Nawa Musubi
Rope-teaching partnership of Jake and Laced in Australia, which Studio Kink says opened in June 2018 to teach the Ichinawa-kai curriculum of Hajime Kinoko.
Nawa Musubi is the name under which Jake and Laced teach and perform rope in Australia. The Shibari Study Podcast show notes describe it as a partnership of the two, formed in April 2018. Studio Kink, the Sydney school that profiled both on its own site, dates the opening of Nawa Musubi to June 2018. The podcast ties the April formation date to Jake’s certification by Hajime Kinoko, while Studio Kink dates the opening to June.
Jake
Studio Kink’s profile says Jake’s interest in rope became serious when a formal training program in the Kazami-ryu style opened in Queensland, and that Jake went on to be the earliest in Oceania to finish its Level 4. The profile says that in early 2018 Jake trained intensively under Hajime Kinoko in Tokyo, was invited to teach for Kinoko in Australia, and became the first person outside Japan with official certification to teach Kinoko’s style.
Teaching
According to Studio Kink, the pair teach Kinoko’s Ichinawa-kai curriculum (see Ichinawa-kai) and collaborate with riggers, models and artists nearby on personal projects. The podcast notes say the pair offer workshops and performances in Australia and elsewhere in Oceania, as well as Japan, and collaborate with musicians and artists. The same notes say they place as much weight on teaching the rope model as on teaching the rigger.
Laced
Studio Kink says Laced has modeled for rope since 2015 and began learning to tie in late 2016. The profile adds that Laced helps run Nawa Musubi, sharing knowledge in classes and assisting models.
Performance
Studio Kink says the pair had recently returned from Tokyo after appearing at Kabukicho DX for Jyo-mon, alongside fellow Ichinawa-kai alumni. The profile gives no date for the show.