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We are the worst. But they made us this way. So it's more like that, like, you know, or like Baba Duke or something. This how. I mean, even my siblings describing it, you know, my mom, I guess, used to when they would go to bed at night, she would, you know, take a kitchen knife and there's like metal bars for the framing of the bed. I guess she would just run the knife along.

[Trevor Noah]

You are shitting me.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. And then they would al. She would also do it on their face. They told me just this last trip back to Japan, they told me they're like, oh, we didn't tell you this story about your mom. So, you know, when I joke, I. I joke that it's like the girl from the Ring, Samira that crawls out of the tea, but I mean, it's kinda. Or babad duck lurking in the darkness watching you sleep. That was my mom. And so I guess that's when they were like, okay. You know, she's. It's not a. I don't think it's a Taiwanese thing. You know, they started realizing there was a lot.

[Trevor Noah]

There's something happening.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Tormenting in her head. Voices in her head, telling her, you know, to do things. Yeah. So then. But then I've always known her like that, so, you know, I just didn't. I guess that was the beginnings. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Wait, so help me understand. So your mom and dad get divorced when you're still one years old, and then you grow up with your mom?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Good question. Thank you. I had that question, too. Why did I go to my mom? Why live with her? You know, because my dad, he was an engineer, and he already had custody of two kids from a former marriage. You know, for the most part, he was very, like, stable. So why would. After a divorce, would I. Would my mom get custody of me?

[Trevor Noah]

Right. Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

My dad, actually. Thanks to Ira Glass of this American Life. And I joke. You never want to call from Ira Glass because that means your life was bad. You know, you never want to be an inspiration, which Trevor you are, but that means happened someone up. Right. It's not good.

[Trevor Noah]

It is true, right? No, it is true. You're so inspiring. Is shorthand for.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

O. Wow. Damn.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. It's all. It's all those phrases. You. You're very brave. That means something about sort of like how you look.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

So brave. Then that's your looks, and then you're. You're an inspiration. Have you ever been told you're brave? I've never been told I've been. I've been brave, but I've definitely been told I'm an.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He's a model.

[Trevor Noah]

I've never been told. No, I just. Not brave. Not brave enough.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right, right. But an inspiration. Of course.

[Trevor Noah]

An inspiration. Of course.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Of course. You know who's not an inspiration? Martin Smith. You know who that is?

[Trevor Noah]

No.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Exactly. We've never heard of him. Because he's just living a regular life. Parents still together, maybe trust fund happy.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm often torn about whether or not I would want that for myself.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We're just, you know, just chill. Well, yeah. Like, so no laws keeping your parents apart.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Like, I just think of. I think there's a world where somebody grows up and everything is the way it is meant to be for the most part.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Mm.

[Trevor Noah]

Their life doesn't involve anything particularly crazy. Like, let's put it this way, like, no one would read their book. Is the. Is the way I would put It.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No. Yeah, that's what I said. We don't know Martin.

[Trevor Noah]

I've never heard of him, but I go. Those people are. I think. Honestly, I think they're sort of, like, better for society, for the most part, because I think they don't. They don't exist in extreme land. But they're also not the people who write the greatest symphonies, and they're not the people who make the greatest movies, and they're not the people who, like, invent things and then. But.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And sometimes they do. They do, actually. Sometimes they're the ones that get to tell stories, too.

[Trevor Noah]

I don't know. No, I don't know. I think. Oh, look, I think everyone can do something. But there is a common thread that you will find with genius in particular. Right. Which I don't even like. I. I think I'm too sane to be genius, thankfully. But, like, when. When you get to levels of genius, there is almost no genius person I know who has not had some fraught existence that nobody else would want to have.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Of course. Yeah, totally. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then I'm torn. I'm like, is it. Is it worth giving that person that existence to get what the world gets afterwards?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I know.

[Trevor Noah]

Or do we wish everyone a good life and then nothing ever gets me. Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, totally.

[Trevor Noah]

I. I don't. I don't know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was joking because I was trying not to laugh because you were, in the kindest of words, calling people basic. You were like, you know, these basic people have to exist. I mean, they. You know, they keep the water fountains on, and, you know, they keep the movie projections. You can get going.

[Trevor Noah]

So much trouble. I was not.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I mean, I was like, wow, get this man on Drag Race. He's just. This is a read.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I was not. I was. I'm not saying.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And I was joking that, you know, sometimes basic people do get to make movies and tv, and that's why some of them kind of. They don't want to take risks sometimes with storytelling. So it's like, oh, why this movie? Again, it's like, oh, another basic person maybe, you know, who did have, like, a pretty cushy, cushiony life. Gets. Sometimes they do get a platform, you know, you know, whatever. Maybe sometimes they become president. They had a cushiony life or something, you know, even if.

[Trevor Noah]

But I think Trump is, like, the opposite. Funny enough, I think Trump had a financially cushioned life, but from everything I've read about his life, that's true. He did not have, like. I don't think he had a good relationship with his father in. In. In. In the way that they were together, you know, so people be like, oh, but his dad was rich and he bailed him out. And it's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's the financial side of things. Trump, to me, doesn't seem like somebody who was hugged regularly.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sure, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But sweetie, to that I say bitch. Join the club. Okay, yeah. Guess who else was unhugged? Me. I'm just out here looking cute, being a sweetie to people. So cry me a river.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm not saying it's to feel bad for you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Not to. You too.

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, no. But I'm not saying it's to feel bad for him. It's just, it's the. You know what it is? It's the other side of the coin. Right?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

If you, if you. I think of it like an experiment. If you inflict a certain amount of anything on this object that is a human, it can turn out sort of one of two ways. So you. You like, zap it with, let's call it terribleness in some shape or form, emotional, financial, whatever it may be you zap. Could become like beautiful genius, or it could become terrible genius in a way.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, for sure.

[Trevor Noah]

And. And so I'm like, is it worth. Is it. Is it worth zapping at all? If symphonies might on the other side be like world wars?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

For sure. Yeah. Right. Or it's like. Or do they. Do we just. It's like, keep it basic.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, like, just everyone is. You said Martin Smith.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. You remembered his name.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, we just. Martin Smith, everyone.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We just. Yes, exactly. Made up name. Obviously. It was like a Jane Doe, you know, no offense to Martin.

[Trevor Noah]

Of course not.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Of course. Yeah. It was just the first name or

[Trevor Noah]

anyone from the Smith family.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. It's kind of my go to, I think, when I was learning English, Smith was like the example name in sentences or something.

[Trevor Noah]

How old were you when you learned English?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was eight. I was starting. I started at eight. Yeah, because you.

[Trevor Noah]

Because you. You joke and you say like, English is not your first language. But I argue you have a greater grasp of the English language than many native English speakers because of how you play with the language.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, a lot of us. You're. What? I don't even know the name. Polyglot.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, polyglot.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Polyglot.

[Trevor Noah]

How many do you have to speak to be a polyglot?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I mean, don't you speak like seven?

[Trevor Noah]

No, the number keeps going up. I speak like five and then six. If I'm in the place.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's you and Pete Buttigieg, Right? Supposedly Pete Buttigieg speaks like seven. I was like, maybe, like, he can order food, I'm sure. Maybe.

[Trevor Noah]

How many languages do you speak?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Three. So fourth, if on tequila. Then I'm like, I don't even know what I'm saying.

[Trevor Noah]

Were you raised in Japanese?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was raised in Japanese. And then when I came to the States, because the Taiwanese side took me.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh. So my dad had full custody of me in Japan, and then my grandma took me from him and brought me to the States. It was like a two month vacation. And then. So then that's how they. It was kind of. It was kind of like a kidnapping.

[Trevor Noah]

How old were you?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was. I was eight. Yeah. So that's when I came. And then. Because I was suddenly with my Taiwanese side of the family, too. That's when I, you know, and we stayed with my mom and uncle. My uncle and aunt who were already in Los Angeles. They're also Taiwanese. So at the same time I was learning English. I learned Mandarin too, because I was hearing it in the house.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Suddenly. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

English is way easier. Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Than, like, Mandarin. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Would you say English is the easiest out of.

[Trevor Noah]

I think it is.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I think many languages.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah. They call it. I think it's because it's the bastard tongue.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Bastard tongue, yes.

[Trevor Noah]

So. So English.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Formal. Formal term.

[Trevor Noah]

I actually think a few scholars call it that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, yeah, they call it the bastard tongue because English is a combination of every language.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Like anal. That anal technology thing.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, analogic.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Like analogic. Same. That's. That's.

[Trevor Noah]

I've seen.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

That I've seen on the machine. This is my thing I'm making up.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

When you're in the airport next time.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Look at the machines.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

And if it's the new round ones, it says anal logic on the side.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. No, yeah, I believe you.

[Trevor Noah]

That is 100 true.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

The. I might have taken a picture, by the way. I'll show you. I'll actually check on my phone.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I will.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes, because I. Because sometimes I see things and I'm like, I've got to make sure that I'm seeing this and then keep a record of it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, but you said you're not a genius. But that's genius behavior.

[Trevor Noah]

What's genius behavior?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Like, you know, the kind of neurodivergent behavior because to. To like, take a picture and you want to remember it. You know, like noticing words like that. On a machine, you know?

[Trevor Noah]

I don't know about genius. I just think it's a. Maybe too much time in an airport. How do you even search for, like, a place? This is the thing about, like, these new.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Maybe white.

[Trevor Noah]

The photo. Oh, there. There it is. There it is. Look at that. Oh, there. That's great that it popped up.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh. Oh, it is. There she is. We have proof. He's like, please don't show my. Thank you. Thank you for that. No, I believed you before you.

[Trevor Noah]

No, but I just wanted you to see it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right, Right. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It's the same way. Like, the disciples believed that Jesus was back, but when they saw him, then they're like, oh, man, this shit is real.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We're gonna write it down.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, now we gotta write before we're just gonna talk about it. Yeah, now we're going to write this shit down.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I don't know about the writing down. I used to go to church sometimes now. I mean, with a mom with schizophrenia.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm like, oh, man. I mean, what if. Like, who. Who are we listening to? Did he have mental issues? He's like, he walked on water. I'm like, yeah. My mom thinks the Chinese government has microphones in our house.

[Trevor Noah]

But they might have.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Huh?

[Trevor Noah]

They might have.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They might have what?

[Trevor Noah]

Actually had microphones in the house.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I know. And she's not. Not wrong.

[Trevor Noah]

That's the thing. Right?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's always based on some reality.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes, that's the thing.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yes. Jesus could have walked kind of maybe for like half a second. I don't know. I don't know. But, you know, I'm just saying, check your sources. They didn't have psychiatrists back then.

[Trevor Noah]

You know, there was a. There's a story of. I don't want to mess it up, but it's like. I feel like it's like one of the saints or something like that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Someone who is a saint.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And a Bible story. This is a Bible story.

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, this is not a Bible story. So this is a woman who apparently was like a. Because I think they make you a saint afterwards. I'm not completely familiar with how it works, but, like, the church, the Catholic Church, I think can go. Your life was so special, and how you died or how you existed was miraculous. So they can make you a saint. And one of the people that they gave sainthood to, they were like. Because she. She, like, convened with, you know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. With God.

[Trevor Noah]

With God or with otherworldly beings or whatever it was.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then I think when they. They either did an autopsy on her or they just. They just had, like, the records. They were like, oh, she had like, a mental illness. Wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Which she was struggling with. It's not even like people are putting it on her. She said, hey, I'm struggling with this. And I think at the time, back in the day, the church was like, no, no, no, no, no. You good. You just. You just seem.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's because you're other. Yeah. You're like. You rose above reality. I mean, which she was.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You do, right? Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then I'm torn on that because I go. I consider myself a really practical person, but I also don't exclude the supernatural in anything.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sure, yeah, of course. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

So. So I never. I never believe that nothing is possible. But then I don't know where you. How you find. Like, when is somebody not experiencing something and when are they. Because I've seen some things in my life where I go, how. How did. How did this person do that? Or how did they know that? Or how did they.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Or like, miracles.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Or like versions of it, you know?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Sometimes you meet, like, have you ever seen, like, when some of those, like, psychics.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I mean, I would say, you know, I haven't seen a psychic, but I've seen it through my mom a little. When my, you know, my mom was, you know, my mom said, you know, the kmt. The KMT is a party that was ruling in Taiwan for a long time. They ruled under martial law.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And they just more recently got voted out. But for a long time, for decades, they. They ruled Taiwan. And she was always like, they're gonna come to the US too. They're gonna come to the US and we're like, oh, she's wild. And then they did. And there was like, a shooting at a Taiwanese church where it was. Because, you know, the KMT party lost the election, and so someone from that party was mad and shot up that church anyway, you know, like down the street from where my. My mom lives in la. So, you know, not like psychic stuff, but it's based in reality.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Like.

[Trevor Noah]

Like premonition. Ish vibes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. And there's history so, you know, to go off of and the news. So. Yeah. I don't know. But are you a psychic person? You see psychics?

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, no, no. I don't believe in it. Oh, yeah, that's what I'm saying. But I've seen some things where I go, should I believe in some of it?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, sure.

[Trevor Noah]

But I don't believe in it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

What have you seen?

[Trevor Noah]

There's this one on. On YouTube that I bumped into called. Oh, man. What is it? It's like a psychic in a. In like, a. He rides around in, like, an Uber type thing, picks up passengers.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Whoa.

[Trevor Noah]

And then. And then asks them, can I. Do you mind? I'm a psychic. This is what I do. Do you mind if I read you or whatever?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow.

[Trevor Noah]

And then you see. You see the passengers. At first I was like, oh, this is all fake, you know? Cause I was like, whatever. I don't believe anything I see. Like, on a show.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then there were a few passengers where I was like, oh, man, this person's not acting. And you see the guy in the show is driving around, and then he's like, yeah, I'm getting a message from an older woman. It's this. And then he gets really specific, and then the passenger starts crying.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Right?

