Yin & Young Podcast

In this episode we had the privilege to chat with Hong Kong-based artist Kelly Hebestreit! Kelly does creative, introspective work in photography, poetry, film, and many other mediums. Her work explores such things as local neighborhoods, cultural identity, and the heartbreak behind someone not taking off their shoes.

Kelly's Website: https://kellyhebestreit.cargo.site/

Kelly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbystripes/

Highlights:

- Kelly and James connected at the Taiwanese American Film Festival back in 2016.

- Held an intimate art installation show, "Satellite," in 2021 and released a related zine.

- Reflections on life in America and an incident with her ex.

- Part of the Zaazaaaa Collective, an art commune in Hong Kong (HK).

- Background: Grew up in HK, father is German, mother is Taiwanese

- Father is in the textile industry.

- Moved back to HK during the pandemic and can appreciate the city after living abroad.

- Enjoyed studying abroad in Tokyo, but mentions why she probably wouldn't live there long term.

- How Osaka people remind her of HK people and why she likes both.

- Shares situations where she's benefitted from white privilege in HK.

Language corner:

- 好八卦 (hou2 baat3-gwaa3) - So nosy! [Cantonese. The bagua is an ancient eight trigram symbol.]

- 唔該 （mm goy） - Thanks! Excuse me. [Cantonese.]

- 多謝 （doh jeh） - Thank you. [Cantonese.]

- 猴囡仔 (kâu-gín-á) - little monkey(s). [Taiwanese. Similar to "little rascals" or "you crazy kids."

- 半斤八兩 (bànjīnbāliǎng) - tweedledee and tweedledum. [Mandarin. Similar to 猴囡仔.]

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Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast 

Questions, comments, sponsors—email: yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

Yin & Young the podcast is back with a new episode with writer Peter Kageyama! Peter is a writer whose latest book, 1950s noir thriller “Hunter’s Point” featuring Asian American lead characters, recently became an Amazon bestseller. In this episode we discuss Peter’s background as a Sansei (third generation Japanese American), his work in non-fiction (For the Love of Cities) and fiction, and much more.

Peter’s website: peterkageyama.com

Peter’s non-fiction work: www.fortheloveofcities.com

Highlights:

• Peter shares a bit of historical background about Hunter’s Point, San Francisco.

• Peter grew up in Akron, Ohio, stood out as one of the few (if not only) mixed race kids in the neighborhood. 

• Is known for his work on urban development and city planning (For the Love of Cities) and is now writing fiction.

• Father was a Nisei (2nd generation Japanese American) who was interned along with his family during World War 2 in the U.S.

• “Hunter’s Point” was written as a kind of conversation with his father. Father was reserved and did not talk about his time in the camps or in the U.S. military.

• Shig Murao, City Lights bookstore manager in the 1950s, plays an important role in the book and in the real world Beat scene.

• How ones parent’s language is lost with each generation.

• More accepting of his mixed race heritage and how this book helped him reconnect with his Japanese heritage.

• Being Japanese vs being Japanese American.

• How rare/taboo it was to see Asian men marry white women during the 1950s.

• Currently writing a sequel to “Hunter’s Point.”

Book Recommendations:

• Peter recommends: Facing the Mountain (Daniel James Brown) about Japanese internment.

• James recommends No-No Boy (John Okada) about a Japanese American that refused to be drafted into the U.S. military.

Language corner:

• 反抗期 - hankouki: rebellious phase

• 恩 - on: obligation (benevolent)

• 義理 - giri: obligation (social, honorable)

• sussy baka: silly stupid (a term kids use when gaming to describe ridiculous behavior). Combines “suspect” with “baka” (馬鹿) which is Japanese for fool.

• 失敗 - shippai: mistake; darn!

