A friend and I were recently emailing about this terrific Japanese bondage site called BBPS (Bound Beauties Photo Salon). The interesting thing is that while they do have some traditional Japanese bondage (Shibari), most of their pics are actually more Western-style damsel in distress bondage, usually fully clothed, which is a rare combination to find on a Japanese site. And they do it brilliantly. I wish there were an English language “Join” option, as I’d sign up immediately. All I’ve seen are samples and things that have been re-posted. They are nice enough to link back to my blog but I can never figure out anything when I go to their actual site, even with that Google translation thing.

The contrast between Shibari and Western-style bondage was on my mind recently (and I’ll probably step on a few toes here). It seems that bondage in general has become more popular in the last ten years or so, but it sometimes seems to me that the most popular style is Shibari, or Japanese bondage, which to be honest, is actually my least favorite style of bondage. When I go to the BDSM clubs and people talk about bondage it sometimes seems it’s almost assumed that we’re talking about the Japanese style. And I do realize how hard it is to do traditional Shibari, and that many talented people devote years of study to it.

But I have to admit, I don’t see many Shibari picture that sexually turn me on – mainly because quite often the girl is naked (I likes the clothes) and sometimes they don’t even gag her (which blows my mind – why even bother then?) I will grant though that when they do use gags, they’re sometimes very nicely done, such as the polka-dotted scarves you see and the nice “bandit” gag where both the girl’s mouth and nose are covered with a cloth. Sometimes though the tying just strikes me as being overly complicated and methodical and lacking in excitement. Personally I prefer the kind of bondage where it looks like some guy broke in, grabbed the girl, and bound and gagged her against her will – not that I’m advocating anything non-consensual, but Western-style bondage quite often seems to have more of a sense of danger and peril, which is a huge turn on for me.

I should point out I do have some Shibari related links on the “how to” pages of my website, as many of the techniques are useful – even lots of damsel in distress bondage is often done with Shibari-inspired ties. But joining a Shibari paysite? It’s not something I’ll probably do very often, unless they have a model that really works for me.

In a similar vein, I have to mention this phrase I’ve been hearing more and more the last few years that just drives me nuts – “Adult Rope Art” or just “Rope Art.” I have to say it kind of gives me the willies. I’m not into “Rope Art;” I’m into Bondage! Rope Art just sounds so sanitary and “nice,” which I guess is the whole point, whereas the word Bondage sounds kind of forbidden and a bit shameful. Thanks but I’ll stick with the shame ;-)