Shibari is a Japanese style of rope bondage that emphasizes geometric patterns, aesthetic precision, and the connection between rigger and person being tied. It evolved from the martial art hojo-jutsu and became an erotic practice in the twentieth century. Shibari ties range from decorative to suspension.
Shibari is a Japanese style of rope bondage characterized by geometric precision, aesthetic composition, and emphasis on the emotional and physical connection between the rigger and the person being tied. The word literally means 'to tie' in Japanese, and the practice is sometimes called kinbaku, which specifically refers to the erotic form. Shibari evolved from hojo-jutsu, a feudal-era Japanese martial art used to restrain prisoners with rope. In the twentieth century, artists and photographers including Seiu Ito and later figures such as Akechi Denki transformed the practice into an erotic and artistic form. Shibari was popularized in the West beginning in the 1990s and has since become a major branch of contemporary rope bondage. Common ties include the single column tie, the double column tie, the Takate Kote (upper body harness), and the futomomo (thigh harness). Suspension shibari lifts the tied person off the ground and is the most technically demanding form. The practice requires study because incorrect ties can cause nerve damage, circulation problems, or falls.