Start the new year right in Shinjuku at SM World in Night. This is an all night affair beginning at 19:00 on Sunday January 10, 2010 and winding up the next morning at 05:00.
The line-up of rope masters reads like a Who's Who of SM personalities in Japan:
Shima Shikou Aotsuki Nagare Kazami Ranki Kamijyoh Saki Panda Osada Steve Miura Takumi Hajime Kinoko Tennosuke Loving Circus Master A
Hope you remember me! Nine months have passed since my last article.
I happily recognize this blog has been attracting more attention in the scene thanks to KabukiJoe's efforts. The good thing is that KJ focuses on providing high quality information on the bondage scene in Japan from the source country.
It's hard to know what to write as I have too many topics. I can say 2009 was a year of "Tour de Kinbaku" for me--so many things have happened during the last nine months including a lot of traveling.
FetiSM, a small fetish event I organized for the first time in February was a great success as KJ reported here (thanks!). The venue was filled with energetic air but was cozy and comfortable (at least for me). I've never seen so many people playing with rope at the same time! Thank you for all who made a visit to the event, and also a big thanks to the staff.
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.
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.
The photo was taken by Nobuyoshi Araki for an ad to run in some UK mags for an Italian tile company. The ad was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.
You know, with all this banning going on we must all be a lot better off.
That's correct. Sugimoto Aya, star of the two most recent iterations of Hana to Hebi, would rather attend a cocktail party in the buff than wear fur. I must agree with this sentiment even though I do have some issues with the cause she is supporting here.
I had read that Ms. Sugimoto recently donated her time and her luscious body to the animal rights group, PETA, but had never come across the photographic evidence. Well, now I have and here Ms. Sugimoto is in all her naked glory.
To be honest, the photograph is tastefully shot so I guess it doesn't really show all the glory that is Ms. Sugimoto. Close enough, though. No complaints here.
Speaking of Hana to Hebi (Flower and Snake), I just realized that Uzuki Taeko had a non-speaking role in the film. She was one of the three women (along with Ms. Sugimoto) to hang naked from a cross and was in at least one other scene that I recall.
The reason I mention this is because Uzuki was Arisue Go's model in the documentary Bakushi which I reviewed earlier. Small world.
I don't care for the place. There are too many unsavory characters and, to be perfectly honest, they mostly have a gaijin face. Westerners fuck the place up for me, whether they be intemperate Marines or annoying Nigerians.
Of course, you're likely to see a lot of Westerners in Roppongi since this is where most of the embassies are situated. It is also a center of adult-oriented nightlife which seems to bring out the worst elements of the foreign community.
But I had to get over there again eventually because I wanted to visit the Dogma office and, as fate would have it, they are located in Roppongi.
I came across what appears for all intents and purposes to be a documentary on Japanese bondage. It appears to be a British production. The embedded video I have here is quite short but, from what I can tell, it seems to have been shot very well. I was impressed with the production values.
I can't really comment on the content as this trailer is much too short to draw any conclusions. But it looks very interesting, and it has well-known bondage artist Naka Akira in it which should cause a lot of aficionados to take notice.
If anyone knows anything more about this documentary, don't hesitate to let us all know in the comments.
Speaking of Naka Akira, I mentioned earlier that I was planning on crashing his party in the not-too-distant future. Well, I did go over to one of his places but, sadly, no one was home. I had two addresses for him, both in Nakano.
One appeared to be more residential than the other. I really didn't feel like knocking on the poor guy's door if it was his personal residence. The other one was in a busier commercial area so I went to that place on a Saturday night.
Sometimes in Japan I can't tell if these buildings contain apartments/condos or businesses -- maybe both. Anyway, I gave it a shot in the hot, humid summertime but came up empty handed. Will have to swing by again one of these days.
Update: Thanks to the commenter below, we are informed that this was a documentary that appeared (possibly in 2006) on Channel 5 in the UK. Here's the link to more info. Not specifically a doco on Japanese bondage, but has some Japanese stuff included. It was called How Fetish Conquered the World.
Before I get started with Bakushi, there's some catching up to do.
I hadn't really planned to allow this much time to go by between posts -- just worked out that way. Summer is always a bitch in this part of Japan and it was just too tempting to stay in air conditioned comfort than go out and snoop around for news. Even a trip to the local video store was a sweaty, uncomfortable task (the store closest to me ain't that close).
I did get together with this young lady for tonkatsu and some drinks at a nice bar. She complained that this summer was not hot enough for her! True, it was a bit cooler this summer than usual but it still had me sweating like a pig in a sauna. But she thrives in the humidity.....and I shrivel.
I can't really comment on the content as this trailer is much too short to draw any conclusions. But it looks very interesting, and it has well-known bondage artist 
