BENIZAKURA: Tsuyama Roots, Key Albums and the Return to Rap
BENIZAKURA (紅桜) is a rapper from Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. A PartyGunPaul artist whose work moves between rap and singing, he released the album 紅桜 in 2014, collaborated with dj honda on dark side, and focused on rap for the 2026 album BACK TO THE HIPHOP.[1][2][3][4]
BENIZAKURA at a glance
| Artist name | BENIZAKURA / 紅桜 (べにざくら) |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan |
| Role and label | Rapper; PartyGunPaul |
| Related work | The Taimancheese (Theタイマンチーズ), collaborations with dj honda, production with DJ KAJI |
| Starting points | 紅桜, dark side and BACK TO THE HIPHOP |
Background information is drawn from his HIPHOPCs interview and official profile. Release years are checked against official music listings and dj honda’s biography.[1][2][3][4][5]
A voice rooted in Tsuyama
His official profile describes a flow that sits between rap and blues. In HIPHOPCs’ 2026 interview, BENIZAKURA discussed having made songs built around singing as well as rap, and explained why he chose to focus on rapping again. Following that choice from record to record offers a useful way into his work.[1][5]
The album 紅桜 arrived through PartyGunPaul on August 13, 2014. He has also worked in The Taimancheese with J-REXXX and producer 774.[7] His career combines relationships with artists from his hometown with collaborations involving other producers and approaches to music.[1][2]
dark side and the connection with dj honda
The 2019 joint album dark side brought BENIZAKURA together with dj honda, whose official biography lists the collaboration. A separate dark side (2024 Remaster) edition is available digitally; its release year should not be confused with the original album’s.[3][6]
That partnership also carries into BACK TO THE HIPHOP. Its track “SHINE” credits dj honda as composer and producer, providing a direct connection between the earlier joint project and BENIZAKURA’s later work.[4]
Why BACK TO THE HIPHOP focuses on rap
Released on August 3, 2026, BACK TO THE HIPHOP contains nine tracks, including a skit. BENIZAKURA told HIPHOPCs that he selected rap tracks from around 30 songs he had already made. Having also released material centred on singing, he had rediscovered how much he enjoyed rap itself.[1][4]
The album is called BACK TO THE HIPHOP; the track he singled out as central to its theme is “BACK IN THE HIPHOP.” Discussing that song, he said that making money through hip-hop was fine, but that he had focused on what he valued in the culture itself.[1]
DJ KAJI, who joined him for the interview, described recording as a process of gathering lyrical fragments from BENIZAKURA’s daily life. He also spoke about preserving the initial impulse behind the music. The official credits list Solid Slide a.k.a T2K and DJ KAJI as co-producers of “BACK IN THE HIPHOP.”[1][4]
For BENIZAKURA, the record represented a return to his roots. DJ KAJI framed it as a starting point for what came next. Their conversation gives listeners a view of the decisions behind the finished songs, rather than leaving the album’s theme at the level of its title.[1]
A listening route
- BACK TO THE HIPHOP (2026): Begin with “BACK IN THE HIPHOP” and “SHINE,” then hear the complete nine-track album alongside the interview about its making.[1][4]
- 紅桜 (2014): Return to this earlier album to compare his approach with the later material.[2]
- dark side (2019): Explore the joint project with dj honda. The streaming link below is specifically the 2024 remaster.[3][6]
HIPHOPCs interviews
Official information and music
- BENIZAKURA — TuneCore Japan
- BENIZAKURA — Instagram
- Apple Music: 紅桜 (2014)
- TuneCore Japan: BACK TO THE HIPHOP
- TuneCore Japan: dark side (2024 Remaster)
Explore the scene and other profiles
- Hiroshima and Chugoku Rap Atlas (including Okayama)
- dj honda profile
- Artist profiles
- Interview index (Japanese; links to English editions)
- 日本語プロフィール
Sources and last checked date
Last checked: . This profile draws on HIPHOPCs interviews and official music information. Recollections, opinions and ambitions are attributed to the interviews in which they were expressed. Japanese originals appear in the source list; English interview editions are linked above.
- HIPHOPCs: 紅桜 / BENIZAKURA & DJ KAJI interview
- Apple Music: 紅桜 (2014)
- dj honda: official biography
- TuneCore Japan: BACK TO THE HIPHOP
- TuneCore Japan: BENIZAKURA
- TuneCore Japan: dark side (2024 Remaster)
- TuneCore Japan: The Taimancheese
Image source: HIPHOPCs’ interview with BENIZAKURA (original Japanese article). Image supplied by BENIZAKURA.
