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 97 to 120 of 348.
0:55I guess I've never thought of that...
631.9K views
0:07This is where I leave you what’s your nope ride?
628.6K views
2:02It's the thought that counts!
627.6K views
1:19LA strong
606.7K views
1:00Why did she answer one word at a time like that
593.9K views
0:17My Grandma on the Potato Drums
590K views
0:23My name is Atsuko and I have a good personality
569K views
0:34Harry Styles, Ryan, same difference @DisgracefulTheShow
560.5K views
0:39Happy Mother's day to all the families who've been through it thankful for you all
543.5K views
1:28Am I the only one?
540.8K views
0:59Atsuko Okatsuka Quizzing the Audience on UTI’s
540.5K views
0:53Interpreting is not for the weak
529.4K views
0:44Bringing these looks with me into the afterlife
527.8K views
0:33I think this means I would survive?
523K views
0:23Yes, I have a diverse fan base! what’s it to you?
512.9K views
0:40happy international women’s day to all my fellow “husbands”
510.1K views
0:57Atsuko Okatsuka HBO Standup Special comes out December 10
502.4K views
0:14My Grandma and I distracting the Nurse
502.2K views
0:20Lady Gaga takeover
489.2K views
0:40POV: My husband wanted me to ask people what their favorite color was while we were in Taiwan
478.8K views
1:34Sometimes someone has to slap the lettuce out of your hands for your own good.
476.7K views
0:22That concludes our 2026 AAPI heritage month
476.1K views
0:36Sometimes the jokes write themselves @BobTheDragQueen
472.8K views
0:21Brought the drop challenge back for this epic collab @TheRealAlysonStoner
467.9K 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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