Masami Akita, aka internationally acclaimed noise artist Merzbow, is also an author, subculture researcher and collector of rare printed matter. This title is Masami Akita’s eleventh published book.

”The History Of Japanese Bondage Photography” is a comprehensive encyclopedia that seek to map the history of Japanese kinbaku photography in images and text.”

The book charts a timeline from advent kinbaku photography to modern 1990s perspectives.

Witness: Influential master artist Seiu Ito’s torture shibari. Toshiyuki Suma aka Minomura Kou’s rich cultural impressions as editor and rope master from postwar age to modernity in magazines The Kitan Club, Uramado, SM Select to S&M Collector. The Kinbiken collective’s groundbreaking explorations of kinbaku-bi and attached magazine slash newsletter Kinbiken Communication.

”The History Of Japanese Bondage Photography” is developed with kinbakushi Chimuo Nureki and photographer Akio Fuji in advisor capacity. Two legendary figures within Japanese tight-binding, who also were involved in SM magazines: The Kitan Club, S&M Collector to Kinbiken Communication.

This luxurious 324 page tome published 1996 is a beautiful visual library. Presenting over 300 black and white original high resolution images.

The photographic material is supplied by Akio Fuji’s production company Office Fuji Planning, Chimuo Nureki as well as assorted private collections.

Texts and commentary are written by Masami Akita.

As presented to us, this book is a beautifully crafted object and passion project.

An indispensable book for anyone interested in visual art, kinbaku history or mentioned actors.

The title is a resource of in-depth information and pictures not published elsewhere. Akita channel the insights and anecdotes Chimuo Nureki-san and Akio Fuji-san.

The above text is taken from “Where frost reign label & press”.

 

My copy is a hardbound book in hardbound slipcase, first edition in mint condition.

Format: 16 cm x 23,4 cm x 3,4 cm
324 pages
Published by Bibliotheca Nocturna, 1996.