DJ WATARAI Brings 29 Years of Shibuya Sound to Bartiga Jakarta
Jakarta and Tokyo meet through music once again as DJ WATARAI Jakarta appearance became the highlight of Jakarta × Tokyo Connection (JTC) Vol. 2, held on 28–29 August 2026 at Bartiga, Darmawangsa Square.
Presented by Affirmate & JCB in association with Terremana, the two-night event continued Bartiga’s cultural exchange between Jakarta and Tokyo, bringing artists, DJs, and audiences from both cities together through music.
Following the inaugural edition featuring Japanese hip-hop legend DJ MURO, JTC Vol. 2 welcomed DJ WATARAI for his first-ever international performance and first appearance in Jakarta.
DJ WATARAI Makes His Jakarta Debut
With nearly three decades of experience in Tokyo’s hip-hop scene, DJ WATARAI has built a career deeply connected to the city’s club culture.
For 29 consecutive years, WATARAI has served as a resident DJ at Club HARLEM in Shibuya, one of the key venues associated with Tokyo’s hip-hop scene.
Throughout his career, he has worked with a wide range of Japanese artists, including MURO, NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND, RHYMESTER, MISIA, AI, DOUBLE, NAMIE AMURO, and DREAMS COME TRUE.
His work has also reached beyond Japan through international collaborations with artists such as LUPE FIASCO and O.C., further establishing his presence within the wider hip-hop community.
For Jakarta audiences, JTC Vol. 2 offered an opportunity to experience WATARAI’s signature Tokyo sound in an intimate setting at Bartiga.
Two Nights of Tokyo Sound in Jakarta
The two-night program featured different opening sets before DJ WATARAI closed each evening.
On 28 August, DJ Mellowman opened the night before WATARAI took over the decks and closed the first edition of the weekend.
The following evening, 29 August, Bartiga Music Director DJ Leno Rei opened the program before WATARAI returned for the second night’s closing set.
The format kept the focus on music while allowing each night to develop its own atmosphere, connecting Jakarta’s local scene with WATARAI’s longstanding experience in Tokyo.
Connecting Jakarta and Tokyo Through Music
More than a DJ showcase, Jakarta × Tokyo Connection is Bartiga’s ongoing platform for cultural exchange between the two cities.
The series creates a space for artists, DJs, and audiences to connect through music, while introducing Jakarta audiences to influential figures from Tokyo’s creative and nightlife scenes.
The first edition featured DJ MURO, another highly respected name in Japanese hip-hop. With DJ WATARAI following in the second edition, the series continues to build a bridge between the two cities through different generations and perspectives within the culture.
The concept reflects how music can create connections beyond geographical boundaries. Jakarta and Tokyo may have their own distinct scenes, but both cities share a strong relationship with nightlife, urban culture, and music communities.
From Shibuya to Darmawangsa
Bringing DJ WATARAI from Shibuya to Darmawangsa gave Jakarta audiences a direct connection to one of Tokyo’s most established club scenes.
After 29 years at Club HARLEM, WATARAI’s appearance represented more than another international DJ booking. It brought a piece of Tokyo’s musical history into Jakarta’s own nightlife environment.
The intimate setting of Bartiga also allowed the focus to remain on the music and the connection between the performer and the audience.
For two nights, the distance between Shibuya and Jakarta became a little smaller.
Jakarta × Tokyo Connection Continues
JTC Vol. 2 marks another chapter in Bartiga’s effort to create cultural connections through music.
By bringing established Japanese DJs to Jakarta and placing them alongside local talent, the platform creates opportunities for audiences to experience different sounds while strengthening relationships between the two cities’ creative communities.
With DJ WATARAI bringing nearly three decades of experience from Tokyo to Jakarta, the second edition continued the spirit established by its first chapter with DJ MURO.
From Shibuya, Tokyo to Darmawangsa, Jakarta, the message remains simple:
Jakarta × Tokyo. Music connects us.
Event Details
Jakarta × Tokyo Connection Vol. 2
📍 Bartiga, Darmawangsa Square, Jakarta
📅 28–29 August 2026
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