Master "K"

Master "K" is a California-based writer and kinbakushi (1950-2026)

Activities

Kinbakushi, Writer.

Alternate Names

Master "K"(Japanese)

Biography

1950: Born on April 18th.

1970(c): Discovers a Japanese bondage photo book and some of John Willie's graphic novels at a bookstore in San Fransisco and becomes interested in the world of bondage.

1972(c): Becomes fascinated by the art and culture of Japan and minor's in Asian Studies at University.

1973(c): Takes first trip to Tokyo, Japan as a student and has first in-person exposure to Kinbaku.

1975(c): Returns to Japan and receives lessons from a young Kinbakushi.

1995(c): Forms his own Kinbiken style study group and began teaching.

1999(c): Becomes friends with Steve Osada via email and learns more about the Japanese shibari scene.

2000(c): Photos featured on Steve Osada's first website Fetish Japan.

2001: Two week exhibit of photographs presented at Kholer Gallery in New York in July.

2002(c): Photos and an article on Seiu Ito are featured on Steve Osada's website Kikkou.com.

2003(c): Accepts Mark Yu as a student.

2004: Publishes "Shibari: The Art of Japanese Bondage."

2004: Accepts Faviola Llervu as assistant and later as a student.

2005: Accepts DemonSix as a student.

2008: Publishes the first edition of "The Beauty of Kinbaku."

2008: Creates the website thebeautyofkinbaku.com.

2008(c): Accepts Zetsu as a student.

2010(c): Travels to Japan and visits Chimuo Nureki, Go Arisue, Haruki Yukimura and Hiroshi Urado.

2011(c): Accepts Miss ZElement as assistant and later as a student.

2012: Hosts Haruki Yukimura in Los Angeles in December and earns an "Instructor First Class" certificate from him.

2013(c): Shibari work featured in Hustler's Taboo Magazine.

2013(c): Founds LA Rope Dojo with Zetsu.

2013: Oct. 23 - Nov. 3. Travels to Japan. Ropework was exhibited at “Kinbaku: Form and Emotion” in Tokyo. Given the name "Harutora" by Haruki Yukimura.

2013(c): Publishes Japanese edition of "The Beauty of Kinbaku".

2013(c): Nov. Founds Spring Tiger Ryu with Miss ZElement.

2014: Jun. 13-15. Hosts Akira Naka at the LA Rope Dojo in Los Angeles.

2014: Nov. Rope work appears the The Bulls music video "Come Undone".

2014: Dec. 14. Publishes second english edition of "The Beauty of Kinbaku".

2015: May. Shibari work appears in the May edition of GQ Italy magazine.

2026: Passes away on January 26th.

Selected Works

• Shibari: The Art of Japanese Bondage (Secret Publications, 2004)
• The Beauty of Kinbaku (King Cat Ink, 2008)

Print Articles

• Master K. A Brief History of Shibari (Secret magazine, Apr 2002)

• Robert Ito. Enormous Fleshy Pinatas (Believer magazine, Dec 2005). Includes brief comments about Araki by Master K.

• Lesley Bargar. Untying Shibari (Los Angeles Alternative Magazine, Mar 10, 2006). Interview with MasterK. Interview also includes Faviola Llervu.

• Joel Stein. My Life as a Very Naughty Boy (Los Angeles Magazine, Oct 2008). Features Master K.

Online Articles

• A Seminal Work on Kinbaku - Master'K' the interview (The SM Detective, May 1 2009)

• Interview with Master K (Immortal Shibari, 2002)

• Marnie Sehayek. [NSFW] A Brief History of Japanese Rope Bondage (VICE, Feb 14, 2017). Features Master K.

Podcast Interviews

• Graydancer interviews Master K (Graydancer's Ropecast, Apr 8 2008)
• Master K Interview and More! (Graydancer's Ropecast, Apr 25 2008)
• Master K's (Graydancer's Ropecast, Dec 22 2008)
• Kinbaku with Master K (Graydancer's Ropecast, Apr 15 2009)
• Rants about Suspension; Interview with Master K (Graydancer's Ropecast, Nov 18 2009)
• Interview with Master K, Part 1 (Graydancer's Ropecast, July 23 2010)
• Spontaneous Rope-Bustion! (Graydancer's Ropecast, Jul 30 2010)
• Master K Returns to the Ropecast! (Graydancer's Ropecast, Nov 4 2013)

How-To-Tie Guides

• How to do a Kikkou (Immortal Shibari, c2002)

• How to do the takate-kote (Immortal Shibari, c2002)

External Links

• The Beauty of Kinbaku