Crosscontinentals

Double, Not Half

Toko Anna Okazaki-Pindur’s father used to tell her that she’s not “half,” she’s “double.” He directed her attention to many opportunities that come with her Japanese-Polish background, such as having two cultures to draw from, two places to call home, and two languages to speak and interpret the world with. Maybe thanks to her upbringing, Toko Anna comes across as someone very comfortable in her skin with a strong sense of belonging and a trove of fascinating stories, including one about taking trains guarded by Soviet minders through Siberia in the 70s and 80s to visit her relatives in Japan. 
 
We discussed: 
Living in a Japanese home in Warsaw during the time when Poland was part of the Soviet block
Childhood journeys to Japan that involved taking trains through Siberia and took four days each way
Spending a year at a Japanese university 
Working as a Polish-Japanese interpreter and translator 
How emotions and behaviors change depending on the language we speak
What is discrimination and where does it come from? 
 
Toko Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokoanna.op/
Follow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i

Learning to Embrace Being Japanese

On social media, Manae Shimizu-Kaczmarczyk comes across as a bubbly influencer with many followers and numerous brand partnerships. But in this conversation, she reveals her thoughtful side, and she tells the story of going from rejecting her Japanese background to embracing it.
We discussed: 
What sets Manae apart from other social media influencers in Poland 
The work that goes into creating a social media presence and being a brand ambassador 
Dealing with online negativity and inappropriate behavior 
Manae’s childhood and growing up disliking being Japanese
Sisterly bonds
Trying to change her appearances to blend in
What changed her attitude towards her multinational background
How concern for her sister led Manae to study art therapy
Manae’s TikTok: bit.ly/3RwCSclManae’s Instagram: bit.ly/3GUqSwaFollow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i

Seeking Different Points of View

Leo Sakaguchi likes non-mainstream things. One of the few thousand native Esperanto speakers in the world, he DJs internationally, ice skates on a professional level, and advocates for greater renewable energy adoption. 
We discussed: 
How Leo’s Japanese dad and Polish mom met, and their marriage on the seventh date
Growing up speaking multiple languages and not realizing how unusual that was  
Being an outlier in a small Bavarian village 
Student life at Tokyo University 
Multicultural DJing techniques
Meeting another Polish-Japanese DJ who grew up in Germany and is also named Leo 
Working at a Japanese conglomerate in Germany
Leo’s startup 
What links miso, żurek, and German beer
Leo’s Instagram: bit.ly/41AaSsKFollow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i

Nourish All to Feel Whole

Maya Jasmin (DJ LILICAY) has a wide range of professional pursuits that include DJing, acting, and photography. She says it’s only when she can nourish her multiple interests simultaneously that she starts to feel complete. Her versatility extends to the languages she speaks: English, German, Japanese, Polish, and Korean. The emphasis on variety started in her childhood home, where her Japanese mother and Polish father made sure she was exposed to many cultures.
We discussed:
Reasons behind Maya’s move to New York
When eating melonpan under cherry blossoms is happiness
Juggling German, Japanese, and Polish schools
The feeling of community in a small German town
Differences in acting and theater between New York and Germany
Maya’s movie "Rooftops of My City"
Freedom in New York
Maya’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djlilicayMaya’s movie "Rooftops of My City:” https://vimeo.com/404183937Follow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i