[Trevor Noah]

So I still don't know. And I've spoken to people who worked on that production, and I was like, yo, come on. Level with me. Come on.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right?

[Trevor Noah]

And then they were like, look, either this person is supremely skilled at being a con man, or he has some ability, and we cannot figure it out, but we've seen it with our own eyes, and we don't know how it works.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. Because some of it could be, like, kind of magic tricks, mentalist stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. It's like, who. Who knows? Some. Some clues that they picked up that.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And then maybe there's something in you. I don't know. I. That's why I say I'm. I. I am 95% sure that all of it is. But I leave 5% for myself just to be, you know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sure. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

In everything in life, I don't think you should be 100% certain.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No. No. Yeah. And in fact, I'm doubtful most times. But I will walk into a place like you just said. You just described. You're like, it's an Uber driver. You know, he picks you up and he goes, can I ask. What is it? What. How does he start it?

[Trevor Noah]

He goes, like, can I. Do you mind if I. If I read you? If I.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know, if I, uh, cancel ride. That's my cancel ride. Thank you so much, sir. I don't have time. Are you filming this? Is this for your content? Goodbye, mister. That's when I would leave. I really doubted him right there. I said, I'm trying to get to a meeting. I'm trying to see My mother in the hospital. What are you going to do, read me? Yes. I can't believe. So, so that's the stuff. That's what you watch? You watch things like that?

[Trevor Noah]

I watch everything.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're an ever curious person.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I watch everything.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's why I was like, I mean, ice cream is your vi. Of course, it can't be anything that really hinders all that thinking and curiosity.

[Trevor Noah]

I don't think that's true.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

I think I just went through like, alcohol has like faded in my life.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Only you're sober.

[Trevor Noah]

What do you mean I'm sober?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Are you sober or like, you don't drink alcohol?

[Trevor Noah]

Sober means you used to be an alcoholic, right?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, I think you just don't drink. No, I don't think so. Yeah, but.

[Trevor Noah]

But if you're sober, it means you were. You were drunk most of the time. I think that's right. I think.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Is that the connotation?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I think if somebody says, I'm sober now, it means that they were struggling with alcohol.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, I didn't know that.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, Yeah, I. I think so.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm not.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm not.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I just, I just was like. I've heard people also who never drink be like, I'm sober too.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, I don't think. No. Then you should just be like, I don't drink.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay, I see, I see. Okay. So do you. So you don't drink?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I don't drink.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay, got it.

[Trevor Noah]

But I used to drink like casually and you know what I mean? But I now I just don't find there are few other than. Other than the social. Other than the social lubricant.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

There are very few pluses to alcohol for me.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Yeah. Right.

[Trevor Noah]

Like very few. Like how you feel the next day, your body or like every. I'm just like the social lubricants. Great.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

How's. And then ice cream, you. You're. You're good the next day.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Too good the next day.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Too good.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

How much ice cream are you eating in a sitting? Like a, like a pint?

[Trevor Noah]

How much ice cream do you have?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

How much is it really like that?

[Trevor Noah]

How much?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And you don't feel. And you don't feel bad the next day?

[Trevor Noah]

I feel bad from like a, like a society level. So I'll be like, yeah, you know, the same way I feel bad if I wake up like after midday, I'm like, oh, I shouldn't have done that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, you mean guilt.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, sweetie. People keep telling me there's only 15 years left or something on earth. Is that true again?

[Trevor Noah]

Who tells you this? Which Ubers are you in? Right?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I don't know.

[Trevor Noah]

15 years left on Earth or like.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I know that's not technically. Yeah, yeah, but like, 15 years of like, where it's like, too late to save certain things.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. There's certain. There's certain clocks. I mean, I even saw the other day that the sea level has risen more than people thought.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right?

[Trevor Noah]

And it's a.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're just like trying to eat ice cream as fast as you can before.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I just.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Before the water hits your neck and you can. You're like, hurry. This is Trevor at the end of the world. The water's rising, right? And you're like, how much ice cream do you have?

[Trevor Noah]

You know, when they're in the room and the water's.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. You're still like, more.

[Trevor Noah]

My last breath will be the ice cream. Like my lost my friend.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. No, but guess what? Well, you know what? You won't be feeling guilt. That's what I'm saying. So you wake up and the only bad thing you feel is guilt, which I don't think even I'll feel guilty

[Trevor Noah]

because I'll go, you shouldn't have eaten that much ice cream, Trevor.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Because society.

[Trevor Noah]

Because of like just. Yeah, I think it's a. You know, there are few places you can walk into and say, you ate a pint of ice cream. And people go, wow, look at you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Nobody should judge. Nobody. Nobody judge my son. Trevor. What?

[Trevor Noah]

Are you. Okay? What are your vices?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

What's your middle name? What's your middle name?

[Trevor Noah]

Cliff.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Trevor. Cliff. Noah.

[Trevor Noah]

What. What are your vices?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's the. The. The classics. You know, all the stuff like soldiers do. So like a classic. Not. You're like, whoa, what do. It's just alcohol and Just alcohol honestly now. And like weed.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I'm very treat based, so I like to have a drink every night.

[Trevor Noah]

What's your drink of choice?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I like to have tequila. It's very.

[Trevor Noah]

Tequila.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Very happy.

[Trevor Noah]

What's your. Do you have like a goat Is like a good one that you recogn was like a Casa Dragones or like

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

a. I'm not even picky like that. Oh, really want to feel like, you know, I did good today. I just want to feel that, you know that it's a little burn, right. Because I like that feeling. And then I like feeling like. Like a little buzzy. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Giggling. Laughing. You know, so. So that's what I Do you know I like sweets too? My first job after I got a green card was at an ice cream parlor.

[Trevor Noah]

Which ice cream parlor do you know?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Cold Stone Creamery?

[Trevor Noah]

Of course I know Cold Stone Creamery.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Of course you do. Why did I doubt your ice cream knowledge? What's your favorite flavor? So you have multiple.

[Trevor Noah]

So not from Cold Stone. Because it's a little too.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Don't worry, I don't take offense.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, no, no, it's just like a little too, like, broad for me, like the way the. The actual ice cream tastes. So I'll always try and find small new places where they're still making the ice cream by hand. Once it gets commercial, you start to taste it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sure. That's. Okay. So that's.

[Trevor Noah]

You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So very specific.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah. So flavor wise, I judge a place by their vanilla.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, okay.

[Trevor Noah]

And then I explore from there.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, okay.

[Trevor Noah]

One of my favorite flavors, actually is durian.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, fun. Yeah, durian's real good. Yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then I love my friends trying to have some of it and not being able to.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. You're like, haha, Won't be Sharon.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. There's no sharing of durian.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Durian. Yeah, I know. Durian. Very specific.

[Trevor Noah]

Durian is only for you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes, it is.

[Trevor Noah]

It is only for you. It's like me. And maybe if Ronny Chan comes over, he'll have my durian ice cream.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right, of course. Yeah. And so he. He likes durian too.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, Durian. Like. Yeah, Ronnie loves durian.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Not to, you know, I didn't want to assume.

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, no. Ronnie loves durian.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Malaysia. Yeah. And. But that's very specific. It's not flavors you can get all the time. You know, when you're talking, I think I do that.

[Trevor Noah]

I think I do that on purpose.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Oh, to cut.

[Trevor Noah]

If I just like all ice cream flavors, then, Then now I'm.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'll tell you easy.

[Trevor Noah]

I'll tell you where I learned this the hard way. So when I first moved to America, I. So I used to have this rule in South Africa to try and prevent myself from always eating sweet things because I have an insane sweet tooth. I would say if I come across an apple pie, I'm allowed to eat it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh.

[Trevor Noah]

So no matter where it is, if I. If there's an apple pie, like, so if there's an apple pie on the menu, if there's an apple pie at a place I'm going to, I can eat it. And this was my way of, like, preventing myself from overeating sweet things.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Because in South Africa you don't just bump into an apple pie.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

I came to America, I had the same rule. I didn't know American apple pie was just. You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

So every place I would go to,

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

you're like, surely it's not a stereotype that everywhere has apple pie. When we were like, haha, I genuinely,

[Trevor Noah]

I promise you, I didn't think that. And then I would get to places and I'd be like, they go, would you like some dessert? And I'll be like, oh, let me see what you have. Oh, apple pie.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

And every place I went to, wow. And then at some point I was like, oh, I think there's just apple pie everywhere.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know who you were like, you were like, Morgan Spurlock. Do you remember him? So he did a tv, he did a movie. What's it called?

[Trevor Noah]

The fries.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Super size.

[Trevor Noah]

Super size Me.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And the rule was I go to McDonald's every day, three times a day for the meals. And if they ask, you know, would you like to supersize that? I say yes, I have to say yes. Yes. And that's how he got by the end of the month. He did this for a month. He got like diabetes and all kinds of other health issues or whatever. It's like that rule that you created for, you know, I basically did. Yeah, yeah. You were like, okay, I'll eat apple pie if there is one.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

So why, why tequila? Of all the drinks, what is it about tequila?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I had heard that it's the happy drink, you know, and people say this.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. They call it an appa, Right?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yeah. And I'm like, I don't know again. I mean, I'm not a scientist. Just like, I don't know if there's 15 years left on earth. I kind of doubt it. Considering humans are pretty resilient, considering pollen alone can take us down. You know what I mean? We're pretty strong. We should all, you know, because people are always like, oh, Jesus died at 33. So young. I think that was pretty old, considering you could trip and fall on a rock. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Also, he was killed. I think we should always remember that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

He didn't die at 33, he was killed at 33.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He was killed.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And that maybe.

[Trevor Noah]

I think that changes everything.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It always sucks when you're killed at any age. But 33, maybe young.

[Trevor Noah]

Well, maybe at like 90 something. I feel like getting killed at 90 something might be better than getting killed.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Then maybe it won't be a whole religion. People Will be like, he sacrificed his life for us.

[Trevor Noah]

97. Yeah. How many years did he have left? That's what people would think about it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Was he enjoying a lot or something? And then he had to give. Give up going out every night. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Like if you killed me at 90 something.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I would not be happy. But I do feel like if I had a last breath, I'd be able to say, haha, I was leaving anyways.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

This is like a. Like I'm done.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No movement would have started. No Christianity would have started because Trevor, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

No.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Got killed at 93 and claimed it was for our sins.

[Trevor Noah]

No. Yeah, yeah. No, yeah, that's not gonna happen. We're gonna continue this conversation right after this short break. You know those things you keep telling yourself you're going to do? I should file my taxes earlier this year. I should go to the dentist. I should finally clean out that one drawer that somehow became a storage unit. You know, you should do it. You just don't. And for a lot of people, therapy falls into that same category. It sounds like a good idea in concept. You think, yeah, that would probably help. But then the process starts to feel intimidating. How much does it cost? Does insurance cover it? How do you even find the right person? And when would you have the time? So instead of figuring it out, you just put it off? Well, that's where Rula makes a difference. Rula is a healthcare company that helps make accessing mental health care feel more straightforward. They work directly with insurance providers, so you can see personalized cost estimates upfront. No guessing, no surprises. And sessions average about $15. With insurance, you can sign up and find a therapist in as little as five minutes. And appointments can be available as soon as the next day. And what I appreciate is that by removing those common barriers, the cost confusion, the time, the search, it starts to feel more possible to actually take that first step. Because sometimes the hardest part isn't deciding you need support, it's figuring out how to begin. And when that part becomes simpler, everything else becomes a little easier to face. So head to rula.com that's r u l a.com to find a therapist the easy way. Okay, how's your eyeline? If I'm here, that's good. All right, cool. Ready when you are. You know what I like about spring? Everything just feels fresh again. The weather shifts, people start going outside more, and then suddenly you feel like you shouldn't be eating something that didn't. Oh, sorry. Should be. Can we keep it under the top thing? Sorry. Rebecca. Yeah. You know what I love about spring? Everything just feels fresh again. The weather shifts, people start going outside more, and suddenly you feel like you should be eating something that didn't come out of a packet. That's why I like going to Whole Foods Markets. This time of year, Whole Foods Market is your go to destination to celebrate the fresh flavours of spring with seasonal produce at its juiciest, plus limited time flavours throughout the store. This is the time to get together and share vibrant finds with your loved ones. And you feel it as soon as you walk in. You've got organic bagged salad kits, fresh produce, potatoes, parsnips, radishes, spring onions, artichokes. All the things that make you feel like you've got your life together. And then, of course, you go in for that and you leave with things you didn't plan for, like a peach apricot rose Italian soda, or those 365 by Whole Foods Market strawberry pretzels that somehow disappear before you even get home. Oh, and if you're hosting or even just showing up somewhere trying to impress people, the bakery has you covered. The mango yuzu, the chantilly cake. Ah, the strawberry shortcake. These are the kind of desserts where people don't ask questions. They just assume that you know what you're doing. And the nice thing is there are deals throughout the store, especially on 365 brand items, so you can feel responsible while still treating yourself a little. Because that's really what spring is about. Starting fresh and then rewarding yourself immediately. Enjoy the fresh flavors of spring and save at Whole Foods Markets. Oh, it's one cake. Got it. I'll give you that. And if you're hosting or even just showing up somewhere trying to impress people, the bakery has you covered. The mango yuzu, chantilly cake, the strawberry shortcake. Cool.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Nothing makes me feel fresh like parsnips and potatoes.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, that's my. It's a bunch of roots, actually. All right, Eugene, let's play a little game. You know, make something fun. Two truths and a lie. Here we go. One, I've had to tell a world leader that their fly was undone. Two, when getting dressed, I don't do sock, sock, shoe, shoe. I do sock, shoe, sock, shoe. Three, I've been a Verizon customer for 11 years. What do you think? Very confused. First of all, why would a world leader owner fly? Because those things just come uninvited. Secondly, lying to your friends is not cool. There's never been a game. No, Eugene, fly is for like the zip is what? And then it's not a lie. It's a game where I'm trying. It's like I give you information. Okay, I lied. All three are true, Eugene. And in case you were thinking, you know, Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your ATT or T mobile bill, they'll give you a better deal. And the reason I've been with them for this long is just because I travel so much. I need a network that's reliable. That's right, a better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. Take your AT&T or T mobile bill to your local Verizon store today. Get your better deal and start saving for real. Based on root metrics, Best overall Mobile Network Performance US Second Half 2025. All rights reserved. You must provide recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. So do you understand how two truths. And do you understand it now? I understand that you didn't have to lie first before telling me that Verizon is the best. No, I wasn't lying. Eugene. It's not a lie. I wouldn't lie to you. It's a game. Okay, I'm sorry I lied. Ah. How were you? Were you very religious growing up?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was Christian when I came to the States. You know, it all happens here.

