It is common to see stand-up comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe be either unnecessarily controversial or unimaginatively bland. Luckily however, Yuriko Kotani is neither. She returns for her 3rd Edinburgh Fringe to bring her creative perspective on Japanese and British life along with some amazingly good vibes and a sprinkle of feminism which makes to be one amazing hour of comedy in Yuriko Kotani: Somosomo.
A must-see full of heart, passion and laughs.
The first thing that will grasp you is how engaging and interactive she is, asking the audiance questions and chatting with them throughout the show on the most interesting of subjects which often leads to interesting and hilarious answers. And just as she is engaging with the audiance, the audiance are absolutely engaged with her. Non-stop laughter is inevitable as she talks about her love life, living in the UK, life in Japan and the issues she often faces for being a woman. Throughout she is incredibly relatable and down to earth, making the funniest jokes out of the most ordinary parts of life. Her ability as well to connect her stories and experiences, referring back to multiple moments throughout the show is really incredible and makes for great pacing with lines hitting well and often.
Some of the highlights of the show is the comparisons she makes between British and Japanese life, taking racist or sexist comments in her stride as well as the many interesting cultural aspects of Asian life. She is an amazing storyteller who, even when complaining about her English and use of Puns, is able to convey herself in the most amazing manner. Stand-up Comedy definatly suits a confident and loud Yuriko who stands proud and lives up to the hype. Yuriko Kotani: Somosomo is a must-see full of heart, passion and laughs.
