Finding information on obscure-but-rising Japanese artists is easy if you understand Japanese. For the rest of us, we’ll just have to pick out whatever morsels we can. Aside from your standard press release info, there’s not much on DJ Mitsu The Beats in English. The hip-hop DJ has already played sets around North America, including a gig at the opening of Supermarket in Toronto, so he’s got presence here. He’s got a profile in Japan as well, what with his work with the hip-hop group Gagle and his presence at the top of some reader’s choice polls.

New Awakenings dropped in 2003, and has since spawned a number of remix albums. His reputation in North America appears to be based solely on this solo work, which he also produced himself. “Dokkou Jazz Dou” features Hunger, Gagle’s MC, and it’s pretty awesome stuff.