Chapter 6

Yuriko demonstrated other bindings, first with Lace and then again with Tex. It was a delicate pattern of ropes and knots, tying one part of the body to another. The crowd cheered as the tall man lifted them, still fully bound and carried them off stage, one by one.

“And now, I’ll show you another side of Kinbaku-bi.”

She beckoned to me. I stood, left my robe on the chair and walked to center stage.

Yuriko explained my bindings and turned me around several times so it all could be seen.

“We also use bamboo in Kinbaku-bi.” Daisuke walked onstage and handed her a five-foot pole of bamboo about one inch in diameter. Yuriko explained that because of its strength, resilience, and beauty, bamboo was the perfect addition to binding. “It will not break, like a similar sized piece of regular wood, and it is a lot lighter.” She held it up.

Yuriko placed the rod behind my shoulders. “Hold on to this with both hands,” she told me softly.