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Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube: @yinyoungpodcast 

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IG: https://www.instagram.com/yinyoungpodcast/

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@yinyoungpodcast

Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

Questions, comments, sponsors—email: yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

Welcome back to Yin & Young the podcast! In this episode we chat with Matty Beavers! Matty is a cinematographer, filmmaker, YouTuber, vlogger, anime fan, Japanese language learner, and an all around good dude. In this episode we get to hear about Matty’s artistic beginnings and aspirations, his lived experience as an African American and Filipino, and much more.

Matty’s work: https://linktr.ee/mattybeavs

Matty’s Instagram (@mattybeavs): https://www.instagram.com/mattybeavs/

Highlights:

• Matty is currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Cinematography at the University of Southern California (USC).

• Matty met James at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) when he was doing his undergrad in Television Production.

• Grew up in Camarillo and Central Valley, California.

• Family background is African and Filipino. Did not pick up Ilocano (spoken by his Filipino grandparents) growing up, but is currently learning Japanese.

• “I, Robot” kicked off his passion for filmmaking.

• Marvels at the technical aspects of lighting and filming scenes. Also admires Marvel films for their achievement in this area.

• Taking a chance on himself by taking on debt for grad school.

• Has learned so much from his family and their struggles. Applies those life lessons to his own work.

• Completed his thesis project recently as Director of Photography for the film “Go Dani Go.” (@go_dani_go_: www.instagram.com/go_dani_go_). Stills from the film can be seen in this episode's thumbnail.

Language Corner: Japanese

• We all do our best to give a self-introduction (自己紹介 jikoshokai).

• 趣味 (shumi) - hobbies

• 中二病　(chūnibyou) - 8th grader sickness. typically used to describe early teens who have grandiose delusions, believe they have secret powers, etc…(Wikipedia).

———

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube: @yinyoungpodcast 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/yinyoungpodcast

IG: https://www.instagram.com/yinyoungpodcast

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@yinyoungpodcast

Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

Questions, comments, sponsors—email: yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

Thanks for your patience Yin & Young listeners! We’re back after a break to bring you this episode with filmmaker Mayu Nakamura! In this short episode, we were lucky to have a chance to chat with Mayu about her experiences growing up in Japan, studying/working abroad, and what stories she wants to tell as a filmmaker.

Follow Mayu Nakamura’s work here:

• Website: https://mayunakamura.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/missyn510

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayun510/

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Worked in documentaries after graduating with an MFA from New York University.

• Released a recent omnibus feature film called, “She is me, I am her.” 「ワタシの中の彼女」

• James and Mayu met through a mutual filmmaker friend and connected in Japan.

• Grew up in Japan, but went to study abroad at young age in London and eventually the U.S.

• Plans on splitting her time between Japan and the States.

• Believes the Japanese film industry is slowly trying to move towards being more inclusive and promoting diversity.

• Some of the topics she explores in her films are sexism and ageism.

• Movies that she revisits regularly are “Days of Being Wild” 「阿飛正傳」, ”Typhoon Club” 「台風クラブ」, “A Brighter Summer Day” 「牯嶺街少年殺人事件」。

Language corner: Japanese

• オレオレ詐欺 -　ore ore sagi - lit. “It’s me, it’s me!” scam. The scammer, generally a young male, calls a target, generally an elderly person, and pretends to be a distant relative and scams the listener into giving them money. The name, ore ore sagi, refers to how the scammers would generally start the calls with, “It’s me, it’s me!” 「オレ!オレ!」.

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Follow us on FB & IG: @yinyoungpodcast. Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast 

Questions, comments, sponsors—email: yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

Hi Yin & Young listeners! 

Help support this podcast by clicking our sponsor link for Magic Mind, an effective productivity drink, link: magicmind.co/yny.  Enter code YNY20 within 10 days of this podcast release to get up to 40% off a subscription. Afterwards, you can still get you 20% off a one time purchase. Thank you so much to Magic Mind for being Yin & Young’s first sponsor!