[Trevor Noah]

No, but wait, wait. Isn't. Isn't. Isn't Christianity very big in Taiwan? Or am I not? Am I misinformed?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Well, that's. You know, I actually. Well, I didn't. My grandma didn't practice anything. It was my uncle, her son, also Taiwanese. He did become Christian in Taiwan, so that is interesting. Yeah, he's the one that brought Christianity into our lives because he's the one who we stayed with when we moved to the States.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay, so you're eight years old, you're learning Mandarin, English and Christianity.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

My mind is confused. I said I thought this was a two month vacation. Why am I no longer living with dad in Japan? Why? And then two months turned into three months, and then it turned into it's been 20 something years, so.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wait, it just. It just went on.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. And then. So we were undocumented when we first got here because my grandma didn't, you know, there was no paperwork done. So suddenly. And I didn't even know, you know, what being undocumented meant. I thought, oh, we flew here, so we're allowed to be here. I just thought every human should, you know, wherever they end up, they're allowed to be.

[Trevor Noah]

Right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Because I'm not. I'm eight. I don't know immigration law, you know, that would be. If I did. If I did, I would be a genius. And as we talked about that specific eight year old. That's right, Very specific eight year old. And so. Yeah, so I. But, you know, so I was undocumented, learning to new languages and also being brought to a Chinese Baptist church, you know, where my uncle was the choir director at. Wow. Yeah, yeah. And I said, and what's this? This is. They said, well, you want friends, right? I said, yes. Well, you like free food? We're like, yes, we do free lunch after service every Sunday. You know, it was just a way of building community and friends really fast. That's how, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. It's the biggest thing I miss about church, to be honest. Yeah, I think it's the biggest thing society misses about church.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Free food.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, all of it. No. Really?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yeah, Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I think I genuinely think about it and I've spoken about it before, but I go. We take for granted how much we lost when people sort of shifted away from religion. But not the religion side, the church side, because it was that kids would get these free meals after church services. There'd be clothes that you could sometimes just go and collect, you know, from a bin that every. Everyone would contribute to.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

People giving jobs, there's people finding love. It was. It was. Imagine you, you've come from another country, you've come from another city, whatever it is, and you. You're all just welcome. Because of this book that tells your story. I. That I think it's beautiful and we. It's sad that we lost and are continuing to lose so much of it. That part specifically.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, other, like, community centers try to do that too, without the relationship. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

They don't. Community requires

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

organization and club. Oh, sure.

[Trevor Noah]

You know, like. Like when you. When you go to a community center, the only thing that's sort of bringing you there is the fact that it's like, oh, we're all struggling.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

But when you go to a church, there's. There's a vibe. Yes. A lot of it is. We're all struggling.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That part disguised. That part's disguised.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, but there's a. There's a vibe of like, you know, we. We learn the same songs and we learn the same prayers and we. It starts to build. It stitches you together. When did you stop going when did I stop going? I probably stopped going to church when I was. It was like, my early 20s.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, you went for. Oh, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Pretty much my whole life.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yeah. And you just stopped when you were. You were doing comedy.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And then, like, people started, like, asking for selfies and people. Then I was like, it felt weird being in church and having that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, okay.

[Trevor Noah]

So it was like. And then also, it disturbed my mom's churchgoing experience. Not. She didn't say this, but I didn't like. Because my mom's very religious. I didn't like how it would disrupt, like, the service for her.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, I see. Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

So I was just like, ah, I can chill.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. So. Yeah, you just probably don't. So you don't go to a lot of group things in general anymore.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I love. I met you on games night.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. I mean, I guess like a. Like a community public thing.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, it depends. It depends. Sometimes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You know why? Because sometimes my presence can be misconstrued.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

What's misconstrued mean?

[Trevor Noah]

One day I was. This was in New York.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay, but wait, sorry. What's misconstrued mean?

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, the word itself.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I don't know what it means.

[Trevor Noah]

Misconstrued means to misinterpret something, to take something and misinterpret it how it's supposed to be or how you. How you process it yourself. So, okay, so somebody says to you, ooh, that's a nice dress. That could be misconstrued as flirting.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, okay.

[Trevor Noah]

You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

Because you. You go like, the person was flirting with me. And they're like, no, no, no, I wasn't flirting with you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, you could have misconstrued it. Okay, okay. So when. Okay, so when you go to a place, it can be.

[Trevor Noah]

Sometimes it can be misinterpreted because they. They. So one example that comes to mind.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

We're in New York visiting, like, friends in Harlem. And so we just, like, go for a walk. And then on this one day, he's like, yo, let's go to this park. There's an event taking place. I think they were celebrating. I think it was Jackie Robinson that they were celebrating or something. But he was like, let's just go to the park. And my friends are all, let's go. So we roll up there, and there's local politicians giving, like, speeches. Cause it's Jackie Robinson and, you know, this whole thing. And. And then someone sees me and comes running up and goes like, oh, Mr. Noah. Oh, I didn't know you were here, so. Oh, sorry. And they're like, oh. And they're like, oh, Trevor, Noah's here, go say a few words. And I was like, no, I'm not going to say a few words. I have nothing. And then people were like, but then, what are you doing here?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right? Just hanging out. No, come on, here's a mic. You and the mic are tight.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And I was like, no, no. I literally was just walking. And then people genuinely didn't believe me. They're like, God, please. You're just walking around in Harlem. You're here to make a speech about Jackie Robinson.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Trevor, that's the vibe you give. Is that you're gonna give a speech.

[Trevor Noah]

I need a ch. I need to change this, you know, I need to do. I need to start drinking. That's what I need. Maybe it's cuz I don't drink. I give off ice cream vibes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They're like, you know him feeling good from the night before. It's just ice cream. So he's ready. Durian. Durian.

[Trevor Noah]

So. So at what point? So you growing up in LA and you stayed there your whole life?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Yeah. I love New York vibes.

[Trevor Noah]

So if you. If you don't mind me asking. Wait, wait, wait. So your accent didn't shift from before?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Probably because most kids lose their accents if they come like at that age.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Huh? Yeah. You mean like a Japanese accent? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you think I have an accent? I don't. You definitely I do.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Yeah. I don't know what, but some people are like, I think it's a California accent.

[Trevor Noah]

Who are these people?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I don't know. The same people that told me we have 15 years left to live? My mother's seven voices. No. So, yeah, I guess it didn't. I mean, I'm sure it was thicker back then. I don't really remember what I sound like when I was a kid.

[Trevor Noah]

You don't have videos or anything?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, we lived in a garage. We barely had anything. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

So did you actually live in a garage?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, we lived in my uncle and aunt's garage. Yeah. Yeah. And then. Which was also illegal, but you'll know.

[Trevor Noah]

I mean, it's like, what are rules? Yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And so. So yeah, so I guess I just stayed in LA and then some. You know, I do have like a laid back vibe, so I think I'm very Californian. I consider myself very. Like I feel in your vibe, like Southern California vibes. But who knows? This could have naturally been me too. If I even stayed in Japan, who knows? But New York energy is what I'm really drawn to. I love chaos energy. Yeah. I love lights, I love sounds. My dream would be live at Times Square. I'm unwell. Are you okay? Come back, Trevor.

[Trevor Noah]

Come back. No, I was just thinking that that might be just like a Japanese side of you could be. Because when I'm in Japan, it feels like all of it is Times Square.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Do you like it or no?

[Trevor Noah]

I love it because I'm visiting it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Oh, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

So like when I'm in, when I'm in Tokyo, yeah, it really feels like it's all Times Square. And then when you go to Kyoto, it's like, no, this is, it's the antithesis of everything. Times Square. It's just bicycles and silence.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right, Right. Yeah. And so I. Yeah, it's true.

[Trevor Noah]

It's like the chaos and the.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Just, you know, it's either that or me and my thoughts.

[Trevor Noah]

So how did your thoughts get you into standup? What, what's, what's that journey. So you, you eight.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You're here for a two month vacation, right? That turns into a 20 year vacation.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You start going to school.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Just like being a kid.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Going to. Yeah. Going through the American, you know, education system.

[Trevor Noah]

Did you ask questions of your family? Like, were you like, when are we going back or, or did you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I did, I did. But also I was scared of my mom. You know, my mom. Yeah. When I would ask like sad questions like that, she would, you know, get upset, you know, shame. And also she would get. My grandma raised me mostly right. So she was there. But my grandma was also like, don't upset your mom. You know, we moved here so like, sorry we didn't tell you, you know, but I didn't really know why I was afraid to ask questions. And so, yeah, I just kept, I just kept going to school. I later found out, you know, my mom, my mom's like mental illness got really intense towards the last years in Japan. She was very depressed too. She has no friends, she can't work. She also has seizures. So, you know, there's a lot of stuff she can't do. She's very isolated. And then so she got pretty suicidal. And so my grandma was like, oh, I have a son in la. You know, maybe we switch locations, maybe we change things up, you know, have go to a place with more family support. There's an uncle and aunt. We can. He said we could stay with them. So, you know, I found out that's why we ended up in, in la. But yeah, so after I did that, oh gosh, it was like, then When I was 19, I was with my second boyfriend who told me that I was funny and he's like, you should try stand up. And I was like, stand up? Isn't that only for like, aren't all the, I thought at the time, there's only like 10 stand ups in the world, you know? Do you know what I'm talking about?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. It's just like there's only. Margaret Cho was already a stand up. Then I was like, well, they already have her. What do you mean you could just start standup. Did you feel that way in South Africa too?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I didn't.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You didn't?

[Trevor Noah]

I didn't.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

I just was, because, because it was so new there that it felt like anything was possible.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Yeah. I thought here it's just like we have a quota and there's only like 10 comedians at a time.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And so, you know, and I, I, I liked their work. I watched even, yeah, Margaret Cho, I watched what's his name? Robin Williams. And you know, so I, and then I found out there were like stand up comedy classes. So I decided to take one.

[Trevor Noah]

How are those?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So this one I liked. It was an all female stand up comedy class.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Because I said, okay, how else do I start? Just start showing up at an open mic. Back then, it's like an open mic. Sometimes they were like 11pm to 2am in some dark alley. You could be the only girl.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Most of the time you were.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was like, that's how you go missing. I think that's how you go missing. I was like, ah. And I wasn't, you know, I didn't have enough confidence to be able to go by myself like that to a place. So, so this all female standup comedy class was actually a really great, like supportive way for me to start where also I needed deadlines. You know, I'm not good with like self motivation. I, I haven't been diagnosed, but I think I have add. It's hard. Like I need someone to be like, there's homework. This is the homework. Come up with a five minute set. So it was a good, that's how I started. Oh yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And was it good from the beginning? What was your first set? Do you remember?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I remember thinking it was kind of funny. I was like, is there something, you know, you get in front of the class and then the teacher and the other students are There. And I said, is this something I don't know? My name is Otsuko Okadsuka. I work at a Japanese restaurant and I drive a Toyota. And then they were like, ahaha, there is something there. You know, why everything so on brand, you know? And so I think I started talking about that. And then I remember one of my first jokes was this guy found out that I was Japanese and he said, oh, I have a good friend who works at the. And I think he wasn't thinking about it when he said it. It just came out. He said, you're Japanese. I have a good friend who works at the Mitsubishi dealership. And he goes, do you know what was his name? Oh, he says, do you know Gary? Do you know Gary? And I. And I. And I go, gary. No, no, Gary. I know Tom. So that was like my first, like one of my first jokes. Like the whole, you know, classic.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Bait and switch. Yeah, yeah. But, yeah. So I don't know, it just took a random boyfriend who probably did. Just did a. You don't tell. In retrospect, I think he was trying

[Trevor Noah]

to get rid of me by telling you you're funny.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. You should start. Stand up. Because you don't tell someone you love that he was like, go, go be busy. Go every night out to do jokes. Right. I don't know.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I think that's. I think that's someone who sees you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, okay. Oh, that's very nice.

[Trevor Noah]

I genuinely think that. I think every. Every standup comic needed someone to see them before they could see themselves.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's true. That's true. Who told you?

[Trevor Noah]

For me, it was. There were a few comedians funny enough who told me this.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, that's cool. You were already friends with comedians before you were a comedian.

[Trevor Noah]

South Africa's so small. That's what I mean by anything's possible.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Remember, we get democracy in 1994. I'm 10 years old, so everything is this new world.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow. Yeah, right.

[Trevor Noah]

Free speech wasn't around before that. Comedy wasn't really a thing before. So everything. Everyone in, in, like my generation, this band that was growing up, especially in Johannesburg, we all knew each other.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow. That's true.

[Trevor Noah]

Everyone. So it's like you knew the president's son, but you also knew, like, a taxi driver, but you also like everyone. It was this really small band that was growing up together. It was really. It was a magical moment, honestly. And.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

And so I knew a few people who were comedians, but I'd never seen their comedy. And then one because you weren't like,

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

you were young or something.

