I started studying acting around 2015, or wait a little bit before that, and I was kind of struggling because I have a thick Japanese accent so, like whenever I go to auditions I will have to be like a “Japanese Waitress” or like “Japanese Nuclear Scientist” or like the roles that make sense with my Japanese accent and it was like really limited opportunity. What attracted you to comedy? Have you always been a funny person? We had the privilege of speaking with the rising star about her road to comedy, her creative process and how she’s challenging western stereotypes of Asian women. You can see her perform at this year’s Winnipeg Comedy Festival, or YouTube where she frequently uploads new bits. In her new debut album, My Name Is Yumi, Nagashima covers a range of topics, such as racism, international dating preferences and working in entertainment, from her unique viewpoint as a millennial woman from Japan to establishing a performance career in North America. In the video, titled “Japanese Sweet Bite Technique,” Nagashima casually addresses the lackluster sex life of a couple, seated in the front row, mulling over different methods of oral sex for them. A YouTube clip from one of her sets has recently gone viral with over 400,000 views. The Japanese-born Vancouver-based standup’s brand of observational humor and deadpan delivery is delighting audiences nationwide. I definitely have more sense of what I really want and what makes me truly happy.Yumi Nagashima ( is the kind of comedian who continues to surprise. When you compare yourself now to where you were at ten years ago, what’s a major change you can identify? What’s a subject that is currently holding your attention? Marie Kondo told me to say thank you and let them go so… What toy/book have you held onto since you were small? What’s a piece of career advice that has served you well? One skill you’d love to learn/nurture/improve this year? “Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brain or even courage, but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal.” – Elbert Hubbard What life philosophy is currently helping to guide your journey? Japanese summer festival! My sister and I wore Yukata (summer cotton Kimono) and ate market foods! Mmm! What’s a childhood memory that always brings a smile to your face? What five things would you want if you were deserted on an island?īrita water filter, blow torch, sleeping bag, Olay facial cleanser for sensitive skin and Wi-Fi. Get massage from Colleen at Queen’s Feet (Vancouver) while stoned. What exhibit/museum/site are you dying to see? Their foot & body massage combo is amazing!!! Who/what has influenced your comedy the most?īo Burnham, Dave Chappelle and Wanda Sykes.īamboo Garden Health Centre. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero, The Artist Way Julia Cameron, and The Music of Words by Haruki Murakami. To declutter our spaces is to declutter our lives. YN: When I feel connected to the audience on stage. SDTC: When and where do you feel most content/at ease? Her wickedly funny debut album drops today. With track titles like “Creepy White Man” and “Independent Woman,” Yumi adds a much-needed layer of intelligent humour and racial critique to the #MeToo movement. Her cheeky comedy explores tropes of her Japanese heritage and the taboo of sex and womanhood. She will be joining a group of 604 Records comedians on the Busload of Fun tour in early Spring 2019. She went on to become a finalist in the Yuk Off Competition in 20. Yumi Nagashima grew up in Tokyo before moving to Vancouver and diving into the comedy scene.
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