(This review is long and continues in to the experience section.)

Japan is a country full of awesome. Sushi, geisha, crazy sex toys, manga, the bullet train, vending machines with used panties in them...is there anything I missed? Oh, how could I forget: Japanese rope bondage, the elegant art of restraining one's partner with lengths of soft rope, and Midori's beautiful instructional book, "The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage." Ah, Japan, Jewel of the East!

Waxing poetic aside, this really is a lovely book. It's roughly the same size as an 8.5"x11" sheet of paper, so the text is easy to read and the beautiful photographs that are included really pop. Though it's short by instructional standards (160 pages), Midori's book still manages to contain a lot of well-written, easy-to-read information.

The first section of the book, "The Heart," literally describes the heart of Japanese bondage. There's a brief history lesson and a short overview of Japanese aesthetics, then a sample bondage scenario is provided. This last part is actually laid out as a sensual story written from both the dominant and the submissive's perspective; this story is then broken down, piece by piece, with explanations on how to use the provided example to create your own scenario. I would've preferred it if Midori had provided a little more explanation about Japanese aesthetics; I'm in to Asian literature, so I understood a lot of what she was talking about, but some readers may think, "What's the reasoning behind that particular aesthetic value?" The sample scenario is well-written, even if the flowery language doesn't do much for me.

The second and arguably most important section of the book, "The Body," provides all of the information you need to start Japanese bondage apprenticeship. Midori lays out a materials list and explains how to take care of said materials, explains how to create basic knots and ties, and provides the ever-so-important safety rules for Japanese rope bondage. You may want to just skip over this section and get straight to the "good stuff," but as this book proves, not all rope is created equal, and it's far too easy to make a mistake and damage your partner's body. Speaking as someone who is all about safety, I appreciated this detailed and no-fuss section.

The final section, "The Techniques," explains how to create certain rope bondage positions. Each position is headed by a Japanese name and its English translation, a short piece of sensual writing, a full-page photo, and a brief explanation on the finer points of the position and its history. This is followed by actual step-by-step instructions and the occasional diagram to show you where to thread the rope or how to tie the knot. This is the meat and bones of the book, and for the most part, it's very effective. I still think the erotica is a bit corny, but other than that, the instructions are easy to understand and follow. There is also a brief section on aftercare to keep your submissive happy and healthy post-bondage.

This all sounds well and good, but there are a few very minor problems with this book. My biggest qualm with it is that I didn't think it included enough diagrams. Sometimes Midori used one diagram to represent three steps, and while re-reading the instructions and closely examining the diagram is enough to help me figure it all out, I think one diagram per step would speed up the process.

Another point that may or may not be an issue for the reader is that Midori only discusses basic rope bondage techniques. For example, only one technique includes any kind of suspension, and it's the simple suspension of one leg. I don't think this will be a problem for most people, but if you're hungry for fancier techniques, you may want to look elsewhere.

The final and much more minor qualm deals with the actual materials required: Midori often suggests you'll need "this much to this much rope," but it's a little tricky to suggest even a range of required rope when submissives come in all shapes in sizes. I used a length of 35" inch rope and it was never enough for me to reach the final knot! In Midori's defense, she does recommend 50" lengths of rope over shorter lengths, and I can't fault her for the average person's lack of rope. :)

Generally speaking, "The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage" is a wonderful, effective book. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I just can't get over how pretty this book is, and I would've preferred it if Midori had included even more photos. The instructions are written mostly in layman's terms, and as long as you read the second section outlining the knots and ties, you shouldn't be too confused.

Overall, I'd say that this book is excellent for beginners and collectors of beautiful rope bondage art. Despite the lack of fancier techniques and the often hefty material requirements, "The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage" is well worth a look.