On October 2, 2023, at the Kagura Hall of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka, a rare sacred improvisational performance took place during the memorial ceremony for French painter Marc Estel, who dedicated his life to depicting Japanese mythology.
Originally, I was scheduled to perform solo to open the ceremony.
However, just 20 minutes before the ritual, master taiko drummer Shonosuke Okura arrived unexpectedly. We met for the first time, exchanged brief greetings, and entered the sacred space without rehearsal.
Two drums. Two voices. A Shinto sanctuary.
A spontaneous dialogue emerged between body, voice, architecture, and ritual space.
The vibration was intense—electric, timeless, and deeply spiritual.
This moment became a living ritual, bridging Japanese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary sound art. The recording stands as a cultural archive documenting a convergence of mythology, ritual space, and improvised sound.
From Expo ’70 to Expo 2025: A Continuous Cultural Resonance
I was born and raised in Senri New Town, the site of Expo ’70.
From my home balcony, the Tower of the Sun (Taro Okamoto) was always visible, shaping my imagination from childhood. Even today, the Tower of the Sun continues to inspire my creative work.
Marc Estel came to Japan following Expo ’70 and devoted his life to painting Japanese mythology.
In 2025, I performed for six weeks at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai.
For me, Expo ’70 and Expo 2025 are not separate events, but part of a continuous cultural lineage that resonates across generations.
This improvisation at Sumiyoshi Taisha exists within that lineage—an echo traveling through time, from myth to modernity.
Performers
- Kackey@dabigtree – Voice, Djembe, Earth Resonance Music
- Shonosuke Okura – Taiko Cultural Heritage Ambassador of Japan Heritage / Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage
About Marc Estel
Marc Estel (1942–2023) was a French painter who dedicated his life to depicting Japanese mythology.
He came to Japan after Expo ’70 and continued his artistic journey until his passing in Osaka on April 24, 2023.
Related Links
Shonosuke Okura Official Website
Marc Estel Collections
ttps://marcestel-collections.com/jp/ttps://marcestel-collections.com/jp/
Meeting with Marc Estel (Jan 17, 2023)
This recording is shared as a living cultural document—
a contemporary ritual echoing the mythic continuum of Osaka’s cultural history.
住吉大社 神楽殿における「生きた儀式」— Expo ’70 から Expo 2025 へ続く文化的共鳴
2023年10月2日、大阪・住吉大社神楽殿にて開催されたフランス人画家マーク・エステル追悼式典において、即興演奏が行われました。
本来は私Kackey@dabigtreeが単独で音開きを行う予定でしたが、本番20分前に大倉正之助さんが急遽来場。初対面の挨拶を交わし、そのまま打ち合わせなしで神域に入りました。
二つの太鼓、二人の声、そして神社という聖なる建築空間。
身体、声、空間、儀式が交錯する「生きた儀式」としての即興が生まれました。
Expo ’70 から Expo 2025 へ続く文化的連続性
私は1970年大阪万博の開催地・千里ニュータウンで生まれ育ちました。
自宅のベランダからは太陽の塔が常に見え、その存在は幼少期から私の創作精神を形成してきました。今もなお、太陽の塔は創作の重要なインスピレーション源です。
マーク・エステルは1970年大阪万博を契機に来日し、日本神話を描き続けました。
そして私は2025年大阪・関西万博サウジアラビア館で6週間の即興演奏を行いました。
1970と2025の万博は、私にとって連続した文化的振動の系譜です。
この住吉大社での即興も、その共鳴の連鎖の中に存在しています。
