Behind the Yellow Curtain with Jess

Be Yourself, Your Way in Japan: Safe Spaces, Small Steps & Finding Belonging

Queer in Tokyo: Belonging, Boxes & Becoming Welcome back to Behind the Yellow Curtain! In this episode, host Jess sits down with Luna Oliver, a multifaceted artist, magazine editor, and trans woman who was born in Mexico and grew up in Montreal before settling in Japan in 2015. Known for her drag persona Andromeda, Luna has dedicated her life to questioning gender and championing queer visibility. Despite a lifelong, inner certainty about her identity—a knowledge she possessed even as a three-year-old—Luna spent her twenties confused and struggling to find validation within society and local queer spaces in Japan. The constant pressure to fit into specific "boxes," particularly within Tokyo's gay community, created a deep sense of alienation and the fear that embracing her femininity would make her undesirable. Paradoxically, the moment she embraced the unambiguous label of "trans woman" and prioritized her own happiness, she found a sense of clarity and belonging in Japan. "You should be enjoying your life; it's a one-time thing." Luna's powerful journey from fighting to find her place to realizing that self-acceptance is a fluid path, not a destination, will make you question what validation you truly need and where you are willing to build your own roots. 🎬 Credits Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL) Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe  Designer: Lucy Behind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations with people navigating cross-cultural lives. New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more.

Why Japan? From Mexico & Canada to Tokyo—Fitting In, Work Culture, and Reality

Queer in Tokyo: Belonging, Boxes & Becoming Welcome back to Behind the Yellow Curtain! In this episode, host Jess sits down with Luna Oliver, a multifaceted artist, magazine editor, and trans woman who was born in Mexico and grew up in Montreal before settling in Japan in 2015. Known for her drag persona Andromeda, Luna has dedicated her life to questioning gender and championing queer visibility. Despite a lifelong, inner certainty about her identity—a knowledge she possessed even as a three-year-old—Luna spent her twenties confused and struggling to find validation within society and local queer spaces in Japan. The constant pressure to fit into specific "boxes," particularly within Tokyo's gay community, created a deep sense of alienation and the fear that embracing her femininity would make her undesirable. Paradoxically, the moment she embraced the unambiguous label of "trans woman" and prioritized her own happiness, she found a sense of clarity and belonging in Japan. "You should be enjoying your life; it's a one-time thing." Luna's powerful journey from fighting to find her place to realizing that self-acceptance is a fluid path, not a destination, will make you question what validation you truly need and where you are willing to build your own roots. 🎬 Credits Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL) Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe  Designer: Lucy Behind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations with people navigating cross-cultural lives. New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more. 📍 Language: English — Japanese subtitles available by turning on CC

Building Roots Abroad: Why Japan Became Home

Belonging Beyond Borders: A Journey to Identity in Japan Welcome back to Behind the Yellow Curtain!  In this episode, host Jess sits down with Rudy, a strategist from France. With roots in Algeria and the Caribbean island of Martinique, what led him to build a life so far from home in Japan? Despite graduating from elite schools and walking an enviable career path, Rudy always felt a sense of alienation. Then came the shocking words from a former boss: "You are not a cultural fit." The harder he tried to be the perfect Frenchman, the more his own sense of belonging slipped away. Ironically, he found his footing in Japan, a country that gave him the unambiguous label of "foreigner." The conversation also delves into the painful family history that cut him off from his Algerian and Martinique heritage. "Perhaps roots aren't something you're born with, but something you build for yourself." Rudy's journey from a young man who felt he couldn't belong in France to finding and growing his own roots with the people he loves in Japan is a powerful story that will make you question the very meaning of identity. 🎬 Credits Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL) Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe  Designer: Lucy Behind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations with people navigating cross-cultural lives. New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more. 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/]

Chasing Belonging: Growing Up French but Not 'French Enough

Belonging Beyond Borders: A Journey to Identity in Japan Welcome back to Behind the Yellow Curtain!  In this episode, host Jess sits down with Rudy, a strategist from France. With roots in Algeria and the Caribbean island of Martinique, what led him to build a life so far from home in Japan? Despite graduating from elite schools and walking an enviable career path, Rudy always felt a sense of alienation. Then came the shocking words from a former boss: "You are not a cultural fit." The harder he tried to be the perfect Frenchman, the more his own sense of belonging slipped away. Ironically, he found his footing in Japan, a country that gave him the unambiguous label of "foreigner." The conversation also delves into the painful family history that cut him off from his Algerian and Martinique heritage. "Perhaps roots aren't something you're born with, but something you build for yourself." Rudy's journey from a young man who felt he couldn't belong in France to finding and growing his own roots with the people he loves in Japan is a powerful story that will make you question the very meaning of identity. 🎬 Credits Creative Director & Host: Jessica Lin Producer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL) Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe  Designer: Lucy Behind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations with people navigating cross-cultural lives. New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more. 📸 Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/]

Reading the Air vs Saying It Out Loud

Welcome back to the conversation with Kiwa on Behind the Yellow Curtain! In this chapter, "Reading the Air vs Saying It Out Loud: Love Across Cultures," we dive into how a multicultural background shapes the most personal part of our lives: relationships.Having grown up where direct communication was the norm, Kiwa gets candid about dating in Japan. The conversation centers on her current relationship with her Japanese partner and the challenge of bridging two different communication styles—her need to "say it out loud" versus the cultural nuance of "reading the air" (空気を読む)."I can do it," she admits, "but it's exhausting." This is a heartfelt exploration of the compromises, patience, and humor required when two worlds meet in love. How do you find a middle ground when your values are shaped by different cultures?🎬 CreditsCreative Director & Host: Jessica LinProducer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL)Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe Designer: LucyBehind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations navigating cross-cultural lives.New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more.