Club Appearances

'A Night of Constraint'

Where: Ping Pong, 3 Appold Street, London EC2A 2AF
When: Friday, June 25, 2010, 8PM onwards

'A Night of Constraint' is a dinner party event, held at the city branch of Ping Ping in the private upper floor. It will progress through a four course dinner of dim sum interspersed with poetry readings, performance art, Japanese rope bondage, butoh dance, and short films, accompanied by traditional Shamisen (Japanese three-stringed instrument).
These performances will stimulate debate on how CONSTRAINT is present in both English and Japanese culture and our different reactions to it.
At the bar, a series of sake and plum wine based drinks will be served. Tickets are £32 in advance (http://www.wegottickets.com/event/83024) / £40 on the door which includes food, performance and an introductory sake based cocktail.

Event Blog http://nightofconstraint.blogspot.com/2010/06/set-list-etc.html

Philosophy

Constraints are all around us: in the way we dress appropriately, in the way we behave towards others. In the West we often see constraint as a struggle against freedom. Japanese culture has embraced constraint as a means of development of the self. Our event allows guests to explore this concept in an intimate dinner party context. Through a series of performances inspired by various Japanese arts we want to make tangible what is normally invisible.
This event is also supported as an art research project by The Japanese Association for Semiotic Studies.

The Performers

Akimbo Moonchild a.k.a. James Mudd
The event organiser. A performer based in London with a fascination with oriental culture. His alter ego explores modern and traditional imagery surrounding oriental figures such as geishas through a combination of costume and performance art. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/akimbo.moonchild?ref=profile

Noriko Onohara
A fashion researcher presently associated with the V&A. She has published several volumes of poetry next to her academic work on street fashion.http://www.fashion-j.com/blog/london/

Fabio Gygi
An anthropologist specializing in contemporary Japan. He has been living in Japan on and off for four years and has been practicing Aikido for 18 years.

Nawashi Murakawa (Shibari / Japanese Rope Bondage)
Nawashi (`Master of the Rope`) is the doyen of London`s Japanese rope bondage scene. He has 18 years of worldwide experience and has travelled widely in Japan to further his understanding of the Japanese tradition.

Thierry Alexandre (Butoh / contemporary dance)
Thierry uses Butoh -an avant-garde abstract dance form from Japan- to express the deepest and most misunderstood emotions in a physical form and creates compelling, deeply emotive and mesmerising performances taking the audience on unexpected journeys. www.thierryalexandre.com.

Shamisen Awa Musume (Musician) Her stage name means 'daughter of the shamisen' which is a traditional three stringed Japanese instrument. Her music will accompany the night and she will also be the model for Nawashi Murakawa's performance.

Francis Rushby (Ikebana florist). Francis has arranged flowers for Madonna, Claridge's and Dior, and has helped Japanese bonzai group 'bonsai kai' win silver gilt at the Chelsea flower show.

'Club Rub' Oriental and Rope Bondage Night

Murakawa will make a show and appearance at 'Club Rub' on
Saturday 12th June with his 'Mjyo' 'Shamisen Awa Musume' who will be in full and authentic kimono dress.

Within his performance, he will take an ordinary builders ladder leant against the wall,to make an unusual Kinbaku suspension.

Other exotic performers, including the prestigious 'Japanese mistress 'Amrita', and the magical Chinese performer 'Susie Wong' will also thrill you with their own 'Oriental Delights' at Kim Williamson's very long running and established party night,

To be held at 'The Hideout', a more intimate part of the 'Debut' club,
Located at 29 Weston Street, London, SE1 3RR, under London Bridge Station. [The former 'SE1 Club']

The London Fetish Fair after party.
Sunday 10th January 2010

A kinbaku performance will take place early in the evening, with two mjyo's [masochistic women]
Please visit www.londonfetishfair.co.uk for details.

THIS MONTH'S AFTER PARTY IS DEFINITELY ON!
After party: Vandersexxx continues after London Fetish Fair
(2nd Sunday of each month) Next Event January 10th 2010 at:
Parker McMillan 47 Chiswell Street, Islington London EC1Y 4SB

UPDATED: 20 May 2009

1st annual London Festival of the Art of Japanese Bondage

Nawashi Murakawa's Salon of Kinbaku by Armando@kinetic-image.com

Nawashi Murakawa will be taking part in the four day 1st annual London Festival of the Art of Japanese Bondage, Thursday 25th June 2009 through to Sunday 28th 2009. See WORKSHOPS and LECTURES for further detail in the first instance.

Torture Garden Paris