About
Miyo is an award-winning storyteller, clean comedian, and producer who bridges Japanese and American cultures through the power of “emotional truth.” A mainstay in the Los Angeles storytelling scene, Miyo is a Moth StorySLAM Champion and was featured in the Inaugural Moth StorySLAM Showcase in Los Angeles. Her work explores the hilarious and often poignant friction between her Japanese roots and her life in Southern California.
Career Highlights & Achievements
- Moth StorySLAM Champion (Los Angeles)
- Ojai Storytelling Festival Story Slam Winner (2025)
- Featured Performer & Workshop Leader: San Diego Storytelling Festival (2023)
- Featured Performer: Inaugural Los Angeles Moth StorySLAM Showcase (2023)
- Best of the Best for the Long Beach Community Theater, celebrating their 10th season (2023)
- Creator & Performer: Solo shows How To Die In Japan and How To Be Japanese
- Producer: You Say What! (Storytelling Show) and Co-Producer of ESL Comedy
Media & Press Recognition
Miyo’s solo shows and storytelling have been featured and recognized by:
- The San Diego Union-Tribune (Editor’s Pick/Featured Coverage)
- KPBS Public Media
- Shaw TV & Spice Radio (International Features)
- The Source
- The Coronado Times
From Code to Comedy: The Journey
Miyo’s path to the stage wasn’t linear. In 2004, she moved from Osaka, Japan, to the United States with a background in computer programming. While she could navigate code with ease, navigating a new language and culture proved to be a different challenge entirely.
What began as a quest to improve her English through Toastmasters in 2009 evolved into a deep-seated passion for the stage. In 2014, she discovered the art of storytelling through StoryMasters, realizing that her “outsider” perspective was actually her greatest comedic strength.
Crafting the Narrative
Photo credit: Michael Hirabayashi
Miyo’s storytelling style was refined under the mentorship of Jane Morris at Fanatic Salon and further shaped by the vibrant comedy community.
Today, Miyo doesn’t just perform; she builds platforms for others. As the co-producer of ESL Comedy, she creates space for performers finding their voice in a second language, and through her show You Say What!, she continues to push the boundaries of live storytelling.
Whether she is exploring the quirks of “normal” or the complexities of mortality in her solo show How To Die In Japan, Miyo invites audiences to find the universal human experience hidden within the cultural divide.