In this episode we have the privilege to chat with Sam Sakamoto! Sam is a writer, traveler, rock climber, avid Rams fan, and former English teacher in Japan.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• James and Sam met during social hour in quarantine in Tokyo for an English language teaching program.

• Japanese demeanor still shows up in her family, even though she is 4th generation Japanese American.

• Wanted to go back to Japan to get in touch with her roots.

• Was stationed in Nara, but also spent a lot of time in Kyoto.

• Currently applying to MFA programs and masters in teaching programs.

• When first arriving in Japan, adjusting to day-to-day life took a couple of months. Coworker helped a lot.

• Misses food in Japan: omakase, katsu-don, tsukemen, and much more.

• Rock climbing/bouldering gyms in Japan are way more technical.

• Misses the appreciation of the little things in Japan. For example: holidays and events for changes in the season, the blooming of certain flowers, wind chimes, etc…

Language corner: 

Japanese

• 渋滞 (jyuutai) - traffic jam

• 仕様がない (shouganai) - can't be helped

Mandarin

• 懷才不遇 (huai2cai2bu2yu4) - to have talent but no opportunity

———

Follow us on FB & IG: @yinyoungpodcast. Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast 

Sponsorships, questions, comments—email: yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

Hi Yin & Young listeners! In this episode (recorded earlier this year) James adjusts to living in Japan and Dan shares some of his stories. Near the end we discuss martial arts and communication issues based on recent experiences.

Dan also shares his experience trying the productivity drink Magic Mind to help him work better. Our listeners get a special discount! Go to magicmind.co/yny and enter code YNY20 within 10 days of this podcast release (7/31/2022) to get up to 40% off a subscription. Afterwards, you can still get you 20% off a one time purchase. Thank you so much to Magic Mind for being Yin & Young the Podcast’s first sponsor!

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Acclimating to the Japanese workplace and お土産 omiyage (snack) giving culture.

• James shares how he’s learning Japanese.

• Training BJJ in Japan vs the US.

• Japanese food and missing Mexican food.

• Shoes/slipper needed in Japan: outdoor, indoor, gym, school, bathroom

• It’s normal to find and return wallets/money.

• Old and new aspects of Japan.

• Limited number of trash cans; separating trash.

• Dan’s Japan stories: Yokohama, working there as a 19 year old, drifting in the mountains, ghost hunting, Obon festival.

• Taking local trains is fun: slow life.

• Seasonal items at Japanese McDonald’s, Starbucks, etc…

• Making friends: need a local person to show you around.

• Teaching martial arts: Dan gets tested by a parent in LA.

• Cultural/relationship communication: direct vs indirect, adjusting without resenting. The knee jerk response might not be the best.

LANGUAGE CORNER

Japanese

• 便所 - benjo - restroom

• 持ち帰る - mochi kaeru - take-out (food)

• 丼 - donburi - a rice bowl dish

• お好み焼き - okonomiyaki - savory pancake dish

• 長閑 - nodoka - calm, tranquil

• 肝試し - kimodameshi - test of courage

Follow us on FB & IG: @yinyoungpodcast. Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast 

Title photos by James. Left: Rice fields of Tsu. Middle: Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo. Right: The National Art Centre, Tokyo.

Sponsorships, questions, comments—email: yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

Hi Yin & Young listeners! We’re back finally with a conversation with artist, creative director, and new father Geoffrey Oki!

Follow Geoff Oki:

• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/gokid

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gokid/

• Yellow Peril Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/YellowPerilPod/

HIGHLIGHTS:

• James met Geoff at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival years ago and was able to help score him some tickets.

• Geoff was born and raised in Sacramento

• Moved to LA for school, majored in design and worked at different ad agencies as creative director

• Lived in Taiwan for a couple of years in the mid 2010’s for a change of pace.

• Recently lived in Taiwan for a short time and then moved back with his wife and newborn.

• As a college student, it was definitely a big change from Sacramento to LA in terms of the number of Asians.

