(NYLON / ex.444quad)
TECHNO / HOUSE DJ / PROMOTER

Takahiro Tonoike began his career during his university years, when an invitation from a friend introduced him to club culture. Captivated by the scene, he has remained active for over 15 years across clubs and underground communities in Tokyo and throughout the Kanto region.

Equally at home with vinyl and CDJs, his DJ style is characterized by extended, long-form mixing. In his vinyl sets in particular, he carefully connects each track while building the flow of the dancefloor over time. Unrestricted by genre, era, or whether a track is new or old, he reads the atmosphere and energy of the floor to guide each set into its next phase.

In his hometown of Omiya, he previously served as manager of 444quad, a club that played an important role in the local four-on-the-floor scene. Beyond DJing, he was involved in venue management, party planning and curation, and artist bookings. He organized events featuring both Japanese and international artists, including Steve Bicknell, expanding his activities while remaining deeply rooted in the local scene.

He has performed at leading clubs and venues across Tokyo and the Kanto region, including WOMB, Contact Tokyo, R LOUNGE, HVEN, ALADDIN, and 444quad. He has also appeared on SIN-ON, a monthly program on London-based internet radio station Fnoob Techno, bringing his sound to listeners outside Japan.

In 2026, he has continued to perform alongside artists from Japan and abroad, including appearances at FEEDER at R LOUNGE. In January, he joined a lineup centered around TECHNO / HOUSE, while in April he performed alongside Goa-based Shaun Moses, Hiroyuki Arakawa, and Nobuharu Morimoto. In June, he appeared as TAICHOU B2B YAMAG at R LOUNGE’s 13th anniversary event, sharing the lineup with DJ Wada, DJ Shufflemaster, and others.

His approach also extends beyond TECHNO. At the release party for Elena Berry × SKYTOPIA, spanning UK GARAGE / HOUSE / ELECTRO, he performed as MO€chi B2B TAICHOU, demonstrating his wide-ranging approach to dance music.

Alongside his work as a DJ, he is currently placing greater focus on events that he organizes and curates himself. Starting from local club culture, his activities continue to expand from Tokyo and the Kanto region to the rest of Japan.