Kokolo, Takashi Hiyama and Junichi Matsuda, a bridge between Japan and Estonia
- Arashk Azizi
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
I first met Takashi Hiyama and Junichi Matsuda in the quiet corner of Telliskivi’s Rahva Raamat. We spoke about life, music, the unpredictable nature of the industry, and the surprising number of artistic intersections between Japan and Estonia. By the end of our conversation, it felt clear that there were real possibilities ahead, including collaborative projects, shared stages, and a natural artistic chemistry worth nurturing.
After our meeting, I dug deeper into their work. What I found painted an even broader and more impressive picture of who they are and what Kokolo represents.
Kokolo OÜ, the quiet engine behind cross-cultural projects
Kokolo OÜ operates as a production and cultural initiative that connects Japanese artists with the Estonian creative scene. It’s a compact but purposeful organisation, and Takashi Hiyama stands at the centre of it. The company has been bringing Japanese musicians to Estonia, shaping collaborations with local artists, and curating concerts that blend sensibilities from both cultures.
They’ve already worked with Estonian musicians, including names like Liisi Koikson, and have held performances in Tallinn that merge Japanese musical aesthetics with local artistry. In person, Takashi radiates the calm determination of someone who knows exactly why cultural exchange matters and how to build it step by step.
You can learn more about Kokolo on their official website: https://team-en-japan.co.jp/
Junichi Matsuda, the composer, the traveller, and the storyteller
Junichi’s presence is immediately warm and curious, the way many true creators are. During our conversation, he told me that he began playing the violin as a child and continued for more than ten years. That early discipline still echoes in the structure and clarity of his musical language today, even though he now works primarily with piano, composition, and electronics.
His artistic profile is far broader than a single genre. After exploring his website and listening to the body of work he has published, it became clear just how versatile he is, he is a true musician with a heart for electronic and dance music.
Junichi moves between acoustic and electronic idioms with ease, shaping each piece like a scene in a film, vivid, emotional, and at times almost theatrical. His background in violin performance explains the melodic sensitivity that runs through even his most experimental pieces.
The range of projects he is involved in reflects both his passion and his mastery. From his “Learn Japanese with Music” project, to his role as an ambassador for Luxsanat’s wearable devices, which enhance focus and creativity through sound and light, Junichi is continually expanding his artistic presence.
You can follow Junichi's musical journey on his website: https://www.matsudajunichi.com/
The Japan–Estonia connection
What drew me in most, after researching them, was the clarity of their shared mission to build meaningful artistic bridges rather than one-off events. Kokolo’s projects in Estonia, paired with Junichi’s international approach to music-making, create a natural foundation for deeper collaboration.
There is something refreshing about their presence here, a combination of Japanese precision and Estonian nature oriented art scene that feels fertile for new work.
Meeting Takashi and Junichi in Telliskivi felt like discovering a doorway into a new artistic space, one where Japanese contemporary creativity blends with the distinctive sonic world of Estonia. Our conversations were filled with ideas, from collaborative compositions to possible concert formats, to wider cultural initiatives that could take shape in the coming years.
This encounter was only the beginning, but the more I learn about their work, the clearer it becomes that Kokolo’s presence in Estonia is part of a larger, growing cultural exchange, one that I’m genuinely excited to be a part of.
Comments