Ever since going viral on social media, Yurié Collins has made a splash in the stand-up comedy world.
Yurie Collins, 34, is a rising comedy star with a dedicated fan base — people approached her three times during her Japan Times interview to say hello or ask for a selfie. Disarmingly candid and unapologetically girly, the bilingual Japanese American comedian regularly sells out shows at Tokyo Comedy Bar…
Inhabiting a unique space of performing both in Japanese and English, Collins has made a name for herself by putting a culturally aware, edgy spin on the nuances of life in Japan, while still being relatable to a wide range of people.
Yurié thinks the biggest difference between Japan and the US is how the two value individuality. “In Japan, we literally say, ‘The nail that sticks out gets hammered down’ and the word for ‘different’ is the same word for ‘wrong.’ It’s not a good thing to stand out in Japan (although many Japanese people I’ve spoken to say they wish they could express themselves the way Americans do).
Balancing life between New York and Japan, Yurié Collins reflects on the challenges of being a female comedian in a predominantly male scene.