Awich × KUNIKO Opening Ceremony Performance
Okinawan artist Awich and KUNIKO performed live at the KYOTOGRAPHIE & KYOTOPHONIE 2025 Opening Ceremony, held at the Former Butokuden Hall—Japan’s oldest martial arts hall.
To mark Okinawa Reversion Day (May 15), we share this powerful performance inspired by Mao Ishikawa’s Red Flower exhibition, presented as part of the Main Program of KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025.
The performance featured two works:
“Okinawan Women (Still She Lives)” – a poem Awich rewrote and performed as a tribute to Mao Ishikawa
“Inagunchaa Kuduchi” – a new piece drawing from Okinawan folk traditions, in which Awich experiments with singing in Okinawan, Japanese, and English. The work is inspired by Ishikawa’s photographs and blends traditional Okinawan rap-style chanting with her own contemporary voice.
Wearing a dress crafted from a U.S. military parachute, Awich honoured all Okinawan women—including Mao Ishikawa—who have endured and transcended history’s violence and loss, living on with strength and dignity.
This moving performance departs from Awich’s usual style, offering a heartfelt expression of love for her homeland. It invites us to reflect not only on Okinawa’s complex history, but also on the enduring importance of life and humanity—resonating far beyond Japan’s borders.