🎤 Biography
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Real Name: Akiko Urasaki
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Stage Name: Awich (short for Asia Wish Child)
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Date of Birth: December 16, 1986
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Birthplace: Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Awich grew up in Okinawa, heavily influenced by both Japanese and American culture due to the U.S. military presence on the island. She began writing poetry as a teenager and discovered hip-hop through Tupac’s All Eyez On Me. At 19, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned a degree in entrepreneurship and marketing.
She married an American man while living in the U.S. and had a daughter, Toyomi Jah’Mira. After her husband was tragically murdered, she returned to Japan and resumed her music career as a single mother. Awich is fluent in Japanese, English, and the Okinawan language.
🎶 Music Career
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Early Career: Debuted in 2006 with the EP Inner Research, followed by her first album Asia Wish Child in 2007.
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Breakthrough: In 2017, she joined the Tokyo hip-hop collective YENTOWN as their only female member.
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Mainstream Success: Signed to Universal Music Japan in 2020 and released the EP Partition.
Her major-label debut album Queendom (2022) showcased her bilingual lyricism and fearless storytelling. She followed it up with The Union (2023), continuing to fuse Japanese and global hip-hop sounds. Her performances at large venues like Nippon Budokan and Yokohama K-Arena have solidified her status as a leading force in Japanese rap.
🧩 Style and Themes
Awich’s music blends personal experiences, Okinawan identity, and strong emotional storytelling. She tackles topics like grief, empowerment, colonial history, and motherhood. Her sound combines hip-hop, R&B, trap, and traditional Okinawan influences, delivered in both Japanese and English.
📱 Social Media
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Instagram: @awich098
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YouTube: Awich Official Channel
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Twitter/X: @AWICH098
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Facebook: Awich
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Official Website: www.awich.jp
📊 Discography Highlights
Albums:
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Asia Wish Child (2007)
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8 (2018)
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Peacock (2020)
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Queendom (2022)
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The Union (2023)
EPs:
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Inner Research (2006)
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Two (2014)
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Beat / Heart (2018)
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Partition (2020)
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United Queens (2023)
🔍 Why She Stands Out
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A pioneering female voice in Japanese hip-hop
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Known for powerful bilingual lyrics and raw emotional expression
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Bridges cultures through music while promoting Okinawan heritage
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An inspiration for women and single mothers in the music industry
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Recognized globally as a bold and authentic storyteller
User Review
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