[Trevor Noah]

I just never gone. Comedy wasn't like a thing. We didn't even have a comedy club in South Africa.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Where were they doing comedy? Just like random church.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Random bars or random restaurants or whatever it was.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. Right.

[Trevor Noah]

And then one of them said to me in a conversation, Ronnie Modemola, I'll never forget. Super funny, dry one liner. Comedian. And then he said to me, he's like, yo, Trev. He's like, you should do a comedy, man. You're very funny. And then I was like, no, you're funny. I'm not funny. He's like, no, man, you should do it. I think you'd like it. And I was like, no, Ronnie, I'm cool. Didn't do it at all.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. My cousin and. And my best friend were living together. They were like, you're funny, you should do it. And then. And then I did.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're like, okay, if multiple people think so. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right. And they're telling me.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, just, you know, So I. I think sometimes, and it's not just comedy, I think in life, sometimes you need someone to see you before you can see yourself.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, totally. Right.

[Trevor Noah]

So I. I think. I don't know, but I think that boyfriend was like. Like for someone to think you are that funny, it means they see you. And look, he was right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, that's true. I don't give him credit for that and I refuse to. No, I'm just kidding. Obviously it wasn't good, the relationship.

[Trevor Noah]

Give the man his credit. He deserves it. For your career.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow, that's very interesting. I never thought about it.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That he's. He was the. You know, you never know because it was just one person. I don't think anyone else told me I should do stand up.

[Trevor Noah]

No one else said you were funny.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They did say I was funny.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay. But no one said, like, to go

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

stand up, you should do the actual thing, stand up comedy. And I was like, what? How would I even start? So I got curious and that's why I looked it up on Craigslist. I found the class on Craigslist. I didn't know how else to look for things back then. I was already very much on that website, Craigslist.

[Trevor Noah]

Craigslist was great.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It still is one of the few companies that blew up that hasn't just been sold to make money.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's still very diy.

[Trevor Noah]

No, it really is, but in a good way. And then the founder was like, no, I'm happy with it the way it is. And was. I think multiple people offered him money to turn it into, like a big tech giant type thing. And he was like, no, I like it the way it is. I like how people can find each other and how they can commune or buy things or connect with people and.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

It's like healthy tech.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's so true. I didn't think about that. I mean, they started. They regulated it a little bit. Like, they got rid of, you know, people were hooking up on there.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But they got rid of that. I wonder if it was because of the Craigslist killer, maybe.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, that was a thing, wasn't it?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, it was turned into, like, a whole movie because, yeah, there was a killer on there, which naturally probably was going to happen. You know, accessibility, someone's going to.

[Trevor Noah]

It's a negative advantage.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We can't have anything good for ourselves. But you could still buy furniture on there and, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

Pretty good furniture.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Worth a few killings, some would say.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I mean, I wonder. I'm so lucky. I actually answered some random ad that said, all girls class stand up at my house. And I showed up. I showed up and it wasn't a man with, like, weird gloves on waiting to do some weird thing. You know what I mean? I was lucky.

[Trevor Noah]

I love how you worried about the gloves being weird.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was gonna say just gloves.

[Trevor Noah]

I like that. You're like, those are weird gloves.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He just does this. This is dangerous.

[Trevor Noah]

He's got, like, one extra finger. Oh, he's got the weird gloves. We're in trouble. What kind of gloves, girl? Not the usual gloves.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Not the gloves.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, man.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I could have said axe, but I didn't want to be violent. I decided not to go violent there.

[Trevor Noah]

So you wanted to go with something. You want to go creepy?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. What if he's. He's just a guy that. That's like. Just watch me play with my gloves for hours.

[Trevor Noah]

And for some reason, those. Those ones are, like, scarier.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yeah. That's why, you know, horror films, they have to get so creative these days.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Is it. Do you like horror films?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I hate them.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Me too.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm terrified.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Terrified of them.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I can't sleep if I watch one. I. If I have to watch a scary movie. Cause my friends have been like, you gotta watch this movie. I'll watch it during the day and bright as. As possible. Yeah, I. I don't. Yeah, I don't.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We have that in common. Okay. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. I don't do well with that at all.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Even if it's like, whether it's supernatural or more realistic. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I don't care.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So you don't, like, watch true crime too, right?

[Trevor Noah]

Listen, no, that stuff is just like. Not that it's boring to me, but I. It's boring to me.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

And I think it. I think. I mean, this is a little. Maybe too extreme, but, like, if I watch that stuff too much, I feel like it'll make me feel like it's possible all the time and people are doing it all the time and people are killing each other all the time and. Which is. It's true. But it's not like most of us are not killing each other in society.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And like, when you watch those true crime documentaries, I think some people get really. They're like, oh, everyone's killing everyone and every. I don't know, I just. I'm like. And they're all the same at some point.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yeah. I wonder. Or maybe because there's nuance in it, maybe that's. That's why it's boring, quote unquote to you.

[Trevor Noah]

What do you mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So, like, in a horror film.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Because it's a story written and it's actors and there's stunts and it's entertain. It's meant to entertain you.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So the killers are crushing it. You know what I'm saying?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's like, hit my mark. Hit my mark. Chopped his head off. And I am also fast at running. Huh.

[Trevor Noah]

I like that the killer's saying this. Hit my mark. Hit the mark. Chopped his head off. Gotta keep Trevor engaged.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. And hit my mark. I look scary. I'm. I. That, you know. Yeah, exactly. Okay. Right. I mean, I imagine that's what the behind the scenes sounds like.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay, cool.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Hit your mark. Okay. And chop off the next head. Chop up the next head. And now you're running. Right. And everyone's like, fast and you know the killer's crushing it. So it's like, meant to entertain. Right. But when you watch like a true crime or when you read an actual. Like how a serial killer killed.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

There's a lot of clumsiness to it because it's a human person. There's nuance. So it's not as exciting and on your toes. Is that. Do you know?

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, no. So you know what it actually is?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I thought you were saying that.

[Trevor Noah]

No, what it actually is.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It drops the knife.

[Trevor Noah]

No. You know what it actually is, is the formula that they tell the stories so they Start to all do the exact same thing in the exact same way.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right?

[Trevor Noah]

So it'll be the same music, and then someone comes and sits down in a chair.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then they'll be like. So the first time I met Brian.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, no.

[Trevor Noah]

I was working at an ice cream parlor, and, like, he just seemed like a regular guy. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I like that.

[Trevor Noah]

We like the local news. And they'll be like, yeah. A man is searching. The police are searching for a man in connection with four women who've gone missing. Din, din, din, din, din.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

This is good.

[Trevor Noah]

Brian was a really sweet kid, and, I mean, he was just a regular kid. He loved baseball. He loved hanging out with his friends. You know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I would watch this version.

[Trevor Noah]

This.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But this, by the way, you were. That was very riveting.

[Trevor Noah]

This is.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's your next hour. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Brian. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, It's. It's so at some point, I'm just.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I bought ice cream from him. You know me.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, exactly.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It's also. I don't think they need to make it as many episodes as they do.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They do.

[Trevor Noah]

It's always like a four part. It doesn't need to be four parts. Could be one. It should be one.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I know. And it's like also, you know, as like the. The. The families of the victims, you know, being like six episodes with boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. My son died. My son died. Now everyone's singing the theme song. Is this a game to you? Jesus Christ. Oh, a podcast. Three seasons. What about my son died do you not understand? Right? Jesus Christ. This is why I'm not a mother. I will just. I would stop every podcast.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know, this is humanity you're talk playing with, you know, and then they make the. The narrative version of it. Who's gonna play Brian the killer?

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know, wait. Do you want to be a parent? Do you want to be a parent?

[Trevor Noah]

Do I want to be a parent? Yeah, I think I go back and forth, forth.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, okay. Okay. Yeah, I'm on. I'm a no.

[Trevor Noah]

You're a no.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. Husband actually got a vasectomy recently.

[Trevor Noah]

That's how strong your no was.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, Both of us. Yeah. We were like, oh, we know, we know.

[Trevor Noah]

Tell me more.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I don't think about it or. I never thought about it. I was never like, you know, I don't even know how to connect with kids. I don't even know what they look like, really.

[Trevor Noah]

They're the little ones.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I see them and then they. You know, toddlers, when they see me, like babies.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They. They feel this connection. I think they think I'm a baby too. I kind of give baby. I'm a little toddler core.

[Trevor Noah]

Do you see it, like, your vibe? Have you always had this, like, vibe to you because you a little toddler? No, no, no. I mean, like, the colors and the fashion and the. There's nothing normal in your. Like, in your. Right, you know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It's like, it's cool. It's edgy, it's interesting.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Maybe a little Japan, too.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, very Japan.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Very Japan. A little New York Japan.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Did you always have that?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, no. When I found my voice in comedy, I think that's when I started being able to be my more true self, too. Oh, I like that. Fashion and stuff.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I like that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. And in hair. Yeah. Like, you know, sticking with a haircut. Yeah. That kind of thing. Being like, okay, yeah, I know who I am outside and inside now. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, that's beautiful, actually.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Because, you know, you've. You've also kept an iconic look. Same. You know, people could do, like, a drawing of you. That's when there's a brand, I guess.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. But I don't think. I don't think of it that way. I just. I just didn't cut my hair during COVID And then afterwards, I was like, huh, I don't mind not cutting my hair.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So it's just a little longer. I mean, but it's always stayed within.

[Trevor Noah]

It's just about practicality. So if I. If I can't wash it myself anymore, I'm like, all right, time to cut it a little bit and then go back. Yeah, no, it's just, you know, wash day can be really. This part of the head. When you're washing your hair. This is fine. Then you get to this part.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sure.

[Trevor Noah]

Shoulders.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Shoulders. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then it's just. You want to keep conditioning.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

This is. You're keeping it simple.

[Trevor Noah]

This is me keeping it simple.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. And then. And then. And in your fashion, your style, you dress yourself.

[Trevor Noah]

I have no fashion and I have no style. I will buy things occasionally and I will put them on, and I'll hope for the best.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow.

[Trevor Noah]

You have fashion and style. Style. I wear clothes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow. I mean, if you're gonna compliment a girl, I'll take it. I'll take it.

[Trevor Noah]

No, you really do. You've got like. Like, there are people I see dressed, and I go, ah, you know what? To do with material on your body. And then the rest of us, we are just.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You are the, you are the people that you're talking about. The.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I'm Martin Smith. That's who I am with clothing. I am Martin Smith.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Because you, I mean, you're playing with so much like personality.

[Trevor Noah]

I can understand a suit, nothing else. But it's cuz I've worn suits so much and my, my entire life growing up, we wore school uniform. So I've been wearing a suit since I was five years old.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Every morning. Tie, jacket, pant. So a suit, I understand.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And my mom would never pay for what we called civies day. Civilians day. It's where you. Oh, it's where you got to wear your home clothes to school.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And you just wore the same suit then.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And then I'd be like, mom, we need to pay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They're like, who's this narc? He loves the suit.

[Trevor Noah]

No, genuinely, those were the worst days of my life.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Where you were still when I would

[Trevor Noah]

go to school and then I was the only kid not wearing the home clothes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Hey, I bet you looked spiffy. They were like, now he's a star. He's ready to. He's gonna be on stage. You were like a little, you were a little comedian.

[Trevor Noah]

It was the exact opposite.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Do you wear suits on? No, no, you're pretty, like we're pretty casual.

[Trevor Noah]

I used to wear suits when I started doing stand up.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But then you turn more casual, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

But I actually, I do like the suits. Yeah, yeah, Just this.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Cause it's like it's your uniform.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, it really is. And you put the thing, you do the thing and you're like, I'm in your armor. I'm in, I'm in more than armor. It's, it's, it's. I like uniform more than armor because uniform, you just know what you're doing. You know what I mean? It doesn't, it doesn't necessarily protect me, but it's like a.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

This.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm now going to do the job. Yes. Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're the forever host for Grammys, right?

[Trevor Noah]

The forever host.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, I'm done now.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, I guess I missed the done part. Did you announce it or something?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You said I'm.

[Trevor Noah]

I said this is my last one. Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

In my head you were gonna be for another at least 15 years. I would hope not, because 15 is what we have left. But you would hope not.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I would.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're so good at it. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Thank you. But I don't. I don't like doing things for too long.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. What do you want to do next?

[Trevor Noah]

This.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're already doing it, but then you're.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, but this is like, like, this is like the next part of it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You know?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Ice cream, maybe, like invest in an ice cream.

[Trevor Noah]

Don't turn your passions into businesses.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, then what's stand up comedy?

[Trevor Noah]

That's a hobby that people then paid me for.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow.

[Trevor Noah]

But it wasn't a passion. I wasn't doing stand up comedy. And, like, it was a. It was a hobby. So I was doing this thing.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. It wasn't a dream.

[Trevor Noah]

No, it was never a dream.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Same with me.

[Trevor Noah]

No, it was never. But ice cream has been a dream my whole life. I wouldn't be an objective ice cream anything owner.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

My first dream was to be an ice cream work at an ice cream parlor.

[Trevor Noah]

That was your first dream?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I didn't dare dream big. You too? You wanted to work at ice cream parlor or just eat ice cream?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I just wanted to, like, own ice cream.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Big ice cream. You wanted to own big ice cream? Yeah. So I just wanted to work at one. I didn't dream as big as you. I just wanted to work out one. And then at age 17, I did.

[Trevor Noah]

Was it. Was it good?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Well, at Cold Stone Creamery. Yeah. So do you know, do you, you know about Cold Stone? I don't know. Not all the stores, like, follow this protocol, but when you get a tip as a worker, you're supposed to sing. You know about that?

[Trevor Noah]

I did not know this. Oh, well, that seemed really demeaning.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It was. I said, in what world? I already got paid. I got the tip. I did a good job. I have to now do more work.

