Osada Steve learned his rope the hard way,
by apprenticing under the late Osada Eikichi.
Coming to Japan : 1980- After living one year each in India, Thailand, and Hong Kong, and extensively traveling through Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Korea, Taiwan, China, and Vietnam, settled down in Japan for intensive study of martial arts (mainly Shotokan karate and Aikido).
Entering Japanese Subculture : 1990-
After paying his dues as fashion photographer Osada Steve picked up fetish photography in the 1990s, documenting much of Tokyo's SM scene.
Apprenticeship 1998-2001
He first met his mentor Osada Eikichi in 1998 during a photo shoot, and soon found himself helping out during stage performances, studying his style of kinbaku until his retirement in 2001, after which he continued his teacher's shows under the stage name Osada Steve.
Career Highlights
1999
Weekly: On stage with Osada Eikichi at Roppongi Mistress Bar 2000 April to Oct 2002: Osada Seminar (approx. 100 performances) 2001 Sep: Osada Steve Shibari art published in Wired mag Nov: Special Osada Eikichi Memorial performance at Roppongi Jail 2002
June: Osada Steve Shibari art published in Vogue
July: Special Osada Eikichi Memorial performance at Omiya Gekijo
Aug to date: Opened Studio SIX (approx. 100 performances per year) Sep: Special Osada Eikichi Memorial performance at Roppongi Mistress Bar Oct: Special Halloween performance organized by Ginza Black Heart Nov: Joint performance with Kazami Ranki at Loft Plus One 2003 March to Nov 2005: Weekly guest performer at Jail Tokyo June: East Meets West vol. 1, joint performances with Drachenmann from Germany at Jail Tokyo and Loft Plus One Aug: Shows at Omiya Gekijo Sep: Started career as nawashi for Japanese video production companies Nov: Special performance at Sadistic Circus
Dec: Established Osada Studios and started producing for Japanese and overseas video companies 2004 Jan: Performances and workshops in Berlin, Germany Feb: Performances and workshops in Hong Kong March: Joint performance with Nawashi Monko at Loft Plus One April: 80 shows in 20 days at Kujo OS, Osaka May: East Meets West vol. 2, joint performances with Drachenmann from Germany at Jail Tokyo June: Shows at Wakamatsu Gekijo, Funabashi July/Aug: 8-week European Kinbaku Tour. Performances and workshops in Berlin, Hamburg, Paris.
Starring in several SM movies and shooting a major Shibari Documentary. September: Shibari shoot for Playboy TV November: Started monthly gigs at Ranbukan, Randa Mai's place in Nogizaka Dec: 80 shows in 20 days at Kujo OS, Osaka 2005 Jan: Joint performance with Amrita at Loft Plus One Feb: Shows at Wakamatsu Gekijo, Funabashi March: Shows at Kabukicho DX April: Performance at Nightmare May: Performance at Bonobo Bar June: Kinbaku shoot for Sundance Film Festival July : 45 performances in Okinawa and Kyushu Aug: 40 performances at Kujo OS, Osaka Sep: Performances at Kabukicho DX Oct: 40 performances in Sapporo Nov: Performance at Nanohana, Kabukicho Dec: Performance at The Gate, Yokohama 2006 Jan: Special performance at TKS The Gate, Tokyo Kink Society Feb: Started monthly gigs at Sasquatch March: Video shoots for hogtied.com and waterbondage.com
April: Filming for KMC in Fukuoka
May: 40 performances at Kujo OS, Osaka July: xplore06 in Berlin Aug: Second European Kinbaku Tour with workshops, demos, performances, and video shoots
Sep: Shows at Kabukicho DX
Oct: 56-Camera 3D/CG film project plus gala show
Nov: 40 performances at Kujo OS, Osaka Dec: Attackers video with Randa Mai, Chiba Eizoh, Mira Kurumi, Kato Taka and others.
2007
Jan: Started training under Yukimura Haruki to study newaza and shyuchinawa techniques Feb: Japan producer for Hito Steyerl's "Lovely Andrea" film for Documenta Kassel
March: First Annual Shibari Clinic for intensive students from North America
April: Performed at SM Taikai at Kabukicho DX
May: Four weeks of workshops, special gala performances, and video shoots in Berlin
June: Established Osada Ryu and inaugurated Osada Kinbaku Dojo in Tokyo
July: 40 shows at Kujo OS, Osaka. Special performance at Sadistic Circus, Tokyo
Aug: Established worldwide dealer network for original Osada Shibari & Kinbaku Rope
Sep: Developed a special 10-month Shibari training program for staff at SM bar Mode et Baroque
Oct: Special performance at Kitty Fire (aka Department H) in Tokyo
Nov: Produced a 4-DVD SM series for Kansai Media
Dec: Special performance at Sleeping Beauty, Tokyo
2008
Jan: First Osada Ryu certificates given to licensed instructors
Feb: Special performance at Tokyo Decadance
March: Performed at SM Taikai at Kabukicho DX
April: 40 shows at Kujo OS, Osaka
May: Workshops, instructor training, and official opening of Osada Kinbaku Dojo Berlin
June: Special SM Taikai performances at Hamageki, Yokohama
July: Received special recognition and Bakushi name “Harumine” from Yukimura Haruki
Aug: Shooting Shibari documentary for German TV
Sep: Performed at SM Taikai at Kabukicho DX
Oct: Record breaking sales position the original Osada Rope as the gold standard used by professionals worldwide
Nov: 20 shows at Kokura AQ, Kyushu
Dec: 40 shows at Kujo OS, Osaka
The above chronicle a few highlights only. In real life, hardly a day goes by without either being on stage, in front of the camera, directing videos, running rope seminars, or giving private tuition in the Japanese art of Shibari.
On film:
Producing and directing for Kansai Mania Club, Genuine, JapDevils, and others. Starring in Master Costello, Kink.com, Happy Fish, Attackers, Art Video and other labels.
In print:
Featured in, written or photographed for Wired, GQ, Vogue, Marie Claire, Issue One, Skin Two, Schlagzeilen, Tokyo Journal, FetishJapan, SM Sniper, Mania Club, Tsukasa Shobo, Burst, and other magazines.