• Explored his Asian American identity more in LA.

• Helped a friend shoot/co-produce a few movies: Wait For Me, Broken Kingdom.

• Geoff relives how he met his wife in Taiwan.

• What it’s like being a new dad.

• Discussion turns to the Atlanta spa shootings a year ago and anti-Asian attacks earlier this year.

• Thoughts on living in the U.S. vs Taiwan, especially as a new father.

• Geoff likes vintage shirts and has had t-shirt parties in LA Chinatown.
  

LANGUAGE CORNER (01:20:41):

• Taiwanese: 你是佗位的人？ - lí sī tó-ūi ê lâng? - where are you from?

• Japanese:

  • ばかうまい - baka umai - crazy delicious. (I mispronounce it in the podcast)

  • ホーム - hōmu - platform

  • 班長 - hanchō - team leader. The term “head honcho” is often mistakenly referred to as Spanglish but actually comes from Japanese.

• Mandarin:

  • 婊子 - biǎozi - a spiteful woman

  • 馬馬虎虎 - mǎmahūhū - so-so, not so bad, careless

• Korean: 미국 - mi-gug/mi-guk - America, literally “beautiful country” (美國）. “Guk,” which means country, was used as a derogatory term towards Asians after the Korean war.

—

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram: @yinyoungpodcast. Please like and comment, it helps others find our work.

Credits: This episode was produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Consider supporting Yin & Young on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

Follow Yin & Young: 

• Website: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast

• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yin-young-podcast-jys/id1185421015?mt=2

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Comments, questions? Would you like to sponsor an episode?? Email us at yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

In this episode we chat with Rama Reddy, a mixed martial arts coach that has trained and taught around the world (US, Taiwan, Brazil, India) and currently lives in Germany. From Rama’s website: “I am a writer and educator based in Berlin, Germany. I believe education is civilization’s most vital tool.”  Recorded early February 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Met James in Taiwan in the mid/late 2000s.

• Born in NY, moved to Houston, then lived in Seattle for most of his formative years.

• Opened an MMA studio in Bangalore, India due to its growing population and his own family’s connection to the area. Lived there 7 years before moving to Germany.

• India can be a tough place to live, particularly for an entrepreneur.

• Discussion on race vs. nationality.

• How he met his wife and what led him to live in Germany.

• Rama traces his martial arts background: wresting, BJJ, boxing. Fighter/coach Eliot Corley helped shape his striking.

• Building a group of dedicated martial arts students.

• Differences in the student-teacher dynamic between the U.S., Germany, India.

• Four Rs: Relevancy, Relationships, Rigor, Results

• How his teaching philosophy has evolved: a focus on relationships.

• Currently working on the Square Ring: a boxing board game: https://www.boxingboardgame.com/
  

LANGUAGE CORNER (01:13:38)

• P.U.F.E.L: Stages of a Takedown by Rama Reddy https://www.instagram.com/p/CYEfStVovXZ/

  • Position: “tie” in wrestling, kumi-kata 組み方 in judo (grip fighting, lit. “assembly method”).

  • Unbalancing: “set-up” in wrestling, kuzushi 崩しin judo

  • Fitting-in: “shot” in wrestling, but tsurikomi 釣込 in judo closer in meaning.

  • Execution: “finish” in wrestling, kake 掛け in judo.

  • Landing: nage 投 in judo (throw).

Rama Reddy’s links

• website: https://www.ramareddy.org

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/ramareddy.mma/

• Berlin gym (Deutsch): https://www.ramareddy.org/berlin

• Interview with Robert Drysdale, BJJ Rules: https://youtu.be/3cIcc1tTRBk

—

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram: @yinyoungpodcast. Please like and comment, it helps others find our work.

Credits: This episode was produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Consider supporting Yin & Young on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

Follow Yin & Young: 

• Website: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast

• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yin-young-podcast-jys/id1185421015?mt=2

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Comments, questions? Email us at yinyoungpodcast[at]gmail.com

Recorded late 2021.

