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Explore the Fusion Between Traditional Japanese Culture and Rope Bondage

Introduction

 

Originating from Japan, nowadays various forms of advanced rope bondage are spreading throughout the world. Many people can perform technically advanced ties. We also see a lot of good rope bondage through the internet.

 

In her workshops Kasumi-san will not only be sharing technique, but also immerse us in the fusion between rope bondage, its Japanese origins and the mindset of the unique Japanese culture. Among the themes she will address is the similarity between rope fastening used when wearing a kimono and techniques for tying people. Another aspect is the similarity between 'kata' basic rules of ‘ikebana’ (flower arrangement) and the beauty of the shapes Kasumi-san strives to create in her style of kinbaku.

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Workshops with Kasumi Hourai

Kasumi-san invites you all to come and hear her views and details only a Japanese instructor can share. Having been a model for Naka Akira, she will also share her massive experience and insights into modelling for kinbaku. She will cover how to take care of your own body while being tied and how to communicate with the partner who is tying you. 

 

Kasumi Hourai will be accompanied by her friend Oto-san, who will be her model and translator during the workshop weekend. On Shibari Night special, Saturday September 23, Kasumi-san and Oto-san will bring us a performance packed with traditional and theatrical Japanese elements.

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Day 1 – Saturday September 23

11:00 – 18:00

Level: Strong Beginner to Intermediate, you are confident with a single column tie, frictions and know how to do a basic TK

 

Kasumi and Oto will start with a demonstration, so you will get a visual image of distinctive Japanese gestures and movement (in Japanese: shosa) in tying and modelling. After this demo Kasumi-san will explain the philosophy behind it. There is room for Q&A.

 

You will learn:

 

  1. the specific variety of takate kote (TK) chest harness Kasumi uses. She will cover the techniques and explain her take on the TK and how to safely attach uplines. She will also address potential risks in using the TK and how to avoid injury.

  2. “Fusha”, folded legs suspension. “Fusha” means ‘windmill’, which is the name Kasumi-san gave this tie because it makes her think of a Dutch windmill.

  3. some of the similarities between rope bondage and kimono tying.

  4. to tie with a minimum number of ropes, with a constant focus on your partner and how to use breathing to get in sync with each other.

 

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Day 2 – Sunday September 24

11:00 – 18:00

Level: Intermediate to advanced, you are confident with TK and uplines. You know how to safely perform a basic suspension and preferably have experience with transitions in the air.

 

  1. Kasumi-san will cover 3 types of suspension based on the TK you learned in day 1. The main theme in these suspensions will be three-dimensional kinbaku based on “shoka”, a skill in ‘ikebana’ flower arrangements in which the arrangement looks three-dimensional in a limited space.

  2. In the suspensions she will address the unique Japanese sense of beauty in “the right asymmetry” and guide you in practicing it in your ties.

  3. Kasumi-san and Oto-san will put a strong emphasis on how to make a model’s body more beautiful and attractive in bondage. They will explain how small touches can make a big difference to the way the model looks and how they affect the model’s emotions.

  4. Kasumi-san will introduce you to her style of tokonawa or semenawa for both floor work and suspension.

 

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Requisites:

 

For both days you need:

 

- an under-kimono (juban), thin bathrobe or thin wrap dress

- 12 to 15 ropes of 7-8 meters long and some short ropes of 2-3 meters

- a blanket or a mat if you prefer to work on that

 

Practical details:

 

Aimed at two distinct skills levels, it is perfectly possible to follow Day 1 (Strong Beginner to Intermediate) and Day 2 (Intermediate to advanced) seperately. However, Kasumi-san advises to take both days as one course since on Sunday she will build on the techniques she addressed on Saturday. Please contact us with questions about the required skills level.

 

The workshops will be presented in Japanese. English and Dutch translation will be provided.

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