We were lucky to catch up with Akiko Tokuoka recently and have shared our conversation below.

Akiko, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was my first theater production “TANABATA 2021” that was 3 years ago.

 This work is adapted by me from a Japanese traditional myth about star-crossed lovers. I created it as an interactive contemporary work, which included; Hip Hop & Vogue dancing styles, singing, and improv comedy.

This experience was truly a breakthrough for me in bringing my artistic career to the next level.

 This show was one of the biggest reasons why I got a green card 4 months ago after 18 years, as a performance artist, in the US .



I believe I received an “invitation” from the universe. 

Before the pandemic, I was a dancer and a dance instructor at school. It was the only thing I could do and I was fine with it.

 I struggled during the pandemic since entertainment and show businesses were completely shut down in NY.

 However, I realized how much I loved art, performing, interacting with the audience and creating the moment together while I performed. I really missed that, as well as “ACTING” which had been sitting inside of my soul for a long time. I thought it was too late to learn something new.



The pandemic made me decide to take a professional 2 year acting program at the Maggie Flanigan Studio.

 I still appreciate my acting teachers, Charlie Sandler, Karen Chamberlain and Midori Nakamura. That whole experience completely changed my life.

 Since I am an immigrant artist, I’ve always had to deal with my immigration status in the US. Back then, I had an O1 visa that had to be renewed every 3 years, but there was no guarantee of a renewal after 3 years. This situation had been ongoing since 2010.

 One of the biggest regrets I had was that I couldn’t go back to my country to attend my grandfather’s funeral because of my visa situation, I really didn’t want to experience that again. So My big goal was to obtain an Artist green card. It was not easy and it is said only 1% of people who applied can get that type of green card. It sounds crazy but I started to take it more seriously to contemplate how I could achieve that goal, what is the possible way to do that using my resources and ideas? 

One idea came out even though I had so much pressure, fear and no confidence, I couldn’t imagine I could make it happen.

 I think we encounter sometimes very challenging moments we have to pull through to move our life forward.

I think it was my timing, I submitted an NYFA grant so that I can create my production by grant support. I did my best to put my effort on the application form.

 I believe that was an “invitation.”

For the first time in my life, I could produce my own theater performance with NYFA grant support. I wrote the story, choreographed it, created the costume design and performed as well, with 2 other talented performers. Since I wanted to expand my career from dance to acting and producing, I created this performance. It was very scary and challenging, but the show was really successful with a full house and people loved it in the end.

 To this day, it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. 

I am thinking I want to produce “TANABATA 2021” again sometime next year!

Akiko, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My interest in the performing arts started when I was 15, I saw some Japanese pop idols on TV and it awakened in me the desire to be a singer/dancer.
This was my first influence to start going to dance school. Eventually dance overtook my drive to be a singer. By the time I was 20, I was in NY and brought a unique style of dance fusion, which combined Japanese Kabuki and Vogue together.
I am a life coach at heart and I believe a path to self improvement and meditation can be found by bringing together Japanese and Western philosophies.
That is why I am so proud of my first theater production “TANABATA 2021”. I’ve since expanded into film and acting, though I love theater and it is forever in my heart, film has a sort of longevity to it. Once on film, the performance can be watched over and over again.
The beauty of film is the uniqueness brought to a story depending on who’s telling that exact same story. Subtle emotions can be evoked by the director.
One of my dream is writing screenplays and allowing them to be open to these unique interpretations. I feel I’m ready to put together a crew to bring my visions and stories to fruition, as experience is the best teacher. Though film production is not easy by any means, I am using my past experience in theater to guide me, hopefully making the production go smoother. When I was producing in theater I was just learning and it was an exhausting effort. Even though both shows were successful and both sold out, I was burned out.
At present, I am learning from my mentors and life coach about “ What is the best team for you to succeed in your project effortlessly. ” I realized it is really important to know about “Myself” first, meaning my strength, weakness, passion, mission and finding out the thing I can do effortlessly and continuously but I don’t even notice. I can then position people with the necessary skills in the required positions.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to spread contemporary Japanese philosophy to American people. I want to reach that person, or persons who haven’t, or would never reach
happiness in their lifetime before dying. My mission to inspire them to realize their own happiness through sharing contemporary Japanese philosophy started in 2021 through my plays and performances.

My last theater production was based on an Edo period painting I saw at the Japan Society in NY. This painting was titled “A Third Gender: Beautiful Youths in Japanese Prints”. “Wakashu” roughly translated as “beautiful youth” is a word originating in the Edo period of Japan that describes young men who had reached puberty but had not yet attained full-fledged manhood and who were eligible for sexual relations with both women and men.
I was surprised and inspired by this painting. I did not know its history, I did not know the norms it portrayed during the Edo period, because these stories weren’t taught to us. It is really interesting that I often find and learn about Japanese culture and history through American articles, American people or exhibitions like “Wakashu painting”. Recently my acting teacher introduced me to “Reiki”. He said “Reiki is really important for all actors, I highly recommend you guys take the class.” It was shocking because I didn’t really pay attention to it even though I am JAPANESE. This is just one example.

I thought I wanted to create my own interpretation of the painting because I wanted to express “Multicultural, Gender freedom, Anti-Racism and Diversity” by delivering a mashup and an exchange between Japanese tradition and NY contemporary culture. My play was not based on historical fact, but my interpretations of the lessons I learned. My goal was to inspire, entertain and share my culture with the audience.

My art finds the common ground, or overlap, if you will, between American culture and contemporary Japanese society. The one universal truth is people are people and my mission is to reach and inspire people to realize their own happiness before they die. I believe if they have the chance to see and learn contemporary Japanese philosophy, it will help improve their lives.

In our culture, everything is appreciated. Everything has a soul and is not easily discarded because we feel a connection to everything. I find this brings a connection and appreciation to life, that everything has value, including oneself.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think for creative people, including myself, we can get inspiration from anything, any situation and can make that into an art form. I always pay attention to each thing I encounter (from social media, book, chats with friends, from taking a walk, to even the experience of breaking up with a boyfriend..lol)
That is how we live our lives. When I can create something through a painful experience, I feel I am purified through a creative process. It means a lot to me because this work couldn’t be produced without this experience and I really embrace that and it’s my own reward.
I believe everyone in this world is an artist. While satisfying, power, wealth, approval, and the three primary desires (sex, appetite, and sleep) may bring temporary happiness, I believe that lasting happiness often comes from self-expression and creativity.
I believe that expressing oneself and self-purification through art is a wonderful way to cultivate inner richness. I believe it allows us to achieve a more vibrant life and I feel that this is ultimately the meaning of being born as a human being. Whether singing, dancing or painting, I hope more and more people in the world will incorporate art into their daily lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.akikotokuoka.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyc.performanceartist/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akiko.tokuoka

Image Credits

Main photo
Me
Image by Michael Herskovitz

Additional Photos
1. Me
Image by Tsuneo Horide
2. Me
Image by Tsuneo Horide
3. John-Deric Mitchell and Javier Madrid and me
Image by John Mazlish
4. Me
*From Squid Game 2 X Johnnie Walker promotion by Netflix