The SM Detective

The first time I was taken to Shinjuku 2-Chome a few years ago, I didn't have a clue it was the gay hotspot in Tokyo. We went to a restaurant called Cocolo Cafe which had pretty decent food at reasonable prices.

By the third or fourth time I went there, I started noticing something kind of out of the ordinary: there didn't seem to be any chicks in the place!

Now, I'm not some bumpkin who's just fallen off the turnip truck, but I did spend too many years out in the provinces before moving into Tokyo. Maybe that put a glitch in my gaydar. I mean, I know my way around West Hollywood pretty well and have had the obligatory tour of the Castro district. But, for some reason, the first couple of times I went over to 2-Chome, I just thought I was in another funky place in funky Tokyo.

Read more

UPDATE: Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. And second chances. Stay tuned.

Today, Monday the 25th, I had the opportunity to interview one of the legends of the Japanese SM world.

And I blew it. I forgot the appointment.

I had been working on this for weeks. Thinking about it almost every day. Through a friend I found an excellent translator.

Yesterday I went to Hajime Kinoko's event. I wanted to get the info and pics up as soon as possible. I worked on it all night. During the night I think fatigue set in and I just wasn't thinking about the appointment.

By the time I woke up, it was too late.

Now I'm in "compensation" mode. The interview is off. How do I compensate people to whom I've caused all this trouble? That's what I'm trying to figure out right now.

I think I'm going to lay off blogging for awhile. Need time to think about all this. The purpose of this blog was to get this kind of information from Japan that's so hard to come by for us Westerners. But if I can't even remember a simple appointment...

That's what makes this fuck up of mine so painful.

KJ

It had been awhile since I'd got together with this young lady. The last time was towards the end of summer. Still too hot for me but not nearly hot enough for her.

This time the mercury had dropped significantly although we in Tokyo have yet to arrive at the really cold time of year. And unlike many places around the globe, no snow has fallen although we usually get at least a few flakes.

Judging from what I've been reading about Europe, I wonder if we will be in for some colder weather this winter and a heavier snowfall? I think it was two years ago that we went almost the entire winter with no snow. Then one or two flakes came down in Ginza and the meteorologists were thwarted.

Read more

Update: I posted a new video at the end of this report.

I feel like I'm starting to become an expert on tenugui, i.e., Japanese hand towels. These things are generally in the range of 33cm by 90cm (or thereabouts) and are made of thin cotton and dyed to exhibit various patterns and designs.

I'm not going to go into the history of tenugui or the multitude of uses to which they may be put. Info is readily available online if you're so inclined. They seem to be quite popular with kendo players, though. For folks into SM and Japanese style rope bondage, you can't get more traditional than a tenugui with blue polka dots used as a gag.

These just happen to be my favorite, followed by the ones with red polka dots.

Read more

Master K seems to have pulled off another coup.

Have you ever wondered who did the ropework for such Nikkatsu classics as Flower and Snake and Wife to Be Sacrificed? I had always just assumed it was a different guy each time. And since, compared to much of today's work, the technique appeared less sophisticated, I figured they just got whoever was handy at the time to apply the ropes.

Wrong.

A fellow by the name of Urato Hiroshi was the rigger according to Master K. And not just for the two most famous flicks mentioned above.

"The kinbaku devised for over 40 of the most famous Nikkatsu films was the product of one man -- the mysterious and reclusive Urato Hiroshi. It's taken years to find him but thanks to luck and persistence we managed to track him down for 6 hours of interview in order to present his remarkable story for the very first time."

Now, I am a little confused here. I'm not sure if this refers to information already contained in Master K's book, The Beauty of Kinbaku, or if this is something new (Ed. New info here. See comment). In any event, a series of short articles on the subject is appearing at the book's website. At the top you will see a section called Master K Files. Click on that and it will take you to the latest update.

Read more