[Trevor Noah]

What did you have to sing?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my goodness. There were so many. All ice cream pun songs. Like, here, I'll show you.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So will you tip my jar, please? Okay. Thank you.

[Trevor Noah]

Thank you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, oh. We got a tip. We got a tip. Cold stone, you're a cold stone. We're a scooper duper family. When you tip the tip jar, we will try to sing in harmony.

[Trevor Noah]

Now, if somebody tips you for the singing, do you have to sing more? Like if someone goes, that was amazing, and then they tip again. What do you have to do now, Trevor?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Don't ask questions like that, Trevor. We always hoped that no one tried to crack the code. I think a couple of times people did. And then we would sing another song.

[Trevor Noah]

Song. What was Give me another song. That was A good song, by the way.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Thank you. Yeah, I like it in the style of Flintstones, you know, I'm trying to remember. I. I don't remember. That's the main one.

[Trevor Noah]

That was like the main go to.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I think there was like a. We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz. But we did it with like ice cream words. Yeah. I don't remember. Something.

[Trevor Noah]

Do you still like ice cream at all after that?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I do. But the singing was a lot, you know, in that. Because I always worked with this kid who loved the singing part and he would also add dances.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So then I'd be like, stop, like people. Cuz I was always in the shift with him. And people would be like, oh my God, it's the duo. And I'm like, no, I don't. I did this when I just did this. That was him. He would be. He would go all out. He would do spins like we were on Broadway. I'm like, we're only getting. We only got a dollar between us. We have to split this dollar. I was like, like, I just got my green card. I'm just trying to live a normal life.

[Trevor Noah]

But how old were you when you got your green card, by the way?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

17. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

17.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. And so that was my first job. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Was it a big moment for you getting the green card?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I didn't even looking back, it should have been, but, you know, I didn't realize because, you know, because of that I got to finally work.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. You know, I wasn't like under DACA and things like that, so, you know, I had to wait till I got a green card to be able to even start, like, contributing to the family, you know, with money and stuff like that. So that was cool. And then I got to finally take a driver's license test, which I couldn't before without a Social Security number. So, you know, again, it was a lot. I feel like in my life it's always a lot at a time. I'm learning multiple languages and going to church, learning a whole new culture. You know what I mean? It's a like, like now suddenly you're working, getting a driver's license. You're the only person that drives in the family, you know, and so it's just a lot. And so. Yeah. Was it a big moment? I don't think I had a moment to realize it was.

[Trevor Noah]

It sounds like you had a lot of pressure at that age.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, a little bit. But I didn't even, you know, I don't Think I realized it. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It was just the defaults.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yeah. I was like, okay, where. Yeah. Someone needs to get us around.

[Trevor Noah]

And so, so because you, You. Are you still living at your uncle's house at that stage?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And so now you're contributing to the larger family. You bring the money from Cold Stone. Contribute to the family, which is very little money. Yeah. No, really, that's why I'm, you know, very little money.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But I was stoked that I. I was like, oh, I can finally do the things I'd seen a lot of all my classmates do do, like.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Get the, you know, drive or working. And. And then also college, too. We. We didn't. I didn't know what would happen with college when I found out I was undocumented, and I was like, I think you need a Social Security number to go. And so it was just kind of very lucky that at, you know, around the time you're supposed to start applying, I. I got.

[Trevor Noah]

You got your green card.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Right.

[Trevor Noah]

What did you. Where did you apply?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I applied to all the UCs. I had really bad grades. I wasn't a good student. So. Yeah, I applied to everything but got into two schools. UC Riverside and, like, uc. I. I forget the last Merced or something.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

For psychology, I just randomly chose something. I. I didn't really. Really. Again, I didn't really dream big, you know, I was like, why would I.

[Trevor Noah]

Why psychology, though? Of all the random choices, I think

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

probably because of my mom.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But I guess at the time I was like, I like people. I. I don't know why, but sometimes all the answers are there.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I wanted to probably get to know someone like my mom more and understand her and people like her. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And. And so is that what you studied?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I studied psychology. I went to UC Riverside for, like, a year and a half. I, I dropped out. I, I, again, it was hard for me to, like, concentrate. I had my first boyfriend. I was just excited. I was like, I can drive. I can. I have a boyfriend now. You know what I mean? What am I doing studying psychology? I don't have time for this, you know, I'm gonna elope. I. I've made it. I'm working at Cold Stone Creamery. This was the only dream I had. I've peaked. You know what I mean? What else was I gonna do? So, you know, I think when my second boyfriend at 19 told me, you're funny, you should try stand up, I was like, what? Why would I even think that was possible or available to Me? Why? You know, I just got my green card. Who am I? Who would want to hear my story? Who? You know what I mean? Like, there's nothing going on here, you know, so. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Was there ever part of you that thought of or wanted to escape the family or was that not an option in your world?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I wanted to, I think that's why, you know, once I had a boyfriend.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I left the home and yeah, I tried to make him my second family. So, you know, when you. You've probably never fell into this, I don't see you as a person because I feel like you're pretty self aware from maybe a young age. But you know, when you date someone, sometimes you take on their personalities.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, yeah, no, no, for sure.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, I've definitely done that where you're like, you're into something. You pretend you're into something, but that's very.

[Trevor Noah]

So I never struggled with that. But what I would do is they would sway me too much, like in their vibe. But I wouldn't be interested in what they're interested in. But their energy could affect my energy.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sure.

[Trevor Noah]

Because I had grown up in a world and in a home where I was so hyper aware, you know, Like, I grew up in a pretty violent household. And so one of the things that did to me as a child was it made me hyper vigilant.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

Cause I had to know in every moment, like, oh, Jesus, my stepdad drunk. And if he's drunk, how does that change the day and what do we do and how do we act and how do we keep the peace and you know what I mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

So that hyper vigilance continued with me in my life. So then when I would be in a relationship with somebody, I would pick up on their emotions sometimes before they would pick up on their emotions and then I would shift myself.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I totally agree.

[Trevor Noah]

So I wouldn't pick up their like, interests or anything, but I think I had a similar experience in that way.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I see where you would. Yeah. Just kind of walk on eggshells sometimes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah, that totally like, I totally get that. You know, my mom being unpredictable too.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But I meant like something even more basic. Like I pretended I was into like punk rock music, you know, like that.

[Trevor Noah]

I feel like that's just love.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, okay.

[Trevor Noah]

Like early love.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. I was like, yes, I love A Nightmare Before Christmas. Oh, yes. Let's watch it again. Every day. It's October, It's Halloween. This is Halloween, Halloween, Halloween. You know, I would sing along with it.

[Trevor Noah]

It. I like how your life is just punctuated by painful songs.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Get me out of this singing nightmare. I know, because. Yeah. My uncle was a choir director.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, you just got, like, music the whole way. Just.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my gosh. Ever. Were. Were you a singer?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I never was.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You would look good in a choir robe. Why have I pictured you in a choir robe before?

[Trevor Noah]

I don't know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Have you? Not in, like, a sketch or something?

[Trevor Noah]

A choir robe.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Robe. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It's possible.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It's not impossible, I'll say that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It's not like, the most extreme thing. If you said to me, trevor, you've worn a choir robe at some point in your life.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I'll be like, yeah, that's very possible.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right? Yeah. Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

I don't know why, but it's very possible.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm putting that image. I just see you in it right now.

[Trevor Noah]

Thank you very much.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And what's the color? Well, it's just, like, white with, like, the red. Red.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, okay. Those ones. Those ones.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Those ones. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I don't think I've ever worn one of those, Know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, well, I did because I was in the choir for you.

[Trevor Noah]

Good in the choir.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

One year, my uncle. I was never asked back after our big performance, the cantata. You know what a cantata is?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I do not.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I didn't either. Guess what? It's 45 minutes of singing for Easter. There was this. It's like a short opera and short opera.

[Trevor Noah]

45 minutes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. It's pretty short, Right? Operas are, I think, longer.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I don't know. Timothy would know. Shalom. I don't know how long.

[Trevor Noah]

I love how he's become, like, the punching bag of ballet.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I didn't say good or bad.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, but, like. No, no, no. But I mean, like, he was right,

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

though, that it is a dying form.

[Trevor Noah]

I think the way he said it might have inflamed some people's emotions.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Cause he said it in a very flippant way, but he was having a conversation.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then. Can I tell you, there's a weird thought I had when it was happening, though. I was going, like, oh, is. Is the world, like, trying to find

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

its old, like, analog days back?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Like. No, no, no. Like our old. Our old outrage.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh. Oh.

[Trevor Noah]

I was thinking to myself, we are living in a world where World War III seems imminent every day, where you. You know, inflation is crazy, where people are terrified of what's happening in the streets in America. It's like the most brutal immigration crackdown ever. Like, all these things are happening everywhere. And then in the midst of that, there was outrage at Timothy Chalamet talking about ballet and opera. And I was like, oh, remember those days?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, you're right.

[Trevor Noah]

Remember those?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yeah, you're right.

[Trevor Noah]

It was like a throwback.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my God. To be mad at one skinny white kid. That rap, like, that's what we wanted. Do we just want a simple time where, you know, why does he do hip hop?

[Trevor Noah]

That was it. I appreciate. I was like, thank you, Timit. Thank you for your service.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You.

[Trevor Noah]

You.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You bore the brunt for what society was feeling. We needed an outlet, and we chose you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I mean, unfortunately, that's what happens, you know, But I think he's okay.

[Trevor Noah]

I think he'll be fine.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He's okay.

[Trevor Noah]

He'll be fine.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He's got love in his life.

[Trevor Noah]

He does, indeed.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

One of the most powerful families in, you know, in. Around, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, backing him. Yeah, backing him. I don't think he needs them to back him. You said, like, they're backing him. Like, you got this probably. No, no. You know, I think his life is probably, like, more normal than his mom

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

does ballet and his sister, too.

[Trevor Noah]

That's what people don't realize about statements about his statement. Yeah. Is that he grew up in that world.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And so he was saying. Saying this is what I mean by the context we remove from every statement or conversation robs us of the nuance that you experience in murder documentaries that, like, helps us communicate. If Timothee Chalamet had said. It's Timothee. Right. But I guess you seem weird if you say Timothy, whatever. But Timoth.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Timothy, yeah, Timothy.

[Trevor Noah]

Timothy. But if Timothee Chalamet had said, you know, I grew up. Up. My. My family was in ballet, and my. My mom was a ballet dancer, and my grandmother ballet, and I grew up in the ballet, and I watched this, and I. And seeing how that art form has died over the years really made me grateful to work in an industry that still has social cachet, to see people still go to movie theater. Like, I'm grateful. That's where I want to be. Because I've seen what it's like when the ballet jobs dry up and when the opera dies down and when people are no longer coming up. I've seen that, and that's something I don't want for myself. And so I'm. I'm lucky. I think people would be like, oh, wow, Trevor.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

People don't have the elocution that you have. You Are. You are a comedian? We are speakers. He's an actor, and so, you know, he's a speaker. He's a speaker of other people's words a lot, you know, as an actor. Right.

[Trevor Noah]

This is true. But I think, like, he's also like a.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

My mom. Sister need jobs. They haven't danced in years. If he said it like that.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Then people. Oh, my God. Oh, you're frustrated.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're frustrated for your family. My sister is always around because you know, why? No. Hire. Please hire my sister. You know, it's, it's his own. Right. Yeah. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I think he has a personal connection with it. So for sure.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Or maybe they bullied him. Who knows? Maybe he's like, like ballet bullies. Ballet bullies. He's like, ballerinas are, are, Are not all that you think they are. You know, I was raised by one, and my sister gets all the attention, you know, whatever it is that he was going through. Right. Which. Anyway, I did a cantata, and I was never asked back after that because I was an alto. I have a lower voice naturally, so I gotta harmonize. You know, harmonizing is hard, Trevor.

[Trevor Noah]

You know that, that, it's very hard.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I tried to explain that to Uncle Paul. He didn't. There was no time. You. You mess up at a Easter performance, you're not coming back for Christmas.

[Trevor Noah]

It's. Yeah, it's a big. It's a big time.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my God. He has risen. And I'm out there. I'm out there going. Singing the wrong notes.

[Trevor Noah]

A.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He said, he said, let's go. Your thing is you love to sing. I said, yeah, I do. He said, you love to sing loud so we could really hear your, your notes that weren't.

[Trevor Noah]

How did you feel when he was telling you this?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Well, at the time, I'm, I'm able to laugh about it now, but at the time, I was really like, wow. I, I. There's a whole choir. I didn't think you could just, like, hear a few mistakes. Of course I'm singing loud. I don't know. I'm at church. He has risen.

[Trevor Noah]

Damn. You should have been at black church.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Me to one.

[Trevor Noah]

That wouldn't have been. That wouldn't have happened at a black church. At a black church, they would have helped you harmonize, and they would have been like, sing loud, girl.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah, they would. They would be like, okay, okay. You just need a little more work.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, but they wouldn't. That wouldn't have happened.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I think it's because there was, like, the Nepotism. He was the choir director. I'm the niece. He probably was, you know, already, like, aware, like, because my aunt, his wife was in the choir too. She got all the solos. Trust me.

[Trevor Noah]

Talk about nepotism.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I know. And so I think.

[Trevor Noah]

Was she good, though?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

She. She was, Trevor. They're big fans and I think they're gonna watch this. And I. She was. She's a very sweet person. She's very nice. Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

All right, don't press anything. We've got more. What now? After this. Hey, everyone, it's me, Morgan Stewart, and I have a new podcast called the Morgan Stewart Show. Join me each week as I talk about pop culture, fashion, my personal life, and just a warning, I'm gonna be giving my opinion on everything. I'll also have some really fun guests to join in on the fun. The Morgan Stewart show is out now. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts or watch full video on YouTube. At Strayer University, we help students like you. Go from will I to why not? For over 130 years.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Years we've been innovating higher education to

[Trevor Noah]

make it more affordable, accessible and attainable so you can reach your goals. Go from thinking, can I? To Yes, I Can.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And keep striving.

