, known professionally as , is a Japanese hip hop artist. She made her major label debut with Universal Music Japan in 2020. Her stage name is short for "Asian wish child," which is the literal meaning of the Japanese characters in her given name.
Early life and education Awich was born in Naha, Okinawa on December 16, 1986. Because Okinawa is home to many U.S. military bases, Awich was exposed to American culture at an early age. As a young girl, she idolized Tupac and credits Tupac songs with helping her learn English. She wrote her first lyrics at age 13, and gave her first public hip hop performance at age 14. At age 19, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she met and married an American husband and gave birth to a daughter. She also earned a bachelor's degree in business and marketing from the University of Indianapolis in 2011. However, her husband was incarcerated and later was murdered after his release from prison, at which point Awich returned to Japan with her daughter.
Career Awich made her musical debut in Japan prior to her move to the United States. In 2006, she independently released an album titled Asian Wish Child.
Following her return to Japan from the United States, Awich initially focused on building up her self-founded branding company Cypher City, which works to market Okinawan products overseas. However, she soon returned to the world of hip hop music.
In 2017, Awich joined the Japanese hip hop collective Yentown as its only female member, and began building her mainstream career. With the label, she released two studio albums, 8 and Peacock, as well as two extended plays, Beat and Heart. In 2020, Awich signed with Universal Music Japan sublabel Universal J. Her first release under the label was Partition, her fifth extended play. Two promotional singles, "Shook Shook" and "Bad Bad" were released from the EP. Later that year, she released a cover of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and an original song titled "Present". In 2021, Awich released two singles, "Gila Gila" and "Kuchi ni Dashite". Her 2007 debut album was re-released digitally by LD&K Inc in September. In March 2022, her major label debut album, Queendom was released. In May, Awich released the single "Tsubasa" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return to Japanese sovereignty in 1972. The song features vocals from her daughter, Yomi.
Awich headlined at Budokan in 2022 after the release of her fourth studio album. With five studio albums (produced primarily by music producer ), Awich also performed at Fuji Rock Festival in 2022. Her aim has been to become the "Queen of Japanese hiphop":Before I knew I had the potential to be big and famous, but I didn’t have the guts to be at the center of everything. Now, I’m aiming to be the queen of Japan. Period. With that comes responsibility. It’s about owning your own words and not being afraid to be bashed for them. In 2025, Awich, along with 4 other rappers, Krsna, Jay Park, MaSiWei, and Vannda, released the track "Asian State of Mind", which was released on 28 February, accompanied by a music video, which was shot in each of the featured rappers' home countries. She released Okinawan Wuman on November 21, 2025. The album was executive produced by RZA and features guest appearances from RZA, ASAP Ferg, Joey Badass, Mike, 454, Lupe Fiasco, Westside Gunn, R-Shitei, Nene, Chinza Dopeness, and C.O.S.A.
Discography
Studio albums +List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions JPN JPNHotAsian Wish Child Release date: December 11, 2007 Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Label: Living, Dining & Kitchen — — 8 Release date: August 8, 2018 Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming Label: BPM Tokyo, Yentown 184 —Peacock Release date: January 11, 2020 Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming Label: BPM Tokyo, Yentown 127 76 Queendom Release date: March 4, 2022 Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Label: Universal J 76 44 The Union Release date: October 25, 2023 Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: And Music, Empire, Kioon 25 22Okinawan Wuman Release date: November 21, 2025 Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: And Music 48 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Extended plays +List of extended plays, with selected chart positions Title DetailsPeak chart positions JPN JPNHot Inner Research Release date: December 6, 2006 Formats: CD Label: Cipher City — — Two Release date: April 8, 2014 Formats: Digital download Label: Village Again/Siesta — — Beat Release date: September 27, 2018 Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: BPM Tokyo, Yentown — — Heart Release date: September 27, 2018 Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: BPM Tokyo, Yentown — — Partition Release date: August 21, 2020 Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Label: Universal J 174 60 United QueensRelease date: August 9, 2023 Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: And Music — 69 "—" denotes items that did not chart or items that were ineligible to chart because no physical edition was released.
Singles +List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album JPNHot "Dedicate to You" 2006 — Inner Research"Radio"(with Manami) 2015 — rowspan="5" "Remember"(featuring Young Juju) 2017 — "What You Want"(featuring Io) 2018 — "Happy X-mas (War Is Over)" 2020 — "Present" — "Gila Gila"(featuring JP the Wavy and Yzerr) 2021 92 RIAJ: Platinum Queendom — 2022 — "Tsubasa"(featuring Yomi Jah) — rowspan="2" "Longiness (remix)" 72 "Bad Bitch Bigaku" 2023 87 RIAJ: Gold United Queens & The Union "Pendulum" — The Union — "Are You Serious?" 2024 — rowspan="4" "Hot Topic" — "Frontiers" 2025 —"Asian State of Mind"— "Butcher Shop" —Okinawan Wuman "Wax On Wax Off" — —"—" denotes items that did not chart.
As a featured artist +List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album name Title Year Album "Foo Fool Boy"(Mighty Crown featuring Awich) 2017 "Loca"(Anarchy featuring Awich) 2019The King "Money Shot"(Run the Floor featuring Awich and Kzm) rowspan="4" "I'm on Fire"(Garena Free Fire & Trap featuring Awich, Krawk and Farus Feet) "Promise"(Anarchy featuring Awich) 2020 "Calma Bro"(Kraw featuring Awich & Blakbone) "Aligator / FND Airlines"(Tymek featuring Awich and Fresh N Dope) Airlines "Not So Different"(Ai featuring Awich) It's All Me, Vol. 2 "Hazeru Shinzo"(Kirinji featuring Awich) 2021 Crepuscular "098"(KM featuring Awich) "Neon"(Vigorman featuring Awich) 2023 "Woke Up Remixx"(XG featuring Jay Park, OZworld, AZLO, Paloalto, VERBAL, Awich, Tak, Dok2) 2024
Promotional singles +List of promotional singles, showing year released and album name Title Year Album "Shook Shook" 2020 Partition "Bad Bad" "Queendom" 2022 Queendom
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References