SAITOH YOSHIKI: 'AKECHI' PHOTO BOOK

Akechi

Singpoosha
Tokyo, Japan

Saitoh Yoshiki worked for advertising agencies as a commercial photographer. Saitoh Yoshiki held an exhibition titled “Akechi” and published a book in the same title featuring the kinbaku work of the late Akechi Denki, Shihan of Kinbaku. Here is a glimpse into the world of Akechi Denki through Saitoh san's eyes.

Saitoh Yoshiki

I had come across the name Akechi Denki before. I had probably seen it in the articles in the sadomasochistic magazines that publishers deliver to my house. I vaguely remembered his face as well, which was cold and slender, the gaze obscured by sunglasses. It was the kind of face that you never forget once you've seen it. At that point, however, I was not interested in him any more than to think that he was an interesting-looking nawashi (rope artist)...

...Since then, three years have sailed by. Akechi passed away and finally this book of photos has been published. I am deeply moved to confront Saitoh's photographs again today and to think about Akechi's world of ropes...

...There are many people who are very keen on Akechi, who is today viewed as a legendary rope artist. These people are certainly important, but we wanted to address a broader audience. We wanted even the people who have absolutely no interest in sadomasochism or shibari up until now to look at the book without preconceptions...

...There is a complicated psychological exchange that cannot be contained within the relationship between the ruler and the ruled that is generally considered to exist when the two parties are engaged in sadomasochistic behaviour. As I've emphasized before, the relationship between the binder and the bound is the ultimate relationship of trust. Moreover, shibari pursues the ultimate form of expression using human bodies. The ropes change the shape of the body, bringing out as much of its potential as possible...

Introduction by Kotaro Iizawa [full text]