[Trevor Noah]

Visit Strayer.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Edu to learn more.

[Trevor Noah]

Strayer University is certified to operate in Virginia by Chev and its many campuses,

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia.

[Trevor Noah]

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[Atsuko Okatsuka]

price estimates and read reviews all on the app.

[Trevor Noah]

Download today. So when you. When you look at your life now, I mean, it feels like. At least from the outside looking in, obviously you've said you found your voice in comedy, your vibe, your style. You're also blowing up, right? And you feel that moment. It doesn't matter what you do in entertainment, there are these inflection points where it feels like you're hitting. You know what I mean? And correct me if I'm wrong, but it feels like you're like hitting. You know what I mean? You're there, you're cruising. Does it feel like that to you?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That I'm finally hitting certain strides?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Yeah, but like, like. Cause you. All right, I'LL speak for myself. There was a time in comedy where it's like, I didn't know when the next gig would come, if it would come, how it would come. So you. It was very much like, do a gig. All right, let's see what happens.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right?

[Trevor Noah]

Do a gig. All right, let's see. And then at some point, you. You're booked in advance. Now you know what you're gonna be doing. So I don't know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. That's true. Yeah. Yeah. How? Yeah, I mean, I, you know, I've never thought you could. In the past. If you told me when I was, you know, slinging ice cream, if someone said, you know, what are you doing March? Let's see, it's 2026 right now. If someone told me, what are you doing March 2028? Can I book you down for the 18th? I would be like, what are you talking about? What do you mean? You're gonna book me out that far in advance? I'm gonna have something to do and I will know it. You know, I would be like, that. You're insane. But, yes, to have that be a thing is cool. And for. Because I was being me. You know, that's. That's really cool. Wow. Right?

[Trevor Noah]

That's really cool.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right? To be able to do standup, to be booked, is because I got to finally be me, and I'm being me. And, you know, so, you know, sometimes, like, people talk about, like, okay, you know, in. In the industry or in the. In comedy, you want to be, you know, relevant. How do you stay relevant? And I don't think you have to worry about that. You just accidentally are relevant if you care about the world and people and what's happening. So you're going to speak on that, and that's naturally just gonna be you being present. And, you know, so you find your fellow weirdos. That's the audience that find you, and they keep you booked. Because it's a constant conversation with. Right. As an artist, it's a constant conversation with your audience and you. And so, yeah, it's really cool that I wish. When I was starting out, stand up, it's like, okay, how do I start? What do I grasp? Kind of just being you was kind of a thing you would think would be. Be told to you. But it wasn't, you know, it was more. Maybe people were more focused on, like, how do I get success fast?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, right, right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I think you gotta have a type 5 or whatever. It's like, okay, but what does that mean? Like, well, you know, what are the things that tickle you and you really want to talk about. And then you can hone the craft. That's. That'll. That's easy. Just like, you know, I would like to think being an altar, finding the right tones to sing at is easy. But, you know, being you sometimes is harder. I think it takes time.

[Trevor Noah]

It's funny, I think there are two steps or two levels to it. Being you is one of the hardest things ever. But then I find there's something that people often don't speak about enough, and that is being comfortable allowing you to change is the second hardest thing, being

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

comfortable allowing you to change.

[Trevor Noah]

So, like, when you're an artist or when you're a person, being you can be very difficult, like finding yourself. This is who I am. This is forever.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

But I don't think. I don't think enough people speak about how hard it is to realize that. That you can change as well.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And should change.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And so what I've seen people do, let's say specifically in like art, is sometimes people will stay as that thing forever because that's them. But then now they are the prisoner of the them that they became.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

And then now, like when an audience will tell you that's not what at school would do or that's not how she would. And you're like, oh, yeah, that's not an nutsuko joke. I shouldn't say that because an audience at some point will tell you, they'll be like, like, I just didn't feel like this was like your kind of show. Like, what does, what does that mean?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I mean, musicians, I think I look at musicians a lot, cuz they probably deal with that a lot. They have to reinvent themselves. The next version, you know, Beyonce, I am now going to play with country music.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Last time it was the ballroom, you know, the queer scene and the community, you know, that inspired that album to, you know, comedians. We don't get to think of that as much or, you know, I've kept this haircut. I'm like, how long do I have to keep this haircut for? You know what I mean? Until all.

[Trevor Noah]

But you don't. But that's the thing, right? Yeah, that's the thing. That's like, it's. It is. It is hard to remember that we shouldn't allow our freedom to become the prison that we were trying to escape in the first place.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Yeah, totally. Yes. Oh, that twinkle in the eye. Yeah. This is why there's two cameras on you because we have to catch every time Trevor. Trevor goes there.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, God.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's good. You know, These are compliments. Oh, goodness. Yeah. An extraordinary thinker.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Artist. I sometimes think you've reached enlightenment, you know, I wish just you with your water.

[Trevor Noah]

I wish. Yeah, I wish. They say when you, when you. There was a monk who said this to me one day. He said, I asked him, have you reached enlightenment? And he says, when you have reached enlightenment, that's when you know you've reached the bottom and you have to start again.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh my God.

[Trevor Noah]

And he genuinely, he was just like, he says, literally whenever people think they've reached enlightenment, it means that they're at the very bottom right of the journey and they have to start it all over again. Is. And I was like, damn, that's intense.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Of course. Because, I mean. Yeah, that is your lowest point.

[Trevor Noah]

Huh?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You're dizzy, you're probably confused, you're having the visions, you're dehydrated. Sweetie, you're near schizophrenia. Like, you need to eat something. I know you're trying to reach like, I am nothing. I'm nothing, sweetie. Yeah, it's when it gets hard. My aunt in Taiwan, my grandma's like, younger sister is among. We've been like, sweetie, you. You have children. She just left one day to the, to the temple, said, I am nothing. I am nothing. I said, actually, you're a mom and a friend and a sister and other things.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Who am I? How is this me? That's like one of the meditations.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Who am I? How's this me?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And then that's.

[Trevor Noah]

It's a beautiful one because how is this me? Yeah, it's. It's. No. Who am I? Where am I? And how is this me?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's me.

[Trevor Noah]

And you just keep saying that that's me.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Most days out in the streets of New York, lost. Okay. That was me earlier trying to find this. This place. Cuz we walked here from the Sher shepherd show.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. What street am I? Where are we? Oh, Trevor. But no, but, you know, allowing yourself to change as a.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes. So there's two things I want to. Actually want to get to before. Before. Before I forget is one on the. On the family side. What has your journey been like? You know, there's a thread that I, That I. That I see that I think a lot of people can relate to, and that is coming from a family of hardship and living in a world of hardship means achieving becomes so much more important. It's. It's not just like a A trophy. It's not a, it's not a mantle. It's not a, it's, it's, it's meaningful for survival. Right. But then what that comes with is an excessive amount of pressure as well for that, for that success to maintain itself or to keep growing or to keep, like, what has that journey been like for you as somebody who was contributing and helping the family? You know, I'm assuming you're still doing that now. Does it feel like, oh, good, you know, the comedy helps me do this, or does it feel like, oh, man, I need the comedy because I need this to keep going so that I can support the family?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I think it's a little. Yeah, it's both happening. And you know what's wild? I feel more pressure from actually, like, not the fans, but from society more than family.

[Trevor Noah]

In what way?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Like, family knows family is like, oh, girl, wait, we got you too. You know, like, we appreciate you. You know, my husband works for me too, so I am the main person, you know, that they're, you know, for me, my husband, my mom and grandma.

[Trevor Noah]

Right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm like, me, I don't even know where my keys are at. So that's too bad for you guys that I'm the breadwinner. But yeah, I, you know, I, I want to continue being like a good artist for the people and not let them down. So I feel that pressure the most actually out of anything. Like you were saying, you know, was very helpful that you said, you know, it's hardest to be down to with, you know, yourself changing. Right. Yeah, that's, you know, as you write the next hour of show to, you know, it's like, oh, gosh, what have I not talked about to. Oh, this joke is very similar to that last one I had. It's same theme, you know, am I evolving as an artist? Things like that. That's. I'm, I'm the most, I'm the hardest on that. Yeah. Because it's, it, it's happened so fast and I, I was never meant to, to be a comedian. I don't think.

[Trevor Noah]

I think the opposite or the kind of life. I think you were absolutely meant for it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I, I, like, I, it's the only skill I have, but I, but I

[Trevor Noah]

often think that's, that's in a, in a perfect world, I think that's how a society would run is the only skill that people have is where they would end up doing their thing. Like, I think, I think we've created too many funnels in the world now. We've made everyone doctor, lawyer, engineer, like, all those types of things. We need engineers, we need doctors, we need lawyers. All right, fine.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

But I. I do think it's beautiful to be in a world where everyone's one skill just happens to be the thing that they can do. And then we don't diminish that skill or go like, oh, that's all you can do. It's like, yeah, I can only paint. Oh, yeah, we need paintings.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sure.

[Trevor Noah]

I can only make music. I. I can only lay bricks. Yeah. Have you seen beautiful masonry? Like, it's. You know what I mean? There's something. I. I think we need that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So, yeah, no, I'm. I'm into it, but, I mean, I guess I didn't prep for this, so it's happening very fast, and I'm still. I've only been touring, like, the past four years or maybe. Yeah, past four or five years. It's very. But I started stand up, you know, maybe like, 17 years ago. I took a lot of breaks. I. I didn't believe in myself. I was. You know, I would go, oh, it's just a hobby. I'm not gonna take it seriously. So, you know, it's very. A lot of. You know, just in the four years, it's the touring and then doing. And then two specials, everything back to back to back. So I just don't want to mess up, you know?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, no, I can imagine.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I'm like, okay, don't. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. That feeling is one that's quite intense when you get to a place that you never thought you would get to. And when you've achieved beyond your wildest dreams, one of the scariest things is not knowing how it will or won't go, because it was never promised.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. It's like, oh, I was just supposed to work at an ice cream parlor. Okay. And then now, you know, quickly, yes or no. Riyadh Festival, for example. Well, I don't want to mess up. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. And my gut instinct says it's not a good idea. You know, things like that. And then, you know, conversation issues. It's so funny that festival, like, became a such a big conversation. I'm like, someone cares about the comedy festival that comedians, you know, only, like. It's. It's like. It's like JFL Comedy Festival or something. You know what I mean? I'm like, wow. Even, you know, my. My dad, who just lives with his cats in Japan, has heard about it.

[Trevor Noah]

You know, it got that Far.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I mean, it was international news, wouldn't you say? Or you think it was just like a.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I didn't, I didn't know it. I didn't know it had blown up that much.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, I mean, everyone, like when you,

[Trevor Noah]

when you're in Japan, that's the phrase, right? You know, you've made it when you're big in Japan. So if the news gets all the way to Japan, then I'm like, damn, Japan. That was a big story, man.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

How isolated has Japan been? That.

[Trevor Noah]

No, but it was always the thing. Right, but do you tour in Japan, by the way?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Yeah, I tour in. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And do you do shows in Japanese?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, no, no, no, no. In English. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Well, why do you say it like that?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, because I'm very out of practice with Japanese and Mandarin, actually.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah, I wish that would be cool in Japanese. My show would be 10 minutes, minutes long, you know, very like. And probably very like dad jokes or something. Play on words maybe. But yeah, I don't, I don't. I, I. That would be a cool goal to, to try to go for. But I do tour Asia. I tour, you know, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, you know, Indonesia, you know, all

[Trevor Noah]

is it, is it. Is there like a different magic that comes with touring the places that have. That were like your, your foundation, like going back to tour those places?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, right. Yes. Because now they're like, yes, come back, girl. We've always liked you. You know what I mean? Yes. Now you got, you know, it's the whole thing, right? You find success in the US and then they're like, now, yes, please come. We've always, we've always believed in you. I'm like, you didn't come come get me or look for me. When I was kidnapped, I was begging to go back to Japan. I left Tokyo for this. But yeah, yes, it's really cool. In Japan, there's this. When you come home, you say tadaima. Like, oh, no, sorry. When you leave your home to go to school, it's usually like kids say it. They go, what do they say? Oh God. They go, ikimasuy. That means. Yeah, it's like, I'm leaving. Okay, go ahead now. Like, you know, and then when you come home, you say, tadaima, I'm home. Oh, I like this. And then they say, okairi, which means welcome home. Yeah, okay. And so the first time I toured Japan, just like two years, two years ago, you know, I didn't. It's just like thousands of people know who I am locals, you know, locals. And, and, and I have. I felt. I always felt like I was kind of ripped away from Japan. I didn't get to say goodbye to my dad or my friends. I didn't know I was moving, you know, and then I had to give up my Japanese passport when I became a US citizen on Japan's side. Japan side.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. I didn't know that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. So I just felt like layers of my Japanese identity was being ripped away. And so for me to, you know, and I really wanted to do well in my Japanese shows, you know, like, prove that, like, I am home. And so I just decided to say to the audience, I said, you know, taraima, Like, I'm home. And thousands of them, all of them said back to me, welcome home. Right In Japan, in Japanese. And I was like, yeah. So I. Oh, my God, I got so teary eyed.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. I was like, how do you not cry? Like, what a way to start a show. I was just like, oh, this is not what I expected, dude.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Yeah. Oh, wow. Like, I've been gone, but like, I am home, you know, and thank you for, like, also being here for this kind of homecoming. So it's really cool to be able to do that. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

That's beautiful. Wait, so what are those phrases again? So when you're leaving, you say it's

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

a lot, so maybe it's just the coming home. So that's taraima. That means like, I'm home.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay, Taraima. I'll think of it as like, ta da.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. It's a very taraima.

[Trevor Noah]

And then

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

welcome home.

