A journey from Osaka to Helsinki’s underground nightlife
Japanese-born DJ Hitoshi arrived in Helsinki drawn by childhood memories of Moomin figurines. Little did he know, his journey would take a turn through the city’s underground music scene, transforming his life and Helsinki’s cultural landscape. Hitoshi turned his passion into a mission to unite communities and energise Helsinki’s music scene.
From shy beginnings to passionate audiences
Japanese-born DJ HiToshi first arrived in Helsinki seven years ago to study marketing. He had always felt a pull towards Finland – it was an attraction that began years earlier, when his grandmother gifted him small Moomin and Hattivatti figurines.
As part of his studies, Hitoshi took on an internship at IDA Radio, a community radio station in Helsinki. What began as a requirement for school quickly opened an unexpected path to Helsinki’s underground music community.
“I was always interested in music and loved going to clubs, but I never thought I’d be a DJ,” he shares. “Through IDA, I got to know the local music community, and soon, I was DJing every weekend in Helsinki and all around Europe and Japan.”
Hitoshi’s path into Helsinki’s nightlife and music scene was transformative, especially as he started getting to know like-minded people.
“At first, it felt like the community seemed kind of closed,” he recalls. “But as I spent more time talking about music with everyone, those walls started coming down.”
Gradually, he found himself also opening up and being a part of an intimate underground music community, where genres and nationalities mixed freely.
When asked about the music scene in Helsinki, Hitoshi is candid about its size. It’s definitely smaller compared to Berlin or Amsterdam. People in Helsinki know what they want – they’re selective and appreciate good quality music.
“The market here isn’t that big, but that doesn’t stop people. There’s this deep understanding and passion for music, especially underground sounds, that’s been here since the 1980s when Helsinki’s first clubs opened.”
Like the community, Hitoshi describes Helsinki’s crowds as somewhat reserved at first.
“They can be a bit shy at first, but once they warm up, their energy changes. Helsinkians become really open to what you’re giving them,” he says.
After DJing across Europe and Japan, he believes Helsinki’s audience has its very own style. “I can’t define it exactly, but Helsinki’s crowd is different, and I love it.”
A vision that turned Tanner into Helsinki’s club hotspot
One of Hitoshi’s proudest achievements while living in Helsinki is his work at Tanner, a restaurant that has evolved into one of the city’s most beloved music spots.
Tanner used to be more of a listening bar, but Hitoshi and his friend Justus wanted to introduce something new, so two years ago they launched a dance-focused club night.
“We brought in disco and more club-friendly beats, and it really changed the vibe of the place,” he says. Tanner’s transformation quickly caught on, inspiring other concepts to the venue that still lives on.
While Hitoshi no longer runs his own club nights at Tanner, he remains committed to introducing fresh, exciting experiences to Helsinki’s music scene.
“Helsinki is a place where if you keep doing what you love, people will notice and support whatever you’re doing.”
The ‘Mothership of Community’
To Hitoshi, one of the most remarkable aspects of Helsinki is its interconnected community.
“Someone called Helsinki the ‘Mothership of Community,’ and I think that’s spot-on.” Because Helsinki is small, people’s creative work has a way of spreading quickly.
Hitoshi has taken on a mission to bridge gaps between different cultures in the city. “When I was studying, I often heard that people from abroad sometimes felt distant from Finnish locals. I want to change that,” he says. “I want to create spaces that bring everyone together, a place where people feel like they belong.”
Ready to experience Helsinki’s underground music scene like DJ HiToshi? Go underground: experience Helsinki’s vibrant clubs like Tanner and visit the city’s vinyl records shops like Fresh Garbage Records. Don’t forget to buy your own Moomin figurine from the Moomin store at Esplanadi.
Underground
Helsinki
