DJ KANJI: From Hamamatsu to THE SOUL
DJ KANJI is a DJ and producer from Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. He makes beats, selects music in clubs and brings rappers and other producers together to shape releases. HIPHOPCs interviewed him about the people and experiences behind THE SOUL, with collaborators LEGOFACTORY and Woody also joining the conversation.[1][3][4]
From Hamamatsu to a wider circle of collaborators
KANJI traces his move from Hamamatsu to Tokyo in the interview. He describes sharing music with friends and meeting people in clubs across Japan as foundations of his work. Alongside hip-hop, he listens to R&B, pop, rock and reggae, drawing on their different sounds and rhythms in his production.[1]
Three releases to start with
| Release | Release date | What to listen for |
|---|---|---|
| THE LIFE | June 13, 2019 | His 2019 EP, released before THE VOICE.[2] |
| THE VOICE | April 26, 2024 | Described by its distributor as his first official full-length album. “Toros” features Gottz and Jin Dogg; “Smash!!!” features LEX, HIYADAM and Y’S. The album also includes remastered versions of previously released songs.[3] |
| THE SOUL | April 3, 2026 | “LoveMyself” features Kaneee and Masato Hayashi. LEGOFACTORY is credited as composer and co-producer, and DJ KANJI as producer.[4] |
Understanding his role as a producer
A DJ KANJI release does not mean that he makes every beat alone. On THE VOICE, sleepless is credited as composer and producer of “Intro,” with KANJI as co-producer. THE SOUL also has different composers and production collaborators across its tracks. Reading the individual credits alongside the album’s lead artist name gives a clearer picture of how these records are made.[3][4]
The conversations behind the records
Lucie’s HIPHOPCs interview explores self-acceptance, the making of “LoveMyself” and KANJI’s relationship with LEGOFACTORY. It connects the names in the credits to the encounters and exchanges that brought them together. The English edition makes this original Japanese reporting accessible to readers outside Japan.[1]
HIPHOPCs interviews
Official information and music
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Sources and last checked date
Last checked: . This profile draws on official biographies, release listings and HIPHOPCs interviews. Personal recollections and plans are attributed to the interviews in which they were discussed. The source list includes Japanese originals; English interview editions are linked above.
- HIPHOPCs: DJ KANJI interview (Japanese original)
- TuneCore Japan: THE LIFE
- TuneCore Japan: THE VOICE
- TuneCore Japan: THE SOUL
- DJ KANJI: official links
Profile card: HIPHOPCs.
