Your first experience to Djing? 

It all started at The Observatory in Vietnam on 2nd October 2020. I accidentally stumbled upon Cdjs on the terrace and gave them a try. Back then, I only knew how to press the start and stop buttons but it was a magical moment. I was over the moon to touch that new machines called Cdj and mixer. So I started practicing every week at the WAM open deck until I felt confident enough to play in front of a real audience.

Mountain or sea?

I enjoy the city the most, and sometimes I like the mountains, while other times I like the sea but not on a daily basis. However, currently, I am staying in Hoi An for a few months, and since it’s only three minutes away from the sea, I can say that I prefer the sea to the mountains.

To dress, a pair of?

Boots. I wear them everywhere. My friends sometimes laugh at me for wearing them everywhere, even to the beach… My secret, I actually have six pairs of the exact same boots that I wear all the time because they are so comfy and perfect for dancing!

Your favorite venue in Saigon?

My favorite places in Saigon is The Observatory, where I can call it my home

If I tell you vinyl?

I remember watching Dj Cedric Woo who usually plays with vinyl, trying to switch to Usb for the first time during a set in Tokyo. The Usb stopped working after just 10 seconds, but Cedric Woo was fortunate enough to have brought a bag full of vinyl records with him. He used all of the records in his bag for the 4-hour set and it was absolutely amazing! That experience made me realize why some Djs continue to travel with these hefty vinyl records - they are reliable and never disappoint.

Your favorite dish?

Oh I have so many favorite dishes that it can be tough to choose just one. However, if I had to pick, I would say « ramen » is definitely at the top of my list, especially Ittou Ramen. Their quality is just as good as the ramen in Japan, if not better! If you are looking for more ramen recommendations around Vietnam, make sure to follow my ramen account @ramenciticlub on Instagram. 

Your favorite record store?

Pond Records & Coffee in Hanoi city.

What do we need to know about the Dj culture in Japan?

As I wasn’t a Dj when I lived in Japan, I cannot tell you much about DJ culture in Japan but I can tell you that Japanese DJ are known for conveying their emotions and energy through the music. Whilst in general, Japanese people are much less expressive compared with other countries. When a Japanese Dj steps up to the decks, it truly is a dynamic expression of themselves through their music. If you are in Tokyo do not miss to dig at City country city in Shimokitazawa and Face records in Shibuya and Pigeon Records in Nagoya city.

If I tell you design?

As someone who was born and raised in Japan but now lives in Vietnam, I am passionate about bringing Japanese design to Vietnnam. I have even imported 70 sets of vintage kimonos and authentic Japanese slippers to sell at my pop-up shops around Saigon. Seeing people connect with and appreciate Japanese culture through Japanese designs isan incredibly rewarding experience, and it makes me proud to be a Japanese person living in Vietnam.

What job would you like to do if you weren’t a Dj?

I am actually not a full-time Dj. While Djing is as a hobby on weekends, my full-time profession is as a Japanese businesswoman during the week. When people ask me where my energy comes from or when I sleep, I wonder myself and still searching for the answer. That being said, if I had to choose another profession, I would love to become a chef since cooking has always been a passion of mine. I love to see people enjoying good food and having great conversations. Djing and cooking actually share a lot of similarities. Just as a chef has a variety of ingredients to work with, a Dj also has a plenty of tracks to choose from. The key is in knowing how to combine and present them in just the right way. Interestingly, when I cook at home, I often find myself like I am practising my Dj skills and vice versa!

Top 5 news

- Taihei "ReMission"

- Lone Saxon "Sunrise over Ku"

- Dardisk 005

- Litmus "More Sekele Movement"

- Lazywax "Santa Catarina" Turbotito remix

Top 5 oldies   

- Kid Creole and the Coconuts "My male curiosity"

- Minako Yoshida "Midnight Driver"

- Asuka Ando "See you in my dream" 7’’

- Ryuichi Sakamoto "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence"

- Fallon Jennings "All night long"

Interview by Dj Coshmar