Synopsis: Michael Newman (former TV writer, from episode 12, link below) has moved to Japan. James is also in Japan and at the time was quarantining in a fancy hotel. Today’s podcast focuses on acclimating to living in Japan: convenience store food, toilets, dating, maid cafes, and more.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 6:15 James is in Japan for a teaching program and is quarantining in Tokyo. The rules are less strict than his Taiwan quarantine.

• 12:31 Movie prices in Japan have come down in price compared to the 90s.

• 20:16 Michael's teacher was concerned when they learned that Michael was eating a lot of convenience food, but they doesn't understand how bad the convenience store food is in the US (e.g. 7-11 hot dogs).

• 22:48: Michael Newman shares his reasons for coming to Japan. Is currently taking Japanese classes but does not like online instruction (thanks COVID).

• 33:07 Politeness levels in Japan.

• 40:25 Culture shock?: Michael has acclimated to Japan. He doesn't want to move back to the US because he doesn't want to drive everywhere. Prefers walking.

• 41:12 Discussion of modern Japanese toilets (bidet, seat warmers, etc…) and how they are much better than the US.

• 52.46: What’s dating/socializing like in Japan. Tip: Having a local Japanese friend helps a lot.

• 54:45: Maid cafe/Girl’s bar culture

• 1:11:55 Keeping fit in Japan: walking.

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LANGUAGE CORNER (1:18:35): Japanese

• お邪魔します- ojamashimasu - Sorry for the intrusion. Lit. I’m being a demon. (present tense), お邪魔しました - ojamashimashita (past tense). Said when arriving or leaving someone’s home as a guest.

• ツンデレ - tsundere - the ice queen who eventually shows her warmer side.

• 絶対領域 - zettai ryōiki - the area of bare skin between over-knee socks and a miniskirt. lit. absolute territory (originally to describe a force field in the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion).

• お先に失礼します - osaki ni shitsureshimasu - sorry for leaving early (used in an office setting).

• 本音と建前 - honne to tatemae - a person’s true feelings vs their public face.

• ゴジラ - Gojira - known as Godzilla outside of Japan, the name is a portmanteau of the Japanese words gorira (ゴリラ, "gorilla") and kujira (クジラ, "whale").

———

• Yin & Young EP 12 - Comedy Writer Michael Newman: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast/2017/4/29/yin-young-episode-12-comedy-writer-michael-newman

Be sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram: @yinyoungpodcast. Like and subscribe to our content so you don’t miss an episode. 

Credits: This episode was produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin.
Consider supporting Yin & Young on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

Follow Yin & Young:

• Website: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast

• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yin-young-podcast-jys/id1185421015?mt=2

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yinyoungpodcast/

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Recorded in Tainan, Taiwan summer of 2021, James and Dan chat to discuss updates with James’s life as he prepares to leave Taiwan to head back to the US. James shares some of the relationships and skills he has built during his time in Taiwan, Dan shares updates of the vaccine rollout in the U.S.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• James gives Dan a mini-tour of his room.

• [Audio or FB version only] Dan and James discuss the pandemic and vaccine misinformation [as of August 2021].

• James shares some of his plans after leaving Taiwan.

• They share their experiences with therapy and how important it is to have a therapist that understands your cultural background, values, and the effects of racism.

• Asian American men put a lot of pressure on themselves.

• Discussion about the transition from being single to being in a relationship.

• Dan shares his experiences with career coaching.

• Taiwanese pride and Asian American pride in the Olympics.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram: @yinyoungpodcast. Like and subscribe to our content so you don’t miss an episode. 

Credits: This episode was produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin.
Consider supporting Yin & Young on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

Follow Yin & Young:

• Website: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast

• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yin-young-podcast-jys/id1185421015?mt=2

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yinyoungpodcast/

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