[Trevor Noah]

Welcome home.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

All right, I'm gonna add that to my Japanese six.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Your sixth language.

[Trevor Noah]

No, Japanese is just like, my dream is to be able to say enough to just like, you know, do you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wait, have you toured Asia? Have you?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I've done shows in Japan.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, right. Japan. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I had a great time there.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, that's true. You've done. Yeah. Southeast Asia.

[Trevor Noah]

I tried to write one joke in Japanese.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You did? You did?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. It was like combining everything I had. So it was like.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Do you remember? Sure.

[Trevor Noah]

What it is, like, phrase. It was a. It was a. It was a joke about speaking to somebody in the airport in Japan.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Testing my Japanese.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And so it was. It was like. It was me. I'd meet the person and then I was like. The. The premise of it was basically like, you learn a language. What was it? Yeah, the premise was something about like, you learn a language, but you never know what. No one tells you is that, like, at some point you run out of the language, but the person you're speaking to doesn't know that you're gonna run out.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right, right. You have to be careful. Yeah, exactly.

[Trevor Noah]

So, like, mine was like, at the airport, and it was like, konnichiwa. And the person's like, oh, konichiwa. And it's like, oh, damn. I was like, oh, this is working. And then what did I say? Cause someone had taught me that they would. They were. I did a comedy festival with two Japanese mime comedians, Kitchen and Hiropan. Oh, my God, they're phenomenal. Like, some of the best mime performers I've ever seen in my life. Funny, funny, funny, funny. And then one of them taught me this phrase, which I butcher. But I would always try it. Which was. It was niwa, Niwa, Niwa, niwa. Tori Gaita.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yeah. Something about a chicken.

[Trevor Noah]

The chickens running in the yard.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

In the yard. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then. So I'd throw that in the joke as well.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then the other one, which I loved from, like, anime was Omaiwa sudeni shinderu, which is, you're already dead.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

These are not sentences you really want to say at an airport.

[Trevor Noah]

This is what made it a great joke.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

That's like, I had. And I had this bit. But what was weird was when I was doing it in Japan, right. All the Japanese people in the audience, would you see them going, does he know what he's saying? Does he like. And then, like, after the show, someone came up to me and they're like, ah. It's like, Trevor, he's like. He's like. When you said this on a stage, he's like, who told you this in Japanese? And I was like, oh, man. Long story, long story, long story.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I hear you try to do jokes for each local place. Like, for some of your, like the beginning.

[Trevor Noah]

Not even try. I just do it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You do? You do?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I do that. I love it more than anything. So I get to a place.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I try it. It means my touring is not as efficient as it should be. But I don't like getting to a place and doing a show.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. So you want to, like, live.

[Trevor Noah]

I want to land.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then I want to go to local spots.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I want to watch local tv. I want to see what people do. I want to.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Like, every. Just, just. And I. It's osmosis. I just absorb, absorb, absorb, absorb, absorb.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then when I get to the show, something happens in my brain. And I start processing my experience and. Yeah. So I do this everywhere I go.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. What are some of your favorite places?

[Trevor Noah]

London, like South Africa always wins, so I can't count it because it's home. Home. You know, places that I go to that you like.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

London.

[Trevor Noah]

London is. Yeah. Maybe like my number one. It's so, it's so cosmopolitan. It's so me. It's so. There's Africans and Europeans and. And they've lived with each other and it's a weird mix and people get each other, but also don't. But there's all these accents and. Yeah, London is. I, I love, love, love London. Australia is a lot of fun as well. Just because they, they just, they, they get comedy in a really specific way.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

You know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I find Australians have like a really, really good sense of humor and they get comedy.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So just these English speaking places, these fellow English speaking places.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I guess so. Because. I guess they've influenced maybe because we were under this commonwealth blankets. Our sensibilities are adjacent but not necessarily the same.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay, that's true. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Singapore. I have a great time, though. That's one of my favorite places. Every. Every chance I get, I'll go to Singapore.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I mean, tiny, tiny. You could see the. I mean, you've probably seen the whole place already.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I have, I have. But I'll see it again and again and again and then see it on a hot day and it's very different. I made the mistake of walk. Walking through the streets of Singapore in the middle of summer. Yeah, I didn't.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's hot.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, hot most of the time. Hot is an understatement.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, totally.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, it's that, you know, like the

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

heat from movies where you can see it.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, it's that hot.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, I know, I know.

[Trevor Noah]

And you're walking down a block and you're like, why is no one else walking? And then halfway down the block I'm

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

like, right, that's where you're thriving on durian ice cream.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, that's way.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, Scandinavia really surprised me. I did my first Europe tour just last year and I, I was like, what? Yeah, so I had never, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

You loved it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes, I was.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay, great. Okay, great. Why were you surprised?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, I don't. I never met the true weirdo white people. I didn't, you know, where they came from. Like, they're, they kind of reminded me of Japanese people.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, they are.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right.

[Trevor Noah]

They are. They really are Finnish people.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Even the fashion. Completely a lot of the designs.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was like, this is just Tokyo.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Right. It's minimalist. And they also have a very. The culture is very much about, like, not standing out.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

Like, it is not about you. They're all about the collective and. Yes. Yeah. It's. It's very similar.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I mean, come on.

[Trevor Noah]

Also, very high suicide rates, I think.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, is that right?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, I think. I think per capita, like Japan, I

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

wonder what it is, because, you know, supposedly, because it's, like, smaller population, so there is health insurance, health care and things.

[Trevor Noah]

I think a lot of it has to do with societal pressure.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

From what I understand, it's like a vibe.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Like, don't stand out too much.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And like, if you're not happy, it's you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Because we're all weird and we're all doing this folk dance and we're eating salmon. Was salmon invented there? They eat so much salmon.

[Trevor Noah]

There's a lot of salmon. Some of the best salmon.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I just. Salmon it. Salmon for every meal.

[Trevor Noah]

What's crazy is, do you know that Norway spent, like, I think, almost a decade, if not more, trying to convince Japan to buy salmon from.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I had heard this.

[Trevor Noah]

You've heard this, right?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wait, yeah. Yes. How do I know this? Yeah. Because salmon wasn't that big in Japan or something, and then they made it even bigger.

[Trevor Noah]

Well, I think, just in general, Japan doesn't buy food from other people in that way. They're always like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's true.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

We got salmon.

[Trevor Noah]

You keep your. Your food. We've seen how you guys have food.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You. And then, like, do they have too much salmon?

[Trevor Noah]

I just think the Norwegians were like, we need a market for it. And they've got some of the best quality salmon in the world.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But that's so far from each other. No. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And then they were like, we got to convince the Japanese that they would like our salmon. And then now I think Norway is one of the only places that Japan gets their salmon from.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's so wild.

[Trevor Noah]

It is wild salmon.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It really is wild salmon. No, Every meal, I said, oh, my gosh. I was so worried about. I said, oh, you know, I mean, I've been in the States and, you know, I. I hadn't been to really even, like, Western Europe or whatever. And so I was like. And in all my life, even in the States, I had to teach people how to say my name. Atsuko Okotka. I said, how. How is people in Norway gonna get that? You know?

[Trevor Noah]

Have you seen their names?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Exactly. When I went, I was like, oh, My God, they were, like, sweet. They were like, we. My name is Thor Bjerg Young's daughter, Otsuka Okotzuka is not a problem.

[Trevor Noah]

Are you kidding?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I was like, oh, my God. Yes. I felt so seen by the weirdo. Ness in Iceland, in the green room, there was fermented shark meat. You know, from like, growing up eating, like, weird parts of the animal in the States to like, oh, white people just needed to remember where they came from. Then they wouldn't make fun of other people. You guys, you know, also eat all kinds of the animal too, and all these things, you know, that must have

[Trevor Noah]

been beautiful for you. Can I tell you, I wish more people would have that experience. And I know it's. It's. It's not feasible, but we take for granted on a really, like. I know it's a soppy thing to say, but, man, we take for granted how similar we are around the world, but we don't, like you say, we just don't know it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. And granted, you know, they don't have diversity there, but, you know. Yeah, granted, they don't have that.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But I mean, but they didn't have an issue, like, you know.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. They don't have a lack of diversity because some shit went down. They just have. It's just the way it was.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Do you know what I mean? And if you had.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I don't know this history as much. I just. I just know.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, there were no. There were no black people there. There was never like a thing. There was no. No one else was ever there.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Uhhuh.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. That was their land, and they are the people of that land. And that's, like, how they look.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

My husband, who is white, it's. It's. You know, sometimes he tells me bedtime stories because I'm a baby. And so I told him. He's like, you know, we've been together 10 years. He's like, I'm out of stories. I said, make one up. Just make one up. He goes, okay. Do you know the one about where white people come from? I said, no. And he's tired. He's falling asleep. I was like, please, tell me the story. He goes, well, white people come from the ice rocks in Ireland. It melted, and then white people came out of there. They thawed, and then they needed to warm up, so they started moving their feet fast. And then the jig was invented. So that's a story. That's a bedtime story he told me.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, man.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But, yes, we're all more similar. I Kept my eyes closed that whole time.

[Trevor Noah]

You really did. That was a great performance. I felt like you were your husband in front of me. I was there.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Did you get sleepy?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I was actually enthralled. I can't do bedtime stories because they keep me away.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

European. Are you again?

[Trevor Noah]

So, my father is Swiss.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, Swiss.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Yeah. I didn't get to.

[Trevor Noah]

But I. I didn't grow up there or spend any. I'm like, yeah, 100. Everything of my life has been South African.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right? Yeah. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

So.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

But, like, does it ever come out where you're like, I'm.

[Trevor Noah]

Where I'm, like, on time all of a sudden? No.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Is that what they're known for? I don't know. I guess. I don't know. I was trying to think of a Switzerland thing, and I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Like, precision. Like, true precision.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Or like, watchmaking. Like, the chocolates. Even like, if you look at, like, a Swiss chocolate.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Like, if you look at a chocolate made in America or many parts of the world, it's just like a blob of brownness, you know? And then, like. And then you eat it. Swiss chocolate. Just go look at it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Okay.

[Trevor Noah]

Go look at the detail.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I spent one day there. Yeah. I got, I got in and I performed.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. But even if you, like, buy some. Just go look. Look at it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Look at a. Everything from, like, you know, even, like, commercial stuff, like a Toblerone to anything. Go. Go look at the actual chocolate.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And you're like, who put this much effort into designing a thing that I'm just going to. Wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. So they're about pr.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Completely.

[Trevor Noah]

Completely.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And, and, and then also being the trains.

[Trevor Noah]

The trains are like. Yeah. Neutral and precise. Neutral and precise. Neutral and precise.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You find that in you? Like, am I.

[Trevor Noah]

No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm like, it's, it's, I, I, it's recessive. Yeah, it's a recessive gene. No, no, no, no, no. I'm loud and chaotic and I want to see you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, no, we. I know you have to go to lunch, but I want to see you on finding your roots. Did you do that yet with Louis Henry Gates Jr.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Have you done that?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I haven't.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm about to do it.

[Trevor Noah]

You're going to do it?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, exciting.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I'm, I'm curious because what are you

[Trevor Noah]

most afraid to find out?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm not afraid. I'm most curious about my, My grandpa. You know, my grandma's Husband during the martial law, they. He was assassinated. So I want to know more about it. Yeah, like, because his. His father was running against the kmt, who was the ruling party, and in local elections. And then, so to prove a point, they. They killed my grandpa. But, you know, and then because of that, my mom's like. My mom was like five when they brought his body back and she saw it. And then, of course, now she has schizophrenia. And the voices.

[Trevor Noah]

Now it all makes sense.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. So everything's connected. So I'm really curious to find out about that. Even with the cameras rolling, I mean, you know, but. Yeah, but then I was like, I mean,

[Trevor Noah]

so they can find anyone anyway. Like, they can just. They can definitively say, we found your story.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I hope so. With enough like, you know. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

With enough like they'll never just say to you, like, ugh, sorry, Atsuko. No, we thought we could, but no.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. I haven't known, like, a person who's participated, who they, you know, I feel like they've been researching for months.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

They've been on my case for a long time. We haven't been able to shoot it yet because they're like, we're still researching, we're still talking to people and so. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I mean, really? Have you seen any of the episodes?

[Trevor Noah]

I have, I have. It's where. It's where, like, all the white people discover, like, their great grandfathers were, like, slave owners.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

That's the show.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And then, like, Edward Norton find found out that, like, his great, great, great great grandmother was Pocahontas. Things like that. What? Yeah. Or like Bernie Sanders and, you know, Bernie Sanders and Larry David are actual cousins. Things like that. Yeah. Yeah. And so. But they really try to, you know, find out as much as they can.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm excited for you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

What do you hope to discover from it?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I. I don't know. I think I. I really like history. I like other people's history.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I've never, you know, looked into my own as much, but I think I'm at a point where it would be. And not just insightful. I. I don't know. I. I wanna. I love stories of, like, resilience and how people kept going and so, I don't know. I hope there's some of that. It could be dark too, where it's like, yeah, and they died. Who knows? But, you know, I'm okay. Because then I go, okay, well, you know, I'll. I'll keep that going for us.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know, with Mike here At Trevor show. I keep trying to get you to lunch. Do you know what I'm doing?

[Trevor Noah]

No, I don't know what you're doing.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I keep going. This man's gotta eat. What are you talking about? Oh, like slowly bring the.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, you trying to wind us down. Oh, I like this. Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No, no, I mean, because I don't know, is there words behind me? There isn't. How you know, which questions to ask and stuff. It's through your heart. You just read the situation through your heart. You're really good at what you do, Trevor. I hope you get enough breaks. I'm so worried about you. You shouldn't know. You shouldn't know. TSA agent schedules. Oh, no, this man. Aren't you okay? You have like, health insurance and stuff.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right? You have friends.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, man.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You have fun. Are you happy?

