Atsuko, you’re the best! Around! Nothing’s gonna ever keep you down.
There’s a lot of stereotypes about Japanese people but perhaps one of the more infamous ones is that they all know martial arts. Plenty of Japanese people have little to no training in martial arts and would be pretty lost in a dojo. As proof of this, one need look no further than a hilarious video released by the stand up comedian, actress, and filmmaker Atsuko Okatsuka.
The first in what looks to be a series titled “Let’s Go, Atsuko!,” the video below was released in May and shows Okatsuka visiting a karate dojo. There, under the tutelage of a very patient and and understanding sensei named Mark, Okatsuka tries her best to connect with her native culture but ends up making it quite clear that despite her Japanese heritage she is much better at making people laugh than mastering the art of the “empty hand.”
If you enjoyed episode one, then you’re in luck because episode two is also out. This time around she does something totally different. She tries to learn an “aerial” routine in order to surprise her husband on their first anniversary. The results of her efforts are… worth watching.
Apart from her “Let’s Go, Atsuko!” series, Okatsuka has many other comedic videos on her YouTube channel, including this funny but poignant take on the controversy that surrounded Scarlett Johansson being cast in the role of Motoko Kusanagi for the recent live action film adaptation of Ghost in the Shell.
Atsuko Okatsuka regularly performs stand up and recently released a one hour special called “They Call Me Stacey” on Hulu. For more information on her upcoming performances and other projects, visit her official website or follow her on Twitter. In the meantime, here’s a clip of her stand up act, just to give you a taste of what she’s like on stage. Enjoy.
Source: Atsuko Okatsuka YouTube
Image: Let’s Go, Atsuko! Ep. 1: Atsuko Learns Karate (Atsuko Okatsuka YouTube)
