16/08/2010 by Esinem.

It looks like the next festival will be over Easter weekend. It’s not certain yet. This time we are going to check properly that it doesn’t clash with anything major to avoid a repeat of last year’s rescheduling after discovering we had chosen Torture Garden’s birthday weekend.

We are planning to keep the festival at  Resistance Gallery. Some might question how the venue will cope with what will undoubtedly be a larger number of vistors. Rest assured, changes are in progress. We have already made more general storage, secure places for bags etc. and additional seating on the mezzanine.  The next step is a series of multi-purpose alcoves downstairs, which can serve as seating or stalls with extra storage. Dead space in reception will provide a much needed cloakroom area for coats. As the party is very ‘perfomance heavy’, we plan to add a bit more variety to the evening and spead the shows across the days more evenly. Each day will also be more of a mixture of events as a whole day of workshops, for example, can become quite exhausting so a change is as good as a rest. By making each day as unmissable as the next it will help avoid overcrowding and make the experience more enjoyable for all. If demand necessitates, we also have the option of space in the next unit.

At this stage, I have no idea how we can top last year’s event. It’s going to be a real challenge. With Kinoko topping the bill and so much talent teaching, exhibiting and performing, the bar has been raised yet again. I’d like to put a call out to anyone who has ideas or contributions (help, teaching, art, performance, contacts etc.) for LFAJB 2011. It’s you that make the festival what it is. We couldn’t do it without you, so it’s our festival. Let’s do it again and let’s do it better!

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20/04/2010 by Esinem.

If you missed Kinoko’s show on Friday 2 at our Arts Night, you can see video of him at work here.  If you ever asked yourself “What is kinbaku?”, here’s the answer. Look and learn!

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18/04/2010 by Esinem.

We are delighted that Hakalax Productions agreed to us showing KINBAKU - The Art of Bondage (2009) during the film night and allowed us to offer DVD’s of their documentary:

Kinbaku, “tight binding”, is a Japanese style of bondage which involves tying up the bottom using simple yet visually intricate patterns, with several pieces of rope usually hemp or jute. In Shinto religion, in order to make something sacred, man will tie a rope around it. This sacred quality of the tying can be applied also to Kinbaku, which is an erotic, spiritual, artistic connection between the people who are doing it. It started with samurais capturing enemies on battlefield 500 years ago. “Rope is an extension of arms and communication tool. Two people can really be close and have emotional exhange”, says rope master Osada Steve from Tokyo. Osada Steve is student of Haruki Yukimura, a rope master who has tied over 3000 people during his life. “If you look at the Japanese samurai armor, it’s tied on. If you’ve ever received a Japanese gift, it’s an exquisite thing”, says Asagi Ageha, the most popular star of the new generation. Japan places a ritualistic weightness on everyday acts-a-talent our own culture lacks and turn almost anything, including knots and ropes into art. Nowadays rope is used to create an artistic, meaningful scene between two people. Kinbaku is about creating a beautiful climate and an exciting dramatic experience.

You can now buy this documentary on DVD here  for 15 euro + 2.5 euro P&P (worldwide).

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11/04/2010 by Esinem.

Kinoko sensei demonstrates

Kinoko Hajime will be returning to London in late April after his triuphant UK debut at the London Festival of the Art of Japanese Bondage. Kinoko will be performing, in contrast to his very traditional shows at LFAJB, one of his unconventional neo-shibari UV spectacles at the Torture Garden International Fetish Ball. He will also be giving a master class for a small group on Wednesday 28 April from 8:00-10:30pm in London SE5 at £95 per couple. This is an unique opportunity to learn genine kinbaku from one of Japan’s latest prodigies, who began his career after seeing Akechi Denki perform in his club and later took lessons from Kanna, a direct disciple of Akechi.

Book here!

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08/04/2010 by Esinem.

 Esinem & Maleficent Martini

Well, the dust has settled after a triumphant second festival. It was fantastic to have Kinoko here from Japan to show us real kinbaku in action and share some of his knowledge during the workshops. We were all stunned by the quality and diversity of the shows from an international line up of performers. It is clear that shibari has moved into the arena of performance art as performers combined it with other means of expression.  From the feedback I’m getting, many people have been very inspired. It will be interesting to see what ripples expand from here through the world of rope.

We would like to extend a massive thanks to everyone involved in making this the success it was and creating such a special atmosphere. Garry has already mentioned putting on a mini event later in the year, so watch this space.  All the latest pictures can be found via ForumBondage.

Kinoko & Arisa

Shadow & Felix

Phographs by Joris Bruyninckx

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05/04/2010 by Esinem.

If you didn’t pick up some new ropes at LFAJB, don’t worry as you can still get the full range, plus a few more items at Esinem’s eBay shop. Here are just a couple of the items avaialble:

Asanawa style jute, 8m x 6mm

Standard jute rope, treated, 6mm set of 8

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19/01/2010 by Esinem.

For discussion on the Festival, see threads on ForumBondage and Fetlife.

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12/01/2010 by Esinem.

Here is a short video of Nawashi Murakawa at work at the Salon of Kinabku at last year’s event to whet your appetite. It was made by the very talented Patrick Siboni, who was also responsible for some stunning photos. I’m delighted to hear that he will be back again this year with bondage model, Berenice.

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