When I worked at Tokyo DisneySea, I fell in love with Japan—the culture, the food, the people. But working there was a whole different experience. The structure, the discipline, the expectations—it took time to adjust. As much as I admired it, adapting wasn’t always easy.

Akiko Aizawa knows that challenge firsthand, but from the other side. Originally from Akita, Japan, she built a career in modern dance before transitioning to theater and eventually moving to New York. But that transition wasn’t exactly smooth. She left behind a prestigious theater company, underwent a dramatic personal transformation, and took a leap of faith—only to have her first New York production canceled before it even began. She shares her journey of reinvention, resilience, and risk and how it has shaped her artistic life.

Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please subscribe or donate. Thank you!