Awich is a female hip-hop artist from Okinawa, Japan. Born Akiko (亜希子) Urasaki, “AWICH” is short for “Asia Wish Child,” which is the meaning of her given name. An artist, poet, and director, Awich is a product of an intensely mixed history and culture.

After graduating from high school in Okinawa, she studied in the United States, during which period she married and had a child with an American. Tragically, he was murdered in an incident after her graduation. Following this, she returned to her home island and established Cipher City, a marketing and production company, in order to create content utilising the local resources.

Okinawa today is under political pressure, having been a target of both fascination and discrimination amongst Japan and surrounding Asian nations for years due to its exotic culture and hybrid transformations. Her lyrics, positions, and perceptions turn both the positive and negative aspects of her surroundings — cultural fusions, identity crises, pride and shame — into an honest craft.

In 2017, she released a full album, her first in a decade, in partnership with Chaki Zulu. She flows freely between Japanese, Okinawan and English, piecing together a unique sound while also staying true to the lyrics. Her deep vocals generates a captivating atmosphere for listeners. Awich’ s ability to submerge herself into multiple global perspectives while also adding her signature feminine touch allows her to create music that is singular but relatable across the world. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.