Shibari Relief: Kinky Artists Aid Japan

Written by: Tadashi Anahori on June 6, 2011 at 11:50 am | In Erotic Japan Blog | Discuss (1) »

Possibly the only thing better than the sight of a gorgeous girl, bound in submission to serve her Master’s every depraved whim, is the knowledge that said image is being auctioned for a good cause to boot. Three months on, the impact of the earthquake/tsunami and subsequent nuclear fears that rocked Japan is still being sorely felt by many in the country, and one big-hearted group of kinky artists based in San Francisco’s Bay Area has stepped up to the plate in a big way, raising funds for the relief effort the best way they know how: through taking dirty pictures.

The event, entitled Shibari Relief (referencing the noble Japanese art of erotic ropework), saw a number of artists who deal in kinky and erotic themes sell or auction off their works, and eventually went on to raise $2500 for the American Red Cross, who have been active in the affected regions of Japan since the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Mark I. Chester, a longtime gay-radical sex photographer and one of the event organizers, was quoted as saying: “While the funds we raised are only a drop in the bucket compared with what is needed, it felt good to provide what support and help we were capable of giving rather than just sitting on the side and shaking our heads.”

While the fundraiser is now over their website will remain active, providing links to other ways people can help. If you’ve yet to do so, get on over there or to one of the many secure places on the web you can donate to the aid efforts and show your love for the country that’s given us all so many good times.

Tags: BDSM, bondage, japanese bondage, kinbaku, shibari
Category: Erotic Japan Blog
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Blockbuster Japanese Bondage Toubaku Event

Written by: Kazuki Kintama on January 19, 2011 at 2:04 pm | In Erotic Japan Blog | Discuss »

It has just come to our attention that an amazing chance has appeared for all of you lovers of Japanese shibari (bondage).

On January 29th and 30th, some of the best Japanese style bondage artists from around the world are gathering in Shibuya for an event that is a must see for any shibari enthusiasts. Many times, when events like this occur, it’s not an event that “the rest of us” can attend.

But this time, not only can we attend, but our good friend Osada Steve is offering a special VIP ticket package. With the special Osada Steve pre-sale tickets, which can be requested here under the reservations section, a one day pass to the event will get you a complimentary DVD starring Aiko (pictured below). A two day pass will get you an Aiko DVD and one Kotone or Yuna DVD of your choice.

Seeing as it may be a problem for some to go and pick up the tickets at Studio SIX, arrangements can be made to have the pre-sale tickets and DVDs brought to the event. Tickets are also available at Lawson convenience stores and at the door while seating is available. For more information on this once in a lifetime event you can check out Toubaku.com. Hopefully we’ll see you there! I’ve already got my tickets and my mouth is watering thinking about my special DVDs!

Tags: bondage, kinbaku, osada steve
Category: Erotic Japan Blog
Other categories: Hands-on Reports, Product Releases

Japanese Bondage Site Relaunches:
You’re Bound to Check it Out

Written by: Kazuki Kintama on September 27, 2010 at 4:18 pm | In Hands-on Reports | Discuss »

Our friends over at Japan Bondage have recently done a full overhaul of their site and I’ve got to say, they are doing some pretty interesting things over there.

I personally like my women free to do as they please during sexy time, but when I took a look at the new site I started having second thoughts. I am a bit of a porn connoisseur with varying tastes, but whenever I heard about bondage, I had a really negative image. I had no idea that there was an entire artistic side to this type of erotica. About a year ago, Taro actually had the honor of meeting one of the headline bondage artists on the site, Osada Steve (pictured in action below).

Fans of more hardcore bondage and those looking to take care of a few urges, rest assured, there is plenty of material for you out there as well. Boasting over 150 videos, there’s something for anyone who’s even been a bit interested in seeing what goes on behind closed doors with rope and some red candles.

[Pics via JapanBondage.tv]

Tags: bondage, japanese bondage, kinbaku, osada steve, pornography
Category: Hands-on Reports
Other categories: Erotic Japan Blog, Product Releases

Kinbaku Japanese Bondage Phone Straps

Written by: Megumi on May 18, 2010 at 1:59 am | In Erotic Japan Blog | Discuss (1) »

Keitai (cellphone) straps are HUGE here, almost everyone has some kind of cute thing dangling from their handset. Kinbaku (緊縛) — traditional Japanese bondage — is a bit more underground, but there’s no reason why mainstream can’t meet subculture for some fun.

And that’s what the makers of Kinbaku Strap think too!

These are decorative phone straps for your cellphone in the guise of traditional Japanese bondage. As you can see from some of the range above, you get a naughty-looking figurine tightly bound in the customary way. Attach it to your keitai and you can advertise your sexual tastes to the rest of the world!

Amazingly it seems that Takara Tomy is even producing some of them. Perhaps there’s a bigger market for bondage goods than we figured!

We’ve long been an admirer of kinbaku and shibari on this blog, and once visited Steve Osada’s amazing Tokyo bondage dungeon for a show.

Nothing beats seeing a young lady trussed up with the shibari rope techniques — but we also like the idea of reminding ourselves of the joys of bondage every time we look at our cellphone!

