Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2010

Courtesy of HEI

Turntablist
Highlight of 2009: Snow Golden at Club Asia, Shibuya featuring DJ Craze and Crazy B.
What do you want to see in 2010? Sunny Golden, May 3 at Unit, with Jackbeats.
Artists to look out for: Jackbeats!

Courtesy of Op.disc

DJ/producer; head of Op.disc records
Highlight of 2009: The Berlin Beach Break party in August, and our last Chaos party this year at Unit on Boxing Day, with PI-GE and DJ Masda.
What do you want to see in 2010? I hope to see Yellow reopen.

Courtesy of Popgroup

DJ/producer
Highlight of 2009: The 12Japs release party in July at O-East in Shibuya. We had the cooperation of a lot of MCs, which made it a really fantastic event.
What do you want to see in 2010? A mixture of genres—a type of hybrid of digital and analog music. This would make it possible for people set in their different grooves to be on better terms.
Artists to look out for: The South Rakkas Crew from Orlando, Bassnectar from Los Angeles, and from Japan, MC/producer Punpee.

Courtesy of DJ T-AK

Drum’n’Bass DJ/producer
Highlight of 2009: Working with bands Nirgilis and Taja, who are known for their anime music for Eureka Seven and Gundam OO. And I’m still DJing on vinyl!
What do you want to see in 2010? Recently, I think artists in Japan have gotten better at integrating styles from Europe into Tokyo. Above and beyond, I’m looking forward to seeing more “Tokyo-sized” music: more parties not in big venues, but in small ones. Not just underground events, just proper good ones.
Upcoming artists to look for? Well… from drum’n’bass, The Future Sound of Russia EP from Hospital Records. Also Randomer and other artists who are mixing genres a little.

Courtesy of Ki/oon

DJ/producer
Highlight of 2009: Several parties I played at in the summer, and a re-mastering of Kraftwerk I did.
Ambitions for 2010? To create my solo album.
What do you want to see in 2010? A miracle!
Artists to look out for? Dutch New School techno producer Anton Pieete.

Organizer of the Drum&Bass Sessions party
Highlight of 2009: Our Dubstep Warz event in February. We had Skream and Benga; it was amazing, heavy! Also DBS’s 13th anniversary, The Bristol Sessions, in November. Special guest, urban superstar graffiti artist Nick Walker, created a massive work of live art—he spent four hours! 
What do you want to see in 2010? That’s a tender question… peace, love and unity.
Artists to look out for: Young Russian D&B producers Bop and Subwave, dubstep producers Joker, Loefah, Elemental and Reso.

Head of King Street Sounds
Highlight of 2009: Our creation of label Street King—with a more soulful and spiritual vibe rooted in legendary NYC club Paradise Garage. It’ll focus on more techy, powerful house music.
What do you want to see in 2010? A new club, comfortable but focused on music, and a music scene that’s more critical.
Artists to look out for: P’taah, and Alex Kenji.

Minimal techno/house DJ
Highlight of 2009: Organized and played at my main project, the Metamorphose festival, featuring Richie Hawtin and Larry Heard, among others.
What do you want to see in 2010? More new artists.
Personal hopes: I’m opening up a club called The Gallery on Bali. I’ll be a resident there, with DJs from Japan, Europe and the US.

Journalist, DJ/producer, IF? Records owner
Highlight of 2009: Ben Pest from Ninja Tune DJing his eclectic techno style in Tokyo in August.
What do you want to see in 2010? A cross-pollination of styles at events, and more faith in lesser-known producers.
Artists to look out for? Yuki Ota, M-Koda, Gadget Cassette, Eri Makino and DJ Warp. Overseas: Luke’s Anger, Ben Pest, Ben Mill, Koda, Isnod and Donk Boys. They are creating trends in a lot of different electronic music departments. The established Japanese artists I continue to love: DJ Wada, Hifana, Toshiyuki Yasuda, Fumiya Tanaka, DJ Kentaro and Captain Funk.