About Atsuko Okatsuka
Atsuko Okatsuka (born May 27, 1988) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She was named one of Variety's "Top 10 Comics to Watch" in 2022 and is the second Asian-American woman to have a stand-up special on HBO.
Okatsuka was born in Taiwan, the daughter of a Taiwanese mother and Japanese father, and spent her early childhood in Japan. At the age of eight, she was taken by her maternal grandmother to her mother in Los Angeles, where she lived for the next seven years as an undocumented immigrant. She discovered stand-up comedy through a Margaret Cho DVD, attended Venice High School, studied psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and later graduated from the California Institute of the Arts.
Okatsuka began doing stand-up in small clubs around Los Angeles. In 2020, she released her debut album with Comedy Dynamics, But I Control Me, and hosted and executive produced Let's Go Atsuko for the now-defunct Quibi. In 2019, she performed a stand-up set during an earthquake at The Ice House comedy club in Pasadena, which went viral. Her debut stand-up special The Intruder premiered on HBO and HBO Max on December 10, 2022; The New York Times named it Best Debut of 2022, and it won best comedy special at the Gracie Awards. She also started the viral Drop Challenge with her grandmother, and her life story was told on This American Life in September 2023.
Videos (348)
Videos 241 to 264 of 348.
1:21Bye 2024! Another year on the comedy journey
129.2K views
1:08And the rest is history @WhatNowPodcast
128.4K views
0:22Grandma energy only
128.4K views
1:30Atsuko Okatsuka Stand Up Show: Fans Showed Up Wearing my Haircut
127.9K views
1:44"Don't forget to have fun." Best advice I'd ever gotten that I sometimes forget.
127.8K views
1:21Who’s the villain-bestie in your life?
127.6K views
0:55All I want this thanksgiving: laughter, strangers & too many lights Have a great holiday everyone!
127.5K views
1:17The struggle is real @TheHeatherMcMahan
127.3K views
0:58All about balance
126.6K views
0:19Are you my husband or me?
125.5K views
0:19Hey!! That’s my hair
123.8K views
0:16When you enter a Japanese household...
122.3K views
0:25I believed in me… And also attention. my special FATHER is out on @hulu @disneyplus on 6/13
122K views
0:38Brat Winter just doesn't have the same ring to it @complexly
119.4K views
0:51Los Angeles, May 9th. Tickets at atsukocomedy.com. Can’t believe it’s come to this.
119K views
0:22Grandma and I have come very far
118.5K views
0:45How do you make your rent count?
116.6K views
0:59First time Throwing a Baseball and it’s for a Cubs game??
113.2K views
0:20My Grandma Is The Best Hypewoman
112.3K views
1:23Have I redeemed myself? @AndrewSantinoWhiskeyGinger
112K views
0:32I’ve always been (had to be ) optimistic. Someone check on Bon!!
112K views
0:27We're not getting married. I'm doing a comedy show Maui 1/16 Honolulu 1/18 atsukocomedy.com
111.4K views
1:36You procrastinators will have a tough time @TrashTuesday
110.8K views
2:47Let's Go Atsuko! Ep. 4: Grandma Goes to Physical Therapy
108.7K viewsGuest appearances (40)
Videos on other comedians' channels featuring Atsuko Okatsuka.
Guest appearances 1 to 24 of 40.
1:02Having a bowl cut requires a 5 year plan| Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
972.3K views
0:57The kamasutra does not incorporate stools | Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
823.9K views
8:26Atsuko Okatsuka on Giving Her Grandma a Bath, Her Husband Getting a Vasectomy & Hulu Comedy Special
Jimmy Kimmel
791.6K views
7:43Atsuko Okatsuka Teaches Chelsea Handler & Guillermo How to Do the Drop Challenge
Jimmy Kimmel
562.7K views
2:24:45Atsuko Okatsuka: Joking in Japanese
Trevor Noah
436.6K views
0:59Schizophrenic moms with Atsuko Okatsuka
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
426.3K views
1:03:43Atsuko Okatsuka (Full Episode) | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
276.6K views
16:38ATSUKO OKATSUKA | Out of Pocket with Trixie Mattel
Trixie Mattel
237.9K views
5:19Chelsea's Roundtable Feat. Bob The Drag Queen, Atsuko Okatsuka & Rosebud Baker | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
215.8K views
1:02:19Atsuko Okatsuka - Matteo Lane & Nick Smith - I Never Liked You 115
Matteo Lane
158.8K views
1:34Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka on how her turbulent upbringing inspired her comedy special, "Father"
Jon Stewart
150.7K views
8:26Atsuko Okatsuka - Why She's "Father" In Her New Special | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
143.1K views
2:14Conan & Atsuko Okatsuka have iconic hair.
Conan O'Brien
139K views
1:31:19Japanese Clams with Atsuko Okatsuka
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
101.4K views
1:04:02Atsuko Okatsuka Is The Coolest! | Whiskey Ginger
Andrew Santino
86.4K views
11:28"My Mom was the Girl from The Ring" — Atsuko Okatsuka’s shocking childhood
Trevor Noah
80.6K views
0:13This week on Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend: Atsuko Okatsuka.
Conan O'Brien
74.3K views
0:51Boundaries are optional | Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside Podcast with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
71.8K views
1:26:09Atsuko Okatsuka | The Blocks Podcast w/ Neal Brennan | EPISODE 22
Neal Brennan
61.5K views
0:42Ruh roh | Atsuko Okatsuka | The Downside Podcast with Gianmarco Soresi
Gianmarco Vincent Soresi
51.9K views
0:52Atsuko Okatsuka doesn't like nature.
Conan O'Brien
49K views
1:19Atsuko Okatsuka is the new bachelorette!
Chloe Troast
45.7K views
1:56:22Atsuko Okatsuka’s Honeymoon Was a Family Affair | Bertcast # 588
Bert Kreischer
43K views
1:01:08Atsuko Okatsuka Didn't Know She Wasn't Married for 7 Years | Breaking Bread with Tom Papa
Tom Papa
40.2K viewsChannels on this page: Gianmarco Vincent Soresi, Jimmy Kimmel, Trevor Noah, Conan O'Brien, Trixie Mattel, Jon Stewart, Matteo Lane, Andrew Santino, Neal Brennan, Chloe Troast, Bert Kreischer, Tom Papa
Frequently asked questions
Who is Atsuko Okatsuka?
Atsuko Okatsuka is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer, born on May 27, 1988 in Taiwan to a Taiwanese mother and Japanese father.
What is notable about Atsuko Okatsuka's HBO special?
She is the second Asian-American woman to have a stand-up special on HBO, and her debut special The Intruder premiered on HBO and HBO Max on December 10, 2022.
How did Atsuko Okatsuka go viral?
In 2019, she performed a stand-up set during an earthquake at The Ice House comedy club in Pasadena, which went viral, and she also started the viral Drop Challenge with her grandmother.
What did Atsuko Okatsuka study?
She studied psychology at the University of California, Riverside, before later graduating from the California Institute of the Arts.
What awards has The Intruder received?
The New York Times named The Intruder Best Debut of 2022, and it won best comedy special at the Gracie Awards.
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