Live in Tokyo with Max D. Capo

Episode #33 of the “Live in Tokyo” PodcastAngela Aki is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter born and raised in Tokushima, Japan, known for her powerful piano-driven ballads and deeply personal lyrics. After spending a decade fighting to break into Japan's music industry as a mixed-race artist, she became one of the country's most beloved performers, with songs like 「手紙」 becoming generational anthems. In 2014 she stepped away from her career to study musical theater composition in the United States, and has recently returned with her new album Shadow Work, a deeply personal body of work born from five years of therapy and self-discovery.NEW ALBUM [SHADOW WORK]https://open.spotify.com/album/2IdM3we2u6vwMQpeETtHPi👉Guest's Socials:https://www.instagram.com/angelaaki_official👉Follow Live in Tokyo Podcast or Max D. CapoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveintokyopodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxdcapoTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maxdcapoX: https://x.com/maxdcapo🎧Live in Tokyo Podcast audio only:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XdRNqW9BYi9avrXHiuczqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo/id6806572530Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/bdh7wpjdTime Stamps(0:00) Intro(1:07) Live in Tokyo Podcast welcome(2:18) Introducing Angela Aki and cultural significance(5:44) Max discovering Angela (Half Japanese artist) in 2006(6:40) Growing up mixed in rural Tokushima(10:25) Moving from Japan to Hawaii(11:22) Struggles and trauma being Mixed in Japan(13:15) Angela's move to America(15:05) "Wasian" and mixed Asian identity in 2026(17:22) Do Japanese people think Angela is a foreigner?(20:57) Living "outside-in" & chasing worth instead of self worth(22:23) Being rejected by 14 Japanese record labels before her career(26:24) Recognized as being "Japanese" left an empty feeling(30:11) Starting therapy & shadow work(34:21) Hitting rock bottom(37:09) Breaking generational trauma(38:35) Falling out of love and back in love with her old music(41:46) Becoming one face in the crowd(44:02) Why vulnerable conversations matter(47:52) Spreading music with love attitude(50:14) The struggle was Angela's greatest teacher(52:05) About album "Shadow Work" & "Forgiveness"(55:26) Closing: will Angela make a new Anime opening/ending theme song?

Episode #32 of the “Live in Tokyo” PodcastAlisa is a singer-songwriter based in Tokyo, Japan. She was born in the UK to a Japanese father and Australian mother, and was raised between Australia and Japan. This episode covers topics such as being mixed Asian with a Japanese father, finding out how to live your best life in Tokyo, and interesting facts about Japan. 👉Guest's Socials:https://www.instagram.com/alisamusic_official👉Follow Live in Tokyo Podcast or Max D. CapoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveintokyopodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxdcapoTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maxdcapoX: https://x.com/maxdcapo🎧Live in Tokyo Podcast audio only:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XdRNqW9BYi9avrXHiuczqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo/id6806572530Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/bdh7wpjd📙Like the Live in Tokyo Podcast? Please Support me on Patreon, or become a YouTube member and your name will be in the ending credits.https://www.patreon.com/maxd🎙️My Podcast Equipment:https://a.co/d/09Qbid4zTime Stamps:(0:00) Introduction(0:28) Welcome Alisa(1:41) Her connection to Shizuka & the ABC kids' show(3:23) A gap year in Japan & toning down her Aussie accent(4:42) Japanese dad, Australian mom: how her parents met(6:42) Growing up with a traditional Japanese dad (otoso)(8:46) Spotting hafu kids in Tokyo & representation(10:40) Max's experience being mixed in Japan(13:06) Moving to Tokyo for good(15:48) Identity crisis at Melbourne Uni(17:47) Max's Japan Study Abroad days in Sendai(19:38) Being the only Asian kid in class in Australia(21:27) No one blows their nose on the train in Japan?(24:08) Kafunsho: the story behind Japan's allergy season(27:12) Azabu-Juban used to sell hemp(28:48) Japanese audiences clap on 1 & 3(30:36) J-pop's secret sauce: chords & lyrics that don't need to rhyme(32:36) Japanese words that don't translate(37:37) Mental health in Japan(38:21) Tokyo brings the best life out in people(41:26) Where to go on your 3rd or 4th trip to Japan?(44:01) What's next for Alisa?(46:16) Closing thoughts

