Title: The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage Author: Midori Publisher: Greenery Press Publish Date: 2001 Pages: 163 Genres:: How-To Guide, Fetishes, Non-Fiction Reviewer: J. Henry

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Fetish diva Midori compiles a how-to guide for BDSM enthusiast with The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage. Midori has traveled the U.S. and around the world to teach the art of Japanese bondage–and believe me when I say it is an art. Japanese bondage (shibari) can be an intimate and sacred art and way of expression for those who employ it as an expression of desire and passion.

As in most introductions, Midori informs the reader how she became interested in Japanese bondage as well as why it’s considered an art; that is, “the rope must create visual pleasure for the one binding, the one bound, and any onlookers.” The act of bondage is not just about reducing the mobility of the submissive party or enhancing sexual encounters, but truly in being a visual aesthetic for the dominating and submissive parties in an intimate setting. Japanese bondage can create an even more visually appealing atmosphere when it comes to the color, texture, and knot arrangement of the rope. When Midori delves into the “Elements of Aesthetic Rope,” she goes into detail about the particulars that make this type of bondage beautiful: line symmetry, even tension, intentional twists, balance and eye flow, etc. The jargon in this area is a bit heavy for the non-BDSM person, but explains a lot of the intricacy involved when it comes to this Western form of bondage.

The proceeding sections entail the safety measures involved (always have a First Aid kit and EMT scissors handy), creating the mood without feeling like you’re in the Boy Scouts with your chosen rope, and even a taste of how sensual the mood can be within the “Seduction” section. “Seduction” displays some of the most erotic areas of the book that detail the thrill of the rope rubbing against one’s genitals, the anticipation of being bonded at another’s will, the gasp of the submissive as they enjoy the naughty pleasures being bestowed upon them.

Throughout Japanese Bondage,the dominator is known as “the top” and the submissive, “the bottom.” The third section contains the nitty-gritty information with full color pictures of a particular bondage position(s). In some, Midori is pictured as an aggressive or loving top while others illustrate the bottom alone in random settings such as a frontier area, kitchen floor, or even perched up on a cross in a pose synonymous with the crucifixion of Jesus. The body types range from svelte to chunky, men or women. Midori states that the range of bodies in the photographs was important to show the range of positions that is applicable to everyone. The pictures are followed by detailed step-by-step guides as to how to implement the pictured position on your partner. The photographs of the positions are as vivid as the different color ropes used in each picture. The positions never seem too constricting or uncomfortable as each bottom expresses contentment or longing within each pose.

Midori ends it with “Aftercar”’ easing the reader into how the scene may end and allowing the bottom to revel in the afterglow of moment and “reveling in their nakedness.”

The shortcoming of Japanese Bondage is the lack of instruction when it comes to knots. Midori explains that there are no real fancy knots used within the book and that she herself doesn’t know any, but her portion on “knots and ties” explains very little other than not to be apprehensive. So when she refers to the overhand knot, the square knot or the granny knot, some may be absolutely clueless as to what she is referring to. Having to take her advice to refer to a specific knot book takes away from learning about the specialty of Japanese bondage in her text.

The strength of Japanese Bondage is Midori’s caring nature and willingness to educate the reader into how to set the mood before, during and after the bondage fantasy. In addition, she makes reference to the health aspects of bondage by making mention of the possibilities of injury afterwards. Ensuring that your bottom is happy and aroused is increasingly important when it comes to a bondage situation. Japanese bondage may not be for everyone, and indeed Midori is a natural guide, but some things are better expressed in person than in text form. There aren’t many books available on Japanese bondage, especially those written in the United States, but the inclusion of The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage into the BDSM and sexual reference library is a welcome addition.