Last Friday we had the privilege to participate on Naka Akira’s Semenawa Kinbaku Kenkyûkai in Kinbaku Lounge, Copenhagen.
It was already the second time this year, that we could hear Sensei talking and seeing him tying – after a very intense presentation in Studio Yukari, London in February.
Naka-san was in splendid mood, calling Copenhagen his second home, pointing out that it is the place he came to most in Europe so far.
The room was packed but same time it was a very cosy, intimate atmosphere. Naka-san started to speak, even before the venue owners Scot and Tanja, could do their introduction.
Naka-san talked about his own path into Kinbaku, along the line of the known-to-anybody story, but with many new and refreshing details. He spoke about his first interaction with Nureki Chimou, how he started to learn to tie, how he met the owners of Ogawa rope shop on his search for ropes as a newbie, and so on.
“Before Nureki, Kinbaku was incomplete. Nureki gave it shape – and influenced everyone else in their work.”
He also talked about his work as actor in adult industry, and how he came first time to Europe.
It seem to be important to him to keep the stories told, to pass them on, to keep that memory alive. As many of “us” – he worries about that the names and their stories get forgotten.
So he massaged his rope – and talked.
But then, of course, it was also about tying, about demonstrating his craft. Down there, on the mat, sensei showed us what semenawa means to him.
His first session was with Lea, a member of Kinbaku Lounge community. It was their first encounter (in ropes). “I’m excited – and nervous” Naka san said…
Everyone could see how Naka-san enjoyed the process of tying. His humanity and empathy manifested. He did what I call “crazy shit”, bended and squeezed and stretched her body in many ways – still keeping a close connection, a watchful presence. And of course, he made her very beautiful in her suffering, that she presented so generously to him – and to us, the perverts peeping.
After a short break, he introduced Iroha-san. They are now 10 years together and, as he said, she supported him all the way.
Iroha-san is not a woman of many words. She speaks with her intense presence, dedication, and beauty*.
So, without more stories we went into the second session of the evening.
Iroha-san was wearing a Kimono, picked by Naka-san. He commented on that matter, that he doesn’t understand why so many Western people wear Kimono for their sessions, whilst it is not cut to their body shape and moreover many do not understand how it gets dressed.
He was not judgemental about it – but rather curious about their motivations. And I think there is a big space for more cultural exchange and translation, to deepen our understanding what Kinbaku means to the Japanese people.
But back to the show. The mood, the energy was different from the first session. And how can it be different. As the one was a first – most likely a singular – encounter, this one is loaded with relationship and history. They know each other so well. And still, Iroha-san dedicates her body and her soul to him, again and again. And Naka-san finds fascination anew, again and again.
The session was quiet and fierce. It was suffocating and squeezing. I think Naka-san was very inspired by some old drawings of Seiu Ito. But maybe it was only me who had this phantasy…
After the session was over, we all went to the other room. A “Shibari night” was going on in parallel, the usual Friday night jam. People were tying, did impact play – and a fair share of “Hentai”. After some rest, the Japanese came over to watch.
This is how we actually met first time inn 2017, 4 month before our very first Workshop with them: Naka-san sitting on the floor, surrounded by his students and the translator – watching the Europeans tie. I think, he genuinely enjoys it.
“I get excited, seeing this” he reports, “I need to hold myself back not to join” “To make it better?” someone asks. “No, I do not think that way – I just want to add” he says.
And I think – there is so much more to learn from him. Many others things than just the knots…
*And hence: There is an opportunity to hear first hand from Iroha-san about her journey in ropes and her role as maybe the most famous rope bottom: The collors of Iroha, hosted by Studio Yukari