How Training Changed Her Life: Yuriyan Retriever on the Inspiration Behind Her Brand 'YURYUR'

Comedian Yuriyan Retriever, now based in Los Angeles, recently made a temporary return to Japan to launch the second collection of her apparel brand, YURYUR. We took this opportunity to chat with her about the message she wants to share through her fitness journey and the inspiration behind her brand.

Training That Kicked Off with a TV Diet Show

──So, what first inspired you to get into training?

Originally, I was overeating and was pretty overweight back then. Because of that, I was often invited to be on TV diet shows and appeared on them many times. Of course, I would lose weight while the show was on.

But that kind of lifestyle isn't sustainable forever, so I ended up in a vicious cycle of losing weight and gaining it all back. I strongly felt, 'I don't want to do any more diet shows! It's scary! I want to quit!'

Just then, another offer for a diet show came in. However, unlike the previous shows that promoted extreme dieting methods, this one was about how much a person could change over three months with real exercise and a proper diet.

Realizing it was different from the others, I thought, 'Alright, I'll give it one last shot,' and decided to join the show. That's where I met the professional trainer, Tomo Okabe.

──She's the charismatic trainer who runs a women-only fitness gym, right?

That's right. When I met her, I thought, 'This is totally different from anything before!'

──So, did you get hooked on training right away?

No, not at all! After all, it was still for a TV show, right? So when the show ended, I said, 'I'll be back!' but then I just stopped going (laughs). But then, about six months after filming wrapped, I saw myself in the mirror one day and thought, 'What am I even doing?' I was just undisciplined, overweight, with no goals and no vision for my future. That's when I decided, 'I've had enough! I'm so over being this overweight!' and I contacted Tomo, saying, 'I really want to come back!'

Training to 'Expand Your Own Future'

──What was it like when you started training for real?

First of all, meeting Tomo was the best thing that could have happened. There are plenty of women and comedians who are into fitness, but to me, they always felt like people from a completely different world.

But when I went back to her, she told me, 'Let's become a new you who embraces fitness,' and 'If you love Nike, let's work hard so you can work with them.'

Before I started, I thought training was only for special people and never imagined myself as someone who would do it. But thanks to Tomo, I was able to tackle my workouts with the mindset of pushing past my own limits.

Training Expanded My Potential

──YURYUR also carries the message that building your body is 'not for someone else, but a choice to expand your own future,' right?

Because it's absolutely true! For me, everything changed! I got to work with Nike, I got involved with YURYUR, I had the opportunity to direct a movie, and I moved to the US. What I realize now is that if I had continued living that unhealthy lifestyle, my personal life and my comedy career would have hit a dead end.

My entire way of life changed. My body became healthy, and I feel like it opened up so many new possibilities for me. It's impossible to sum up what's changed in just one word—I've gained so much.

I Realized My Misunderstanding of Body Positivity

──Yuriyan, you have a very body-positive image, don't you?

That's something I used to misunderstand myself. The common perception of body positivity is something like, "It's okay to be overweight, this is just who I am!" right? But after working out with my trainer, Tomo, I realized that loving yourself as you are doesn't mean living a self-indulgent lifestyle and simply declaring, "This is me!"

I think true body positivity is about taking the cards you've been dealt—your own body—and focusing on how healthy you can make it. It's about cherishing yourself, putting in the effort, and then, after giving it your all, being able to say, "This is me! Isn't it awesome?" Looking back now, I feel like my old self was just being defiant.

The Free-Spirited Workout Culture I Experienced in Los Angeles

──You're currently based in Los Angeles. Do you notice any differences between the workout cultures in Japan and the U.S.?

Oh, definitely. Plenty of people work out in Japan, but if you walk around town in just a pair of leggings, you might get someone asking, "Excuse me? Did you forget to put on pants?" (laughs).

But in L.A., you see lots of people in just leggings, and some are even shirtless. People really enjoy a more free-spirited style with their workout wear. When I'm in L.A., I confidently walk around in just leggings and a sports bra, and I've even started doing it in Tokyo on my way to the gym. Walking around in a sports bra and leggings feels incredibly liberating!

The Story Behind YURYUR

──So, your brand "YURYUR" was born from these experiences?

A few years after I started working out, I began to have ideas about the kind of workout apparel I wished existed.

The first thing I wanted was a thong! I wear leggings when I work out, and I hated seeing panty lines. I wanted to make my butt look good, so I preferred wearing thongs. But I always found them uncomfortable and would think, "Why is the front so tiny? Why is the waistband so stiff?"

When I mentioned this to someone at my agency, they suggested, "Well, why don't you try making your own workout wear?" And that's how it all started.

──Why did you decide to make the second collection unisex casual wear?

The first collection was women's workout wear, but we received feedback like, "It would be great to have T-shirts that men or people who don't work out could wear." That's what inspired us. So, we decided to expand the range to include items like hats and towels. This new collection features a lineup that a wider range of people can enjoy.

──What are some of the key details you focused on for YURYUR?

I was really particular about the feel and comfort of the fabric! It was my first time seeing fabric swatches, and when I touched them, every material felt amazing! After much deliberation, I made my choice, saying, "Let's go with this one!" But when the sample came back... I realized that how a fabric feels to the touch and how it feels to wear are totally different things (laughs).

For instance, a fabric might feel nice, but I noticed it would be difficult to take off when sweaty. I ran into a few issues like that. So, I asked people around me for their opinions, had them feel the workout clothes I already owned, and requested that we try to replicate that texture. We went back to the drawing board so many times—that's how much effort we put into getting the comfort just right!

When you have workout clothes you love or that feel comfortable, it really amps up your motivation to train. I want to share that potential of working out with as many people as possible! That's why with YURYUR, we aim for designs that lift your spirits.

Instead of worrying about what others think, let's work out in clothes that express who we are and expand our own possibilities!

YURYUR is infused with Yuriyan's belief in a true body positivity that starts with cherishing oneself. Just as working out changed her life, this brand is sure to bring a positive change to the tomorrow of everyone who wears it.