By Giselle Sanchez
As a female stand-up comedienne myself, performing stand-up comedy in English, Filipino, and Visayan, I have always been a fan of Los Angeles-based stand-up comedianne Atsuko Okatsuka. She went trending on social media during the pandemic with her #dropchallenge, in which she randomly drops to Beyonce’s song “Partition” while doing groceries and errands with her grandmother.
But I became a fan the minute I watched the writer and comedienne in her debut on HBO Max, “Intruder,” which the New York Times dubbed the “Best Debut Special.” Variety listed her in their “Top 10 Comics to Watch in 2022.” A You Tube shorts reel is now trending with 16 million views wherein she tells the audience in an awards night.
“I’m the product of a Taiwanese mother and a Japanese father. That is why I look Korean!” The entire audience broke into laughter! Her ability to connect with the audience, combined with her sharp observational humor and engaging stage presence are the reasons why she was able to book three sold-out shows in Manila last July 13 (two shows) and14.
For those of you who missed her awesome performance in Manila, you can always watch her HBO Max Special, Intruder, which has been praised for its authenticity and relatability. I was able to get permission from Atsuko herself via email to write some of her jokes from the “Intruder” here in my column.
She was so sweet, and she said yes! I decided to just write the ones in HBO’s promotional materials so as not to spoil her HBO Max Special. Her management even sent me hi-res pictures of her performance in Manila as mine were dark and no good for the premiere newspaper in the Philippines like Manila Bulletin boasting 16 million followers across all social media platforms. Thank you to photographer Greg Chow and Ryan from Atsuko’s management.
Here are some of Atsuko’s jokes so that you can start or end your day with good vibes.
1. Keep your head down and blend in as much as possible, at least that’s what my family would tell me..and then they name me Atsuko Okatsuka.. and they went on to choose English names for themselves! Thanks, mom…or Linda!
2. My grandma raised me, so I didn’t hang out with people my age. People would always say Atsuko, what’s wrong with you? Someone fifty years older than me taught me how to socialize. Whenever I would try to make friends as a kid, I would always tell war stories and try to trade food recipes.
3. My husband and I had an intruder come to our house. My fearless husband rushed out and tried to shake his hand. (Atsuko mimicked her husband, raising his right hand like he was waving it.) The guy watched this, freaked out, and tried to run away. It worked! Different fighting styles! Mind tricks!
It’s better when you watch and hear her perform. This is the reason why you have to watch her HBO Max Special. She’s very animated and has lots of funny movements onstage — no wonder she has been making waves in the comedy world with her unique style and fresh perspective.
Atsuko's performance in the Philippines was a refreshing reminder of the power of comedy to bridge cultural gaps and bring people together. The audience included Taiwanese, Japanese, Filipinos, Americans, and other races. Her unique perspective, shaped by her multicultural background, allowed her to offer fresh insights and humorous takes on familiar topics.
The audience left the show with smiles on their faces and a deeper appreciation for the shared human experiences that Atsuko so expertly highlighted in her routine. Atsuko’s talent for blending personal anecdotes with universal themes ensures that her comedy resonates with a wide range of audiences, and her performance in the Philippines was no exception.
She is a comedian to watch, and her star continues to rise with each outstanding performance. As she continues to evolve and grow as a comedian, there's no doubt that Atsuko will keep audiences laughing and thinking for years to come. The Philippines loves you, Atsuko! Come back again!