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.

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

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/

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/

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.

Welcome back to Behind the Yellow Curtain! In this episode, "From Hong Kong to Tokyo: Finding Identity as a Multicultural Japanese," host Jess talks with her friend and former colleague, Kiwa.

Born in Tokyo and raised primarily in the international city of Hong Kong, Kiwa always felt a step removed from her Japanese roots. Hoping to finally connect with her heritage, she made the decision to move to Tokyo for university. But what happens when your "home" country sees you as different?

In this first chapter, "The Hidden Pressure of Being a Kikokushijo," Kiwa shares the complex reality of being a "returnee" in Japan—feeling neither fully part of the international community she grew up in, nor the Japanese society she longed to join. She opens up about the unspoken expectations and the search for a true sense of belonging.

Is identity about where you're from, or where you find your people? Kiwa's story is a candid exploration of navigating the in-between spaces of a multicultural life.

🎬 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 women navigating cross-cultural lives.

New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more.

This time on Behind the Yellow Curtain, we have a special episode! Our host, Jess, steps onto the couch to answer questions from you, our listeners, in a special Q&A session.

Jess opens up about her identity as a Taiwanese American, born in Taiwan and raised in the US. She also shares her passion and philosophy as a Creative Director at an advertising agency.

"Where do you feel most like yourself?" "What was your childhood dream?" "How do you overcome creative blocks?"... From her personal journey to the reasons she started "Behind the Yellow Curtain" and the vision she has for its community, Jess shares her own roots, her present, and her hopes for the future in her own words.

Find out why she treasures "personal stories" so much in this unique and special episode.

🎬 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 women navigating cross-cultural lives.

New episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 AM (JST)—subscribe and stay with us for more.

📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/

📍 Language: English — Japanese subtitles available by turning on CC

Episode 4 From Tourist to Dad: Parenting When Love Meets Culture ClashWelcome to the fourth episode of Behind the Yellow Curtain!In this episode, host Jess chats with Rob Walbers, a Belgian photographer who has captured world-renowned artists on camera.Having built a successful career in music photography shooting the likes of Madonna, The Rolling Stones, and Lady Gaga, Rob made a life-changing decision at the age of 30: to move to Japan.Why did he leave behind his established life in Europe to start anew in a country with a completely different language and culture?How did his perspective and photographic lens shift as he expanded his work from music to fashion and lifestyle in Japan?While achieving success in commercial photography, what drives him to remain dedicated to his personal projects?This episode delves into the journey of a photographer who constantly seeks new perspectives, offering inspiration to embrace change and passionately follow one's own creative path.

🎧 Guest: Rob WalbersRob Walbers is a Belgian photographer who moved to Japan at the age of 30, expanding his work from music photography into fashion and lifestyle. He studied photography at Karel de Grote University College in Antwerp and built his freelance career shooting for magazines, music labels, and live venues. His subjects have included world-renowned artists such as Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Morrissey, and Radiohead. While earning recognition in commercial photography, he remains dedicated to personal projects, leading to numerous publications, exhibitions, and awards.📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btycpod/⸻🎬 CreditsEpisode 4Creative Director & Host: Jessica LinGuest : Rob WalbersProducer: Mutsumi Gustavich (Mt.MELVIL)Production Manager & Editor: Ayumi Watanabe Designer: Lucy⸻Behind the Yellow Curtain is a podcast featuring honest, bilingual conversations with friends 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