Headliners - "KIREEK - Undisputed Champions Of The DMC Team World"

Kireek at DMC World Finals

When four Frenchmen walked off the Hammersmith Palais stage at the 2006 DMC World DJ Championships, nobody watching thought that C2C’s four consecutive Team titles would ever be beaten. The world had never seen anything like C2C and their musical wizardry - so when 20syl, Greem, Atom and pFel retired from the DMC competition platform, we all thought their names would be unbeaten forever.

That was until two DJs from Japan stepped up. Even their name Kireek evoked excitement! And boy did they deliver. From 2007 until 2011, Hi-C and DJ Yasa redefined what was possible on the decks. Some called it turntable sorcery, some called it flawless teamwork. But together they sent shockwaves around the globe.

And now for 2025 they are BACK!!!!!!

But not just back.

Back in their home country performing at the first ever DMC World Final in Japan…

Guys, finally the DMC World DJ Championships are being held in Japan this year! How significant is this for the whole turntablist scene?

Hi-C - “Nobody ever imagined the DMC World Finals would ever take place in Japan!! It’s the first time the World Finals have come to Asia, and I hope this sparks a leap forward, not just for Japan but for all of Asia. I also hope this event inspires new talent who will flip the scene upside down.” 

DJ Yasa - “For some who dream of traveling to London, having it in Japan will feel like not going abroad, so I’m sure some Japanese DJs will feel a bit disappointed. But on the flip side, people around the world will be super excited to come to Japan for the prestigious DMC Final… and I hope they enjoy the experience fully! There is nowhere quite like it!”

How did the two of you meet, and how did you decide to form a duo? 

“We’re the same age and actually battled each other in the TEENS DJ BATTLE, a competition for teens to decide Japan’s best. Both living in Osaka, we also competed in the DMC and Vestax events. Over time we practiced together and played gigs together, and naturally decided to team up.” 

Many people say your 2011 DMC routine is their favorite. Why do you think that set resonated so strongly?

“That year, the March 11 earthquake and tsunami happened, along with the Fukushima nuclear accident, causing massive suffering. Our routine carried a message and a wish to uplift Japan, which resonated with people. It was also a more “back-to-basics” set - before we used a lot of dance music, but that year we learned more into hip-hop, making it more accessible. Plus, the performance was super tight.”

Be honest—did you ever worry about losing at the World Finals?

“Of course, many times. Defending the title in London... if we lost, I didn’t want to fly home to Japan. But we both understood there’s no winning without entering, no result without trying. And the idea of continuing to win and returning to Europe was a huge motivator. Every year after winning, we travelled Europe and ended up staying at a friend’s house in Amsterdam. We’d laugh till we couldn’t stand - those memories are priceless.”

You now live in different parts of Japan. What are your current music activities? 

Yasa - “I moved from Osaka to my hometown in Fukui prefecture in 2020. I still visit Club Crème (AKAKABE’s club) often—it’s in the same hood as AKAKABE. While living in rural Fukui, I release my own beats, do commercial music, and DJ shows nationwide. Now with Wi-Fi anywhere, I can work where I like.” 

HI-C - “I’m based in Osaka, working as a techno DJ and producer both domestically and

internationally. I run our label Aum Recordings, releasing tracks by global artists and ourselves. I also co-organize the outdoor festival MOMENT with friends. It’s a fantastic festival—check it out!

And of course, coming to Europe for the DMC Finals had a huge impact; it awakened me to techno.”