(Cover photo credit: James Chen)
The inaugural âennichi â25â Japanese Music Experience took place in downtown Los Angeles on December 2nd, and featured a scorching performance by Awich, the hip-hop sensation from Okinawa, Japan. This was a special event broadening the exposure of Japanese culture through a juxtaposition of trendsetting live music with more traditional festival vibes and activities. Widely hailed as the Queen of Japanese Hip-Hop, who better than rapper Awich to take part in showcasing Japanese pop culture through live music?
(Photo courtesy of: Yuri Hasegawa / ennichi â25 CEIPA)
The festivities took place in an industrial setting overlooking downtown L.A., with a warehouse-style venue bursting with energy from event attendees and fans driven by high-impact performances. This âAurora Warehouseâ was now at capacity when Awich took the stage, greeted by uncontrollable cheering and excitement from the crowd. Awich launches straight into âFrontiersâ, a banger of a track that bursts with intensity using a gothic, cinematic type of build up oscillating with trap beats. Boastful verses are backed by layers of sound and deep choral/operatic vocals which further extend the grand feeling of the track.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
âFrontiersâ describes overcoming obstacles to accomplish great achievements and reap grand rewards, and so it comes as no surprise that the team behind the anime adaptation of the Shangri-La Frontier novel series would have approached Awich to create this song. âFrontiersâ serves not only as the second opening theme for Shangri-La Frontier, but also as a reflection on Awichâs own life experiences.
æ»ăă§ă rising from the dust
ăEven in death, rising from the dustă
éæăăŠă East to the West
ăTrailblazing from the East to the Westă
Awich delivers verses with effortless precision, weaving lyrical parallels between her breakthroughs to create success and the expansive world of Shangri-La Frontier. In a poetic way, ennichi â25 itself serves as a realization of ăéæăăŠă East to the Westă.
As the set continues on, fans instantly recognize the start of âRememberâ, one of Awichâs earliest singles and an absolute anthem of melodic hip-hop. As anticipation in the crowd rapidly builds, Awich signals the DJ to stop the track - she playfully reminds the audience that Psychic Fever are headlining the nightâs event, getting ready to appear next but only if everyone can get hype and jump for them.
âRememberâ is an iconic track and Iâm confident that the crowd was ready to groove and jump along to its infectiously danceable melody even without any reminder. All of Aurora Warehouse was shaking to the beat, and Psychic Fever were surely appeased lol.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
Giving the crowd a chance to catch their breath, Awich informs her audience that they will not only be getting a taste of Japanese culture, but that she would see to it that they get a taste of Okinawa. The crowd reassures Awich that they âknow Okinawaâ, her birthplace, and she then shares that not only is Kokoro (of Psychic Fever) also from Okinawa, but that she had also been teaching him to rap early on in his career.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
Awich touches upon Okinawaâs complicated history, exacerbated after the Second World War when the United States began occupation of the islands. Although Okinawa has since been âreturnedâ to Japan, the U.S. maintains a significant military presence there to this day which remains extremely controversial with Okinawan residents and much of the Japanese public.
The effects of the unavoidable U.S. presence in Okinawa revealed many aspects of American culture, such as music and hip-hop, to Awich starting from a young age. These deep influences are part of the foundation of her musical pursuits and artistry, and balance out what Awich calls the love-and-hate relationship with America. Of course, Awich loves the American people and culture, but it can be inferred that something isnât right with the system.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
The audience is extremely understanding and sympathetic to Awichâs declaration, and they cheer her on in a show of support. Awich follows through with the promise of giving a taste of Okinawa by launching into âRASEN in OKINAWAâ. The track features four rappers, including Awich, all born and raised in Okinawa. The artists come together to deliver a sonic tapestry that weaves modern rapping over a contemporary beat with the strums of a sanshin (a traditional Okinawan stringed instrument that is the precursor to the shamisen) and traditional Okinawan chanting.
This night would feature only an appetizer of âRASEN in OKINAWAâ, as only Awichâs verse is performed for the event.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
Although Awichâs fellow Okinawan rappers were not present to manifest a complete âRASEN in OKINAWAâ, a surprise guest did indeed join Awich on stage: Lupe Fiasco, the iconic hip-hop artist from Chicago. Together, the duo performed âWax On Wax Offâ, one of a number of recent collaborations produced by the legendary RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan featuring rappers like Lupe and New York rap superstar FERG.
These recent collaborations culminated in the creation of âOkinawan Wumanâ, Awichâs latest album which was released less than two weeks ago. The album name itself contains an homage to the Wu-Tang Clan, a great influence for Awich, she explained online previously. The cross-cultural collaboration goes full circle, and then some, as Awich and Lupe sing the âWax On Wax Offâ hook together with synchronized âMr. Miyagiâ rhythmic car waxing motions as made famous by the beloved âThe Karate Kidâ film. Lupe Fiasco has trained since his youth in martial arts including karate, which Awich had also previously trained in.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
Awich shares candid personal details about what the themes that underpin her artistry as well as what itâs taken to come so far. Exposure to American culture early on in Okinawa had Awich looking up to certain aspects of the U.S. and its culture. After finishing high school, Awich had made her way over to the States, fell in love with and married an American, and together they had a daughter. At the time, Awich gave up her dreams of pursuing music to be a mother and a wife; to fulfill expectations that were unfairly set upon her. Tested even further by adversity, Awich became widowed and then fell into depression while caring for her daughter all alone. When she was able to get back on her feet, Awich was determined to live her life to the fullest, to be an example for her daughter on how to live.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
With a new determination to pursue music, Awich promised her daughter that
I will be the best in Japan
The Aurora Warehouse erupts in cheers
and I DID IT.
somehow the cheering gets even louder!
Another guest joins Awich on stage near the end of the set: JP THE WAVY makes an entrance during âGILA GILAâ with rapid fire intensity in his flow. The crowd sings along to the hit collaboration by the duo as dancers on stage add to the high energy vibes.
(Photo credit: James Chen)
Awichâs setlist for ennichi â25 is as follows
- Frontiers
- Shook Shook
- Remember
- RASEN in OKINAWA
- LONGINESS REMIX
- Butcher Shop
- Wax On Wax Off (performed with Lupe Fiasco)
- Fear Us
- GILA GILA (performed with JP THE WAVY)
- Bad Bad
