There’s some good news and some bad. As I think I mentioned, Kalahari cannot make it this year and I just heard that Dragonrope/Umino is unable to extricate himself from his work commitments. I noticed that Bob Ropemarks, a veteran of shibari from the Netherlands, is coming over for the Naka Akira course so I persuaded him to do a show with the delightful Dutch Dame and cast a few pearls of wisdom during the tutorial sessions. Bob and DD seems to prefer to develop a show, work hard on perfecting it over many months rather than to winging it with something in the moment as I tend to do. Consequently, they turn out highly polished and professional performances so I’m very much looking forward to their latest production.
Sexy J’s balls washing
Saki Kamijoo is bringing a comedian friend, Sexy J who is part of Beat Takeshi‘s stable of comedians. Sexy J is known for his infamous “kin-tama arai” (balls washing) sketch which will provide a little light relief from all the kinbaku shows. I have seen a video but most of it was lost on me as it was in Japanese. However, I have been assured that he will do it in English for us. Underneath the inscrutable and formal Japanese façade is a taste for the craziest humour, as anyone who has seen their TV programs or been treated to Kinoko’s ‘underground performance’ will know.
We have a few more surprises up our sleeves and no doubt over the next few weeks we will have a few ourselves. After all, we never expected to be welcoming Sugiura sensei, Ropemarks or Sexy J.