Hāfu Voices - Living between two worlds in Japan - Yuko Deneuville

This podcast is rooted in the lived reality of people known in Japan as “Hāfu”, individuals of mixed heritage whose identities are shaped by movement between cultures, languages, and social expectations.
Being “Hāfu" in Japan is a distinct experience, marked by visibility, labeling, and constant negotiation of belonging.


Although the word "Hāfu / Half" can feel reductive or painful, it remains the commonly used term in Japan, and this project chooses to engage with it honestly rather than erase it.


Led by a host who is herself half Japanese and French, the podcast becomes both a personal and collective exploration of identity.
From early childhood, identity is shown not as a choice, but as something imposed and divided. Growing up between France and Japan, the host lived under two names, Laurence outside the home, Yuko inside, embodying two identities from the very beginning. Language, too, became a site of loss and adaptation: encouraged to abandon Japanese in early childhood to “fit in,” she later returned to Japan unable to speak her mother’s language, only to be labeled foreign once again.
Physical appearance, language gaps, and cultural expectations meant never fully being seen as Japanese in Japan, nor fully French in France. This back-and-forth, wanting to belong but never fully being allowed to, defined much of childhood and adolescence.
Over time, however, identity shifted from fragmentation to ownership. Choosing to use the name Yuko everywhere became a turning point unification of self rather than a performance for others. What once felt like a burden gradually revealed itself as a gift: multilingualism, cultural fluency, emotional adaptability, and a deep capacity to understand difference.
Yet the podcast does not romanticize this journey.


Through interviews with other Hāfu individuals, Japanese and French, American, African, Korean, or otherwise, it acknowledges that for many, the struggle continues into adulthood. Some still carry pain, confusion, or rejection tied to their identity.


The podcast gives space to both realities: the challenges and the gifts.


Conducted in French, English, or Japanese depending on the guest, each conversation prioritizes comfort, authenticity, and nuance. By inviting people to speak in their own language and from their own lived truth, the project becomes a platform for reflection, healing, and connection.


Its deeper intention is to question labels, explore how identity is shaped and reshaped over time, and ultimately help listeners, especially those who feel divided or unseen, move toward self-acceptance. Through shared stories, the podcast seeks to transform the idea of being "Hāfu" into something whole.


It is an invitation to realize that wether we are Hāfu, multicultural or simply have questions around our Identity, we are all unique.
 

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