Tags: bondage, japanese bondage, kinbaku
Category: Erotic Japan Blog
Other categories: Hands-on Reports, Product Releases

Tokyo Bondage Show and Tour with Osada Steve

Written by: Taro on June 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm | In Hands-on Reports | Discuss (3) »

Recently I had the pleasure to meet the king of Tokyo’s Shibari scene myself, and the honour to watch during one of his sessions. A few days later then, since we share similar origins and got along well, he took me along on one of his tours with some of his admirers that came as far as from the US and Australia.

Both events were a first time experience for me. Not that I dont know the “dark side” of Tokyo well enough. I know the corners of Kabukichou and am quite familiar with all kind of adult goods of course, since the discerning product selectors at KanojoToys let me tag along.

I am new to bondage and although I have to admit that it does not really give me a hard on myself…I really enjoyed watching the 3 hour session with Osada Steve tying up his sub, pulling her up, free her for a minute just to tie her up yet once more in a different position. Not only did I find the atmosphere in his small backside room just perfect for my dark fantasies…there was also a very artistic approach to it that I did not expect. Above all, Osada Steve is clearly a master in making the perfect knots and every very move is smooth and fast…

Steve presented us a selection of several techniques, of which, as an amateur, I cannot recall the names anymore, except for the “ebi” (shrimp) one…admittedly one of my favorites so far. At the end of the show it all became very “wa” (Japanese), much to my personal liking. A tatami (rice mat), sake barrel and all, with a fully-tattooed Japanese girl…well done, Steve.

During breaks I could learn a lot: About Shibari, its history as one of the Japanese old customs, why Shibari is so popular in Japan and also about some very traditional Japanese dildo made out of some root that apparently makes the girls horny. Of course I asked right away where I can get these and got the right connection…so its available HERE now.

After this first introduction to the scene, I was invited to come along to discover some of Tokyo`s SM scene. We went to a nice, cosy bar with Japanese salarymen hanging all on hooks and in rope, super-sexy girls doing the candle thing on them. We had some drinks and after a while Steve took charge of the scene by heading for the stage, fuming up some steam and good lightning and tying and pulling up his girl. Nice one ! As for me, I met a hot chick by the toilet but alas, almost time to go home. But surely come again and hopefully Steve will show me some more in the future to report on.

For the guys and girls among you that like SM, Bondage or just are interested in some very Japanese traditional thingy (more interesting than tea ceremony and what else JTB and HIS are trying to sell you;-)…Osada Steve’s SHOWS are surely the way to go.

For the ones of you that are already into it and know what they are doing…KanojoToys have added the original Osada Steve rope to their line. Get it HERE.

Tags: japanese bondage, japanese dildo, kinbaku, osada steve, rope, shibari
Category: Hands-on Reports
Other categories: Erotic Japan Blog, Product Releases

Osada Steve: King of Tokyo’s Shibari Scene

Written by: Taro on March 26, 2009 at 5:44 pm | In Erotic Japan Blog | Discuss »

(Photo copyright Max Hodges)

Ever heard of Osada Steve? If you’re not a regular on the traditional Japanese bondage scene, you may not have, but within the shibari houses of Tokyo’s seedy Kabukicho district, he’s the Man. Shibari, also known as kinbaku, is the Japanese art of erotic bondage, differentiated from Western bondage by its focus on ties that actively pleasure the bottom, as well as its minimalist, often asymmetric, aesthetic. While not the only culture to enjoy tying their lovers up, the Japanese may be more open about it than most; here’s a demonstration of the shibari “rope harness” on the prime-time comedy show Yarisugi Koji:

Osada Steve is one of the few living grandmasters of this art (yes, in Japan there’s a grandmaster for everything), and he teaches classes, performs live, and runs a great Shibari-oriented website.

The star student of Osada Eikichi, usually recognized as popularizing shibari and bringing it into the Japanese mainstream, he is the first and last word in traditional Japanese rope arts, and mesmerizing to watch- his hands dance over his subject, rhythmically and deliberately, as he combines sexual power-play and minimalist art. A review of Osada Steve performing at Loft Plus One captures the essence of performance shibari, a stage art exclusive to Japan:

A moonlit stage and a large, gently moving, white cloth bag create an air of mystery and conjure up a world of the surreal where anything might happen as if in a dream. Luckily for us this pouch contains and this dream revolves around the ravishing Asagi Ageha, Steve’s partner of choice of late and a beautiful girl that’s fast becoming a major star in the Tokyo SM nightclub scene.

After emerging from her silky cocoon the butterfly Ageha is captured in a beautifully executed Tasuki shibari before being lifted aloft by Steve into a graceful Aomuke zuri (face-up suspension) and spun as if on a silken web. This is a gorgeous image of kinbaku and worthy of the great Akechi Denki. Without missing a beat Steve then folds his partner into a graceful ball and suspends her head down for more vertiginous spins. The effect is dramatic as the sensei propels the bound and spinning girl out and over the audience before treating her to a thorough waxing that leaves her dazed.

By now these partners have performed so often that every move is picture perfect and the intimate understanding between them always results in great drama and beauty. This is one dream it’s a shame to wake up from.

Hear an exclusive interview with the man himself, as well as walking narration that unlocks the secrets of all the dark stairwells and neon facades just east of Shinjuku station, with the Tokyo Realtime: Kabukicho guide from White Rabbit Press.

Tags: bondage, kabukicho, kinbaku, osada steve, shibari
Category: Erotic Japan Blog
Other categories: Hands-on Reports, Product Releases