Written by Sky
During Day 4 of Anime Expo 2026, Awai had a solo performance at AX Crossing. Awai is originally from the United States but was scouted by a Japanese agency and joined the Tokyo-based idol group May Ever Riff.
1) How did you discover idols or idol culture?
Awai: I grew up in Hawaii and there’s a large Japanese population out there. I noticed a lot of Japanese music playing on the radio. Then I discovered Morning Musume and Hello! Project, and I got really into them.
2) How long have you been performing?
Awai: I’ve been performing as an idol for a year and 4 or 5 months. I debuted in February 2025, and I trained for 6 months with my company in Tokyo. Before that, I did cheerleading in high school, show choir, and, in general, I’ve been on stage as much as possible throughout my life.
3) What does the word idol mean to you?
Awai: Personally, to me, an idol is someone who makes it their mission to spread positivity. At its core, it is about uplifting others and spreading the message of fighting for your dreams, no matter how strange they are. It’s also about having hope and optimism for life.
And then, of course, in marketing terms, it’s a way of life. It’s the way people live, it’s the fan chants, it’s the cheki being sold, it’s the call and response, it’s the costume, it’s the story. But in my heart, we’re leading with positivity.
4) What advice would you give to people looking to become an idol and/or improve?
Awai: If you’re looking to become an idol, depending on where you’re starting out, just start singing and learning your favorite songs. You don’t have to have original songs from the beginning. Study the idols that you like, learn how to sing their songs, memorize the lyrics, memorize the dances, and practice.
Honestly, just start performing. If you try to wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never start. Try to find a community, and if you can’t, make a community.
If you want to improve, you have to watch other idols. You cannot be solitary in this industry. Through collaboration and supporting other idols, you grow yourself and the community as well.
If you can, watch local idol shows or lots of concerts online. Don’t just watch the music videos, watch the live performances, because people sing differently when they perform live. You can just learn so much by watching how different people command the stage, interact with the audience, and carry themselves.
Lastly, you have to watch your own performances to see where you can improve.
5) What was the hardest part about deciding to move to Japan to become an idol?
Awai: The hardest part was the uncertainty. Because I was coming to train, I was not an official member and they asked me to come out, meet the other people in training, and see where it went from there. So I had to trust that it was going to work out when I did so. It was definitely a leap of faith.
6) What sort of role do you play in your group that makes you stand out?
Awai: Because I am a foreigner, it automatically makes me stand out. I have coined the term “Fushigi Kokujin,” which means “the mysterious Black person.” I like the idea that I am a mysterious Black person who has found their way into an idol group because there aren’t many of us out there doing that.
I am also the comic relief of my group. I don’t take myself too seriously. I try to maintain seriousness, but it’s hard for me. I always have everyone laughing at practice. I’m like, “Hey, you guys, I messed up again. Isn’t that funny?”
7) As an alternative idol, what is the biggest change you want to happen in the idol industry, mainstream or otherwise?
Awai: The chika idol industry doesn’t have a lot of stability, especially in Japan. When groups start, they might last 6 months, they might last a year, but part of the reason is that the members start so young. When girls join these groups at under 18 or even under 16, they want to do idol activities, but they may not want to do them for a long period of time. Then they quit, members leave and change, and the groups disband.
I wish there were more stability. I wish there were no age limits for auditions and groups because a lot of groups have age limits in Japan. I hope that, in the future, the fanbase can be more coed because right now it’s mostly Japanese men in their 30s and up. I wish the audience would diversify a bit.
Right now, Awai’s group May Ever Riff is promoting and performing in the Tokyo area, so if you’re in Tokyo, you can support them by going to see them perform.
Awai is also working on solo music and an original song, “Contact,” created alongside VTuber Ani Meida, will be released soon.
The two are also starting a podcast called “Idol Talk Live“, which focuses on the experiences of two Black girls living in Tokyo as an idol and a VTuber.
Awai
Awai is an Idol and singer-songwriter currently based in Tokyo Japan, she is credited for doing vocals for J-Pop duo YOASOBI on songs such as PLAYERS and HEART BEAT. Awai puts on an engaging show full of upbeat anime and Jpop classics as well as original songs.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.awai/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its..aii
Group Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayeverriff/
Ani Meida: https://ani-meida.carrd.co/
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