[Trevor Noah]

I actually am, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. That's good. You work out every day.

[Trevor Noah]

I do, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I play a lot of pickleball.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's every day?

[Trevor Noah]

Almost every day.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So that's a couple hours.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, right, yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, so you're like, that's a good work life balance.

[Trevor Noah]

It's just like a. Just run around, sweat, get moving, you know, hit a ball.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

When do you think I could reach that point where I will be playing pickleball?

[Trevor Noah]

When are you ready to accept that you're a middle aged white man? When is this journey?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, that's the Swiss in you coming out.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, it's the further. They're not hitting anything. Pickleball. No, I think it's. When do you get to that point? When you. When you get to that, you're already at that point is the way I would put it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I'm afraid to relax like that. Yeah, I don't relax like that. I said, that's pickleball. Every day. That's like two hours where I'm not working.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, but this is. I'm trying to think. There are a few people who've given me pieces of advice that have really, really stuck with me over the years. One was Chris Rock when I was first starting out at the Daily Show Show. He met. We met each other before I started on the Daily show, but I'd just been announced as the host and we chatted about things and everything, and he was like, if you ever need advice, reach out. He didn't. I didn't know this man, this Chris Rock. He's a legend, you know, and he was really kind. Still is. And he.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Where. Where was it like, at the Cell, The Comedy Cellar.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. At the Comedy Cellar. And then. And then I met him again a few months later at the Comedy Cellar. And he was like, how are things going? What are you doing? And I was really excited. I was like, yeah, you know, I'm in it. It's really hard. I'm doing the Daily show and, you know, I work every day. And he's like, oh. And then I was like, yeah. And then on weekends I go do stand up. I hit the road and I do stand up. And he's like, what? Every day? And I was like, yeah. I said, I work Monday to Friday at the Daily show, and then Friday nights I leave immediately, go do a show Friday, Saturday, and then Sunday, and then Monday I'm back at the day show. And then. And I genuinely thought he was gonna be like, yeah, good for you. And Chris looked at me in like that classic Chris Rock way. And he was like. He said. He said, I'll never forget it. He said, he said, you're gonna be the worst comedian ever. He's like, you are gonna be the worst comedian ever. Wow. I was like, what do you mean? And then he said, he said, comedy comes from life. You ain't living. He's like, you can't make comedy doing comedy. And I was like, oh, shit. And we had a conversation about understanding that art is inspired by life. And so to be responsible as an artist is to live away from the art so that the art can become better.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right? Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

And so in a way, it made me trick myself into learning that not doing it is working towards doing it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And that's how you. You play. You, when you play, you're thinking that this is for my art.

[Trevor Noah]

No, I, Yeah, I just go like, I, I have no, I, I don't hold it on me. I don't go like, I should be. I could be. I'm like, no, no, no. By existing, I'm always doing something that contributes to my art.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. It's like tax write offs or something.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Where you're like, hey, because I, I'm. I'm eating, but I'm an artist eating. This is a tax write off. It's like that.

[Trevor Noah]

I don't think that's a tax write off. You might want to meet with a new tax consultant. But, hey, but I think fundamentally, yes, it's in the same realm.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right, Right.

[Trevor Noah]

So you don't. You don't rest at all. What do you do? What do you do to. Other than, like sipping tequila and bedtime stories? How do you find your.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. Right. You know, I Definitely am aware that I need to work on that because I play this video game on my phone where I own restaurants. So in my off time, I'm still busy because not only do I own them, I also work at them, too. It's a wild game. And I own so many restaurants.

[Trevor Noah]

Has the game got you to spend money?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes, I've spent real money.

[Trevor Noah]

Sometimes they're so good at that.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

To help you get upgrades.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, yeah, of course. Because you've got to speed up the upgrades.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I mean, what do you have to,

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

like, upgrade and when you're an entrepreneur, if you're an entrepreneur, you have to invest money, too.

[Trevor Noah]

Make money.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Thank you so much.

[Trevor Noah]

But it's interesting how the money from the games, they never let you turn into real money. The other way around. No slick business.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. So it's like maybe I'm upgrading the counter, the. You know, the look of the.

[Trevor Noah]

Remodeling my restaurant so that you can serve more customers.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Maybe there's another seat, you know, that I add or buy fresher producers, you know, more organic produce. Those are upgrades.

[Trevor Noah]

Of course.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Sometimes you can upgrade your waiter, who is also me. To walk faster.

[Trevor Noah]

Yes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

So there's that too.

[Trevor Noah]

Cause then you can serve more customers.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Time is money.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

You know, you understand. You play this game?

[Trevor Noah]

No, but I played a version of it. I think a healthier version. You would love it. I think if you play this kind of game. It's a game called Dave the Diver.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Dave the Diver. Oh, he dives for.

[Trevor Noah]

So it's the story of clams. A diver who gets recruited. He just loves eating good sushi.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

There's a story.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. It's a fantastic game.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I love a story.

[Trevor Noah]

It's fantastic. It's one of the best games I've ever played in my life.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Whoa.

[Trevor Noah]

It's a small. I think it's an indie game company, but it's Dave the Diver.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

And he loves eating more than anything. And he loves sushi.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow.

[Trevor Noah]

And then the guy who, like, there's a guy he meets who wants to start a sushi restaurant, and he goes, you love eating and you're a good diver.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

River.

[Trevor Noah]

Wow. You hunt the fish. Let's go. Get the fish for me.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes.

[Trevor Noah]

Right.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And that's Dave. Dave, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

So Dave dives and you dive as Dave, and then you swim around. It's the most tranquil experience. You, like, you swim around peacefully under the ocean.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow.

[Trevor Noah]

And then you just catch fish. And you catch fish different. No rush at all.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Is the man ever, like, hurry.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm no, no, no, no. Your only time limit is your. Your oxygen tank. Oh, but there's no hurry. And then when you go up, you give him the fish, and then you get to the restaurant, and then when you're there, you meet with, like, a chef, and then he, like, walks you through, like, what the menu's gonna be.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Are you serious?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. And I've learned so much about sushi. Playing the game.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

What is this on your phone? Is this a VR game?

[Trevor Noah]

I think it's on computer and console as well.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Wow.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. But it's really lovely. What I like about it, though, is, unlike the game you play, it finishes okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It does, huh? Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

And you can't spend any real money

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

in it because you go, hey, I finished my meal. That was tasty. Thank you.

[Trevor Noah]

You do it, it plays out, and then you finish the story, and then it ends, and it's a beautiful story. And. But you get to do all these things you love doing, right? Upgrading the restaurant, hiring more waiters, getting better, like sushi chefs and sous chefs, etc. Yeah. But you should try it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. Yeah. Because this is. This is never ending. I'm like, okay.

[Trevor Noah]

And if you do have add, that's probably one of the worst things for your brain.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

This.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Because the infinite games.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, probably because I go, okay. And then more. More stimulus.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. That's the worst. It's the worst thing ever.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my God. I just opened a caveman restaurant.

[Trevor Noah]

It's themed.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yes. Oh, no. It's actually of the time.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, wow.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

My sous chef is a dinosaur.

[Trevor Noah]

This is a big move you've made.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

I am so busy. I have one out of an igloo where you. You ever. You ever try to. You ever run to cook in a building made of ice where the stove. That's a. That's a rush against time. You know what I mean?

[Trevor Noah]

It's.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's not good for me, this game. You're right. But, you know. Yes. I want to try this sushi.

[Trevor Noah]

Dave the diver.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Dave the diver. Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

I'm excited for you. I think. Think you. You strike me as the kind of person who will. Who will find it, because you always naturally find things. I think you'll. You'll find that rest. You'll find that, you know.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yes. No, I think slowly. Yeah, I. You know, I've. I, I. I've been trying out nature, for example.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, trying out nature.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my God. Me and my husband went hiking recently. Yeah, we did try that. It was my biggest fear, you know, I said, what am I going to do with just, you know, what happens when we get to the destination, which was we were trying to get to a waterfall.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And. And they said, wouldn't you walk back? You know, and that. That scared me. I said, just. And then see everything that I just saw again. I know I sound insane, but I haven't, like, hiking is not something I grew up with.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, yeah?

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Did you grow up with.

[Trevor Noah]

No, but we just walked outside.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's what I'm saying. Right. Like, I feel like single moms didn't really take their kids hiking. There was no time.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. Hiking is not a thing in that way.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

It depends on where you are. Maybe if you're like a single mom in Denver, Colorado, maybe you do it.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That's true. That's true. Like in Japan, it wasn't. With what. I don't. There was no hiking trails near us. It was a very American thing. Just like eating salad, you know, it was all stuff I discovered here. I said, oh, so people just walk towards, like, a thing and then they walk back in nature and how was it they get back in their car? Right. It was. It was good, I guess. You know, we're very new. I didn't really even know how to dress for it. I guess I dressed improperly for it because I, you know, posted it in my Instagram stories and all my fans were like, like, that is not an outfit for. Why are you wearing a winter coat? We brought sparkling water to drink, and they said this was a moderate hike. Oh, my God. Me and my husband, we were out of breath the whole time. Uphill. Oh, my God. And then we got thirsty with sparkling water. What? To just wet our lips. That's not. You can't quench your thirst. There were mothers with newborns horns, like, lapping us. This we were like. Because we were like. We were, like, walking slow. There were. We saw multiple people pass us. And so it was. It was a lot. But then, like, once we got to, like, the waterfall, it was pretty, I guess, and I was like, let me try to take in, you know, why people talk about nature and all that. So I.

[Trevor Noah]

Apparently, the waterfall is. Is prettier because of the walk. They say it's like a weird psychological thing.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah. Where you go. If you.

[Trevor Noah]

If you stress yourself before.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Is that true?

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. If you stress yourself, like, physically, if you tax yourself, I should say, rather, before you get something or observe something, then you will be more likely to appreciate it because Appears to be the product of hard work.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

That makes sense. Yeah. So we're just mind Tricking ourselves. We are. The whole time we are hiking.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Right. And so I think I was trying to do that too. To be like, yes, I'll. I'll take. Yeah. Why not take this moment? That was intense. Yeah. Because we have to go back and see all the same stuff again to go back. So, you know, and me and Ryan, my husband, talked about. That was. That was nice. Let's try to do that. More war. You know, this is good because we both are on our phones playing our games. He's at war most times.

[Trevor Noah]

Okay, I like this.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

He's at war in his game.

[Trevor Noah]

And you're running the kitchens.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Yeah, yeah. Mexican restaurant, sushi, dim sum. What's your favorite kind of food? Favorite.

[Trevor Noah]

It changes.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Okay. But right now, off the top of your head, what are you craving now?

[Trevor Noah]

I'm craving very boring foods.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

No clue.

[Trevor Noah]

Just like. No, just like salads and mixed vegetables and. Oh, yeah. Not even like a cuisine right now. I went through a big pizza phase. Curry was like, Indian food is still probably like, you know, top. But if I. If I was to choose one cuisine for the rest of my life, I would probably say Japanese. Not just cuz you're here, because I. I think they've hacked everyone else's cuisine. So Japanese curry, I can live on that for the rest of my life. And then there's sushi, and then, you know, there's tempura, and then there's like. It's like. It's a whole wide range of everythingness in 1:1.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

It's so interesting. I'm listening to you speak on this, and I actually own all these restaurants. I have a restaurant and all the cuisines you just named, so.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, man, this has been so much fun.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, my God. Thank you so much for having me. Thanks for having my unhinged energy. I was like, I hope this is to me.

[Trevor Noah]

This is hinged.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, good.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah, this is. This is more my.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

This is your.

[Trevor Noah]

This is so chill for me. Like, the way your brain works. I'm just like, ah, this makes sense.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, yeah.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, this is lovely.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh, and I'm slowly gonna get to your Zen place when I'm playing pickleball for four hours a day. Oh, you won't even recognize me anymore. You will. You say, is that the. At school, I knew this when I. When I'm the Marty supreme of pickleball. Oh, yeah, I've done it.

[Trevor Noah]

I'll just be like, is that Atsuko? It must be her. No one plays pickleball in a winter coat. It must be her. It must be her. But really, this has been great. Thank you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Thank you.

[Trevor Noah]

Thank you very much for having me. Congratulations on everything.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Oh my God, you too.

[Trevor Noah]

Yeah. You're an inspiration, you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

And you are so brave. You are brave. Braver than anyone I know. Thanks for leaving your house today. That's always like the next thing. You are so brave. Trevor, I. I just want to commend you for leaving the house today. Even though, you know, you know, it's like, what, what? You know what I'm talking about.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, this has been great. Thank you.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Thank you. Oh, wow.

[Trevor Noah]

What now with Trevor Noah is produced by Dayzero Productions in partnership with SiriusXM. The show is executive produced by Trevor Noah, Sanaz Yamin and Jess Hackle. Rebecca Chain is our producer. Our development researcher is Marcia Robiou. Music mixing and mastering by Hannis Brown. Random other stuff by Ryan. Thank you so much for listening. Join me next week for another episode of what now. Hey everyone, it's me, Morgan Stewart, and I have a new podcast called the Morgan Stewart Show. Join me each week as I talk about pop culture, fashion, my personal life and just a warning, I'm going to be giving my opinion on everything. I'll also have some really fun guests to join in on the fun. The Morgan Stewart show is out now. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts or watch full video on YouTube. At Strayer University, we help students like you go from Is it possible? To anything is possible by offering access to up to 10 no cost gen Ed courses so you can reach your goals affordably and fast.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Visit Strayer. Edu to learn more. No cost Gen Ed is provided by Strayer University affiliate Juliet Sophia.

[Trevor Noah]

Eligibility rules apply. Connect with us for details.

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

Strayer University is certified to operate in

[Trevor Noah]

Virginia by Shep and has many campuses,

[Atsuko Okatsuka]

including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia.