music2.0 Inc. to Present at Sónar Barcelona 2026 +D for the Second Consecutive Year!

'Wabi Sabi Music Vol.2 "Ma"'

~Kobe-born Innovation Merging Cutting-Edge Science, Japanese Painting, Medicine, Brainwaves, and Electronic Music Presented to the World~

music2.0 Inc. (Headquarters: Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture), a company dedicated to fostering innovation through the fusion of music, technology, and science, is pleased to announce its second consecutive appearance as an officially invited program at Sónar Barcelona 2026 +D, one of the world's largest creative business conferences, held in Barcelona, Spain.

On June 18, 2026 (Thursday) local time, Japanese music producer Yusuke Asada will present the second chapter of the project, 'Wabi Sabi Music vol.2 "Ma" ~Inbetween~', on the Stage Pati+D at the historic Llotja de Mar building. Through a combination of lecture and live demonstration, he will showcase the project's achievements to creators, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world.

Prior to this presentation, on June 16, an immersive live installation merging cutting-edge technology with traditional Japanese art will be held at 'Cúpula', a dome space on the campus of the prestigious local institution La Salle-URL, as part of an international collaborative project. This groundbreaking work will directly lead into the Sónar+D stage performance.

Session Theme: Exploring the Japanese Philosophical Concept of 'Ma (間)'

Building upon the first chapter's exploration of 'wabi-sabi'—finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence—this year's focus shifts to the Japanese philosophical concept of 'Ma (間)'. 'Ma' refers to the dynamic, creative space that exists between two opposing extremes: technology and art, organic intelligence and artificial intelligence, the real world and the imagined world. Yusuke Asada, known for blending electronic soundscapes with acoustic elements, will approach the fundamental question: 'What emerges from the space of Ma?'

Highlights of the Project and Development into International Research

1. Artistic Expansion of Scientific Data (Integration with SPring-8)

Utilizing ultra-high-resolution microscopic data of 'washi' (traditional Japanese paper), generated as research data at SPring-8—the world's most advanced large-scale synchrotron radiation facility located in the Harima Science Garden City, Hyogo Prefecture—as a starting point. Using digital tools (TouchDesigner), the microscopic world will be transformed and expanded in real-time into beautiful visuals projected into the space.

2. Organic 'J-botanica'

Synchronized Sound and Live Japanese Painting Inspired by the organic, emotionally rich soundscape of 'J-botanica', Yusuke Asada will perform live piano while emerging Japanese painter Jurie Hayashi creates a live painting on a large canvas on-site. An interactive art space will emerge where sound, visuals, and painting dynamically influence each other in real-time.

3. Medical and Brainwave Approach

Launch of New Unit 'The Veritas' Dr. Hideyuki Negoro, Visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School, physician, and composer, will participate in this session. He will provide a scientific explanation of the effects of 40Hz sound waves, brainwaves, and music on the human body, and will premiere new works by the newly formed unit 'The Veritas', including 'Vagus Control', in collaboration with Asada.

4. Development into an Academic Paper Bridging Media Art and Cognitive Science

The day's performance will be recorded as an integrated artwork combining video and the painting left on-site. Furthermore, Professor Xavier (Kusabie) of La Salle University plans to develop this into joint research and academic publication bridging media art and cognitive science.

From Experimental City Kobe to the World: A Step Toward Kobe Calling 2026

This project serves as a crucial step (vanguard) toward 'Kobe Calling 2026', an international advanced hybrid event aiming for a Kobe-based launch in 2026. It is a prototype demonstration to globally communicate Kobe's cutting-edge science assets, attracting significant attention from business sectors and local governments both domestically and internationally.

Event Overview (Sónar+D Presentation Details)

Date and Time: June 18, 2026 (Thursday) 14:30 - 15:15 (local time)

Venue: Llotja de Mar (Stage Pati+D)

Official Page: https://sonar.es/en/activity/wabi-sabi-music (Note: The linked program, a joint project presentation at La Salle University, will be held on June 16 at the university's 'Cúpula')

Presenters and Key Member Profiles

Yusuke Asada Music Producer / Composer / Keyboardist / Representative Director, Japan Synthesizer Professional Arts (JSPA) Association. Active since the 1990s in J-POP and commercial music, producing and composing for artists such as Chara, CHEMISTRY, JUJU, Crystal Kay, and SMAP. Known for blending electronic and acoustic elements, he also contributes music to TV programs and films. A highly influential super musician with strong expertise in technology, including organizing hackathons.

Hideyuki Negoro MD, PhD / Physician / Visiting Professor, Harvard Medical School / Producer / Composer / Musician. While active at the forefront of medicine, he also has a profile as a musician and composer. In this project, he will demonstrate the connection between music, brainwaves, and the body (e.g., 40Hz) from a medical and scientific perspective. He will also begin activities as part of the new unit 'The Veritas' with Asada.

Jurie Hayashi Japanese Painter Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1989. Completed the doctoral program in Conservation and Restoration of Japanese Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2018. Using traditional techniques and materials of Japanese painting, she began with research on 'tarashikomi' and 'nijimi' techniques seen in the Rinpa school of the Edo period, exploring dialogue with nature through the interplay between the act of painting and the accidental phenomena produced by materials. Recently, under the 'Sawari' series, she improvises paintings by resonating with the air and sounds of various locations as 'sawari (noise)' within herself.

About Sónar Barcelona

A world-class international festival based in Barcelona, Spain, integrating music and creative technology. In particular, the concurrently held international conference 'Sónar+D' serves as a global hub where scientists, entrepreneurs, and artists gather to implement AI, biotechnology, and data science into society through the power of art.