Welcome to Aijō, the dojo for the Japanese art of rope work

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Osada Steve – Kinbaku artist, teacher and founder of Osada-Ryū

Osada Steve (長田スティーブ) is a Berlin-born Kinbaku artist, performer and teacher who has lived in Japan since 1980. His path led from fashion and fetish photography in Tokyo's subculture to direct training with influential Japanese bakushi. His apprenticeship under Osada Eikichi was especially formative: from 1998 onward he assisted Eikichi's stage work and later continued his name and tradition.

In 2000 he created Studio SIX in Tokyo as a venue for performances, intensive training and the transmission of Kinbaku. His many years of stage and teaching experience gave rise to Osada-Ryū, a structured teaching system combining technical foundations with awareness, communication, rhythm and emotional connection.

Through international workshops, instructor training, publications, films and digital courses, Osada Steve has played an important part in making Japanese Kinbaku accessible beyond Japan. He continues to teach at the Osada-Ryū Honbu Dōjō in Tokyo and works as a performer, director, photographer and author.

Portrait of Osada Steve during a visit to Harukumo-Juku — Osada Steve during a visit to Harukumo-Juku

From photographer to Kinbaku teacher

1980–1997: Arriving in Japan

After extended stays in India, Thailand and Hong Kong, Osada Steve settled in Japan in 1980. He studied Shotokan Karate and Aikido and initially worked as a fashion photographer. During the 1990s, he documented Tokyo's underground SM scene as a fetish photographer.

1998–2001: Osada Eikichi

He met Osada Eikichi during a photo shoot in 1998. He became his student and assisted him at regular stage performances. In 2001, he succeeded his mentor and continued the Osada name as Osada Steve.

2000: Studio SIX

Studio SIX in Tokyo began as the home of Osada Seminar. From 2002 it was also used as a dōjō for intensive Kinbaku study. Performances and individual tuition remain at the heart of the studio.

2002–2017: Further teachers

Osada Steve began studying under Akechi Denki in 2002, Nawashi Kanna in 2005 and later Yukimura Haruki. Yukimura awarded him the bakushi name Harumine and a teaching licence. Since 2017 he has continued his studies with Yagami Ren.

2007–2008: Osada-Ryū

In 2007 he established Osada-Ryū and the Honbu Dōjō in Tokyo. The first licensed instructors were certified in 2008. Its Kyu system turns the learning journey into a series of progressive stages.

Since 2020: Digital learning

From 2020 Osada Steve expanded his work through online workshops and personal video coaching. The Kinbaku Academy launched in 2021 with structured online courses by Osada Steve and other Japanese teachers.

Osada Steve teaching Shana, Jack and other students at Aijō Dojo — Osada Steve teaching Shana, Jack, Vinciens and other participants

Teachers, influences and transmission

Osada Steve's work brings together experience from several lines of modern Japanese Kinbaku. Osada Eikichi introduced him to stage practice and to the direct transmission of knowledge. Studies with Akechi Denki and Nawashi Kanna followed.

He had photographed Yukimura Haruki's live performances since 1999. In 2006 Yukimura accepted him as his first formal student; he received the name Harumine in 2009 and a teaching licence in 2012. In this setting, Osada Steve deepened his study of Newaza – floor work – and Yukimura's relationship-centred approach to rope.

In his own tuition, Osada Steve breaks complex processes down into understandable building blocks. Repetition, attentive awareness and a solid technical base allow students to develop a personal form of expression as their experience grows. Aijō Dojo follows this structured teaching tradition in its Osada-Ryū Kyu training.

Stage, photography and publications

The Kinbaku Live format at Studio SIX combines performance with an immediate encounter before a small audience that is not entirely choreographed. Osada Steve has also performed across Japan and on international tours, teaching regular workshops in Europe, North America and Australia since 2004.

His photographs and work have appeared in Wired, Vogue, GQ and several Japanese specialist magazines. In 2009 he published the photo book Aiko – Kinbaku by Osada Steve, followed later by Letters from Tokyo. As a contributor or producer, he has also worked on film and documentary projects including Hito Steyerl's Lovely Andrea and The Pleasure of Rope.

Osada Steve during a Kinbaku Live performance at Aijō Dojo — Osada Steve during a Kinbaku Live performance

Osada Steve on video

The two recordings show different aspects of his work: an in-depth interview with Osada Steve and a Newaza demonstration in the style of Yukimura Haruki.

Shibari Interview 6 – Osada Steve

This interview by Harukumo-Juku focuses on Osada Steve as an artist, teacher and influential figure in modern Kinbaku.

Newaza – The Caressing Style of Yukimura Haruki

This approximately 20-minute demonstration was recorded in 2008 at a Kinbaku evening organised by Yukimura Haruki in Golden Gai. Osada Steve works with the model Asagi Ageha.