Words and art by Ryan Quan
Musical Artist of the Month: This monthly column is JoySauce social media editor Ryan Quan’s attempt at getting you to love these underrated and under appreciated AA+PI artists as much as he does. The series will combine fun facts, conceptual graphic work Ryan’s created as an ode to his favorite lyrics, and a few of each musician’s songs, to give you a crash course on these talented rising stars.
If you saw Tokyo-based rapper Tohji on the street, you’d recognize him instantly. His signature look combines sporty streetwear—chunky sneakers, oversized jackets, athletic sunglasses—with dramatic chains and earrings.
But despite this distinct aesthetic, his fans know little about his enigmatic personality. His Instagram captions are often short or non-existent, and he uses his Twitter relatively infrequently. Even in interviews Tohji reveals very little. During one interview with Office Magazine, he was asked what his three wishes would be from a genie in a bottle, to which he responded, “No thanks.”
Born in London, Tohji raps in both English and Japanese to create dreamy hits that feel simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic. His vocals are fast-paced and airy, expressing his unapologetically carefree attitude with a sharp edge. The rapper’s music combines the sound of more mainstream Japanese hip hop with experimental beats, brave collaborations, and a focus on youth culture.
While other rappers in Tokyo’s underground scene tend to focus on nationalistic pride and the metropolitan lifestyle, Tohji expresses an appreciation for suburban culture, which feels more real and relevant to him. He didn’t grow up in a big city; he was raised in the suburbs of Yokohama, surrounded by malls and neighborhoods full of identical houses. An article for Dazed magazine says that Tohji makes music “that’s meant to be heard at max volume, blaring through open car windows while speeding to and from the shopping mall.”
Inspired by other young rappers who found success through SoundCloud, Tohji first uploaded his music to the website in 2017. He also started hosting rap parties at WWW, a popular venue in Shibuya, which helped him gain local fans and strong connections with other artists. Then, alongside fellow rapper gummyboy, he formed the duo Mall Boyz.
While Tohji is quite recognized in Japan, he’s relatively unknown in the United States. But his recent collaborations with other artists like Bladee, yeule, Mura Masa, and Mechatok have increased his appeal with an international audience.
As Tohji becomes a worldwide sensation, it’s hard to predict what he might do next. He already released an EP, Broken EP, and a full album, T-mix, this year, but we can’t wait to hear more. The Mall Boyz duo also recently released a clothing line in collaboration with Sports Club, a European-based fashion brand.
Even though we can’t get to the bottom of who Tohji really is, we’re beyond excited to follow his journey to stardom. Don’t forget to jam out to his music the next time you’re driving along the highway or heading to the mall!
Published on November 1, 2022
Words and art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is the Social Media Editor for JoySauce. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans.