Jute
A bast fiber from plants of the genus Corchorus, twisted into the light, grippy rope that many people associate with shibari and kinbaku.
Jute is a plant fiber taken from the stems of two cultivated Corchorus species, C. olitorius (tossa jute) and C. capsularis (white jute), and is made into yarn, twine and cordage. In rope bondage it is the fiber most people picture for shibari. Shibari Study’s rope guide describes it as lighter than hemp, low in stretch and with enough tooth that frictions stay where they are placed; it starts out rough and softens with conditioning and use. The same guide lists its drawbacks: it does not suit water, can bother people with grass allergies, may carry jute batching oil left over from manufacture, and is weaker than synthetic fibers, so suspension use calls for risk assessment. In Japanese, jute (黄麻) is one of the fibers covered by the broad sense of asa.