Episode #31 of the “Live in Tokyo” PodcastAyako is currently a DJ based in Southeast Asia. She is born to a Japanese father and Malaysian-Chinese mother. In this episode she describes her experiences growing up in Malaysia versus Japan, Japanese family structure vs Malaysian, and her experience on the latest dating show "House of Feelings", including differences between Asians from America vs. Asians from Asia.👉Guest's Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayakoogawa👉Follow Live in Tokyo Podcast or Max D. CapoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveintokyopodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxdcapoTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maxdcapoX: https://x.com/maxdcapo🎧Live in Tokyo Podcast audio only:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XdRNqW9BYi9avrXHiuczqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo/id6806572530Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/bdh7wpjd📙Like the Live in Tokyo Podcast? Please Support me on Patreon, or become a YouTube member and your name will be in the ending credits.https://www.patreon.com/maxd🎙️My Podcast Equipment:https://a.co/d/09Qbid4z0:00 Intro0:41 Welcome Ayako2:56 Malaysia's languages & international school4:07 Ayako's parents' story & growing up 5:14 Malaysian Chinese & Peranakan heritage6:35 Growing up mixed & moving to Japan during Covid9:14 Being treated like a "gaijin" in Japan9:43 Where does she feel most at home?10:59 Why Bali life wasn't for her12:54 House of Feelings & being the "bombshell"13:59 Asian Americans vs. Asians from Asia15:17 Is Tokyo home? Feeling socially excluded16:39 People glamorize Japan too much17:59 How rare is a Japanese Malaysian?19:02 "Hafu," "quarter" & mixed labels20:57 Dating in Malaysia vs. Japan vs. America24:26 Controlling partners & insecurity28:30 Japan's cheating culture31:00 Malaysian men over Japanese men33:32 Family values: caretaking vs. independence35:21 Japanese Family gatherings: relaxed vs. proper38:50 Dating an American in Tokyo41:00 Favorite anime: One Piece – Zoro or Sanji?43:16 Looks matter less as you get older43:42 Outro

Episode #30 of the “Live in Tokyo” PodcastKole from Tokyo Sims is a musician and content creator based in Japan. In this episode, topics involve growing up in Atlanta, being mixed Japanese, cultural norms in Japan, and how Kole is making moves to create music again, his original passion.👉Guest's Socials:YouTube:  @Tokyo_Sims_yt  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kole404_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyo_sims_👉Follow Live in Tokyo Podcast or Max D. CapoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveintokyopodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxdcapoTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maxdcapoX: https://x.com/maxdcapo🎧Live in Tokyo Podcast audio only:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1XdRNqW9BYi9avrXHiuczqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-in-tokyo-with-max-d-capo/id6806572530Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/bdh7wpjd📙Like the Live in Tokyo Podcast? Please Support me on Patreon, or become a YouTube member and your name will be in the ending credits.https://www.patreon.com/maxd🎙️My Podcast Equipment:https://a.co/d/09Qbid4zTime Stamps:0:00 Intro: Gen Z vs. Millennial Wasian0:14 Welcome Kole from Tokyo Sims1:53 Having a Japanese mom, American dad4:25 Parents met at Waseda in Tokyo5:29 Growing up in East Point, Atlanta9:11 Kole being the "white kid" at school in ATL & being white-passing11:18 Kole did Wrestling in High school12:20 Japanese as a first language & Saturday school15:17 How a realtor led to songwriting with Sony Music16:17 Writing songs for Crystal Kay, Sumire & LDH16:54 Full circle: the rappers from a Vice documentary18:20 Kole discovers Max's videos at age 1421:56 Dropping out of college & moving to Kawasaki22:57 Competing on Japanese rap show "RAPSTAR"24:17 Out of savings: construction work25:53 The factory job that broke Kole27:06 Rock bottom & starting Tokyo Sims29:12 Why there's no "cringe" in Japan30:54 Most memorable (and unpostable) interviews32:58 Japan's hidden m3th problem35:42 Kabukicho touts & who really runs the area38:01 The Japanese mafia and the 2011 earthquake38:22 Streaming, longevity & getting back into music40:45 Interviewing Ice Spice41:14 Jackson Wang & the back-crack video44:32 Celebrity lookalikes: Tom Cruise, Tobey Maguire & more47:06 Advice for new creators

Episode #29 of the “Live in Tokyo” PodcastAju "Ajuchan" is a DJ from Japan. She is mixed Black (Bahamian) and Japanese, and was born and raised in Tokyo. Having lived the life of a Japanese ヤンキー (yankee/delinquent), she pivoted later in life to do fashion, and now DJs worldwide. In this episode, we cover topics surrounding finding acceptance of yourself, not belonging to Japan as a mixed person, depression and anxiety, and what it's like dating women as a woman in Japan.