Seiu Ito: The Father of Japanese Bondage Art

Born 1882, Japan’s Seiu Ito was the Father of “Kinbaku” Art, also known as Bondage Art. His imagination conjured things that many of us could not even think of today. When I look at his work, the pain is hard to miss, but it’s the beauty that surrounds his subjects that draws you in! It’s interesting that in the west people think of themselves as being so outgoing, but when it comes to sex, people in the west are almost scared to talk about it or express their sexuality openly. On the other hand, in Japan people seem more reserved in many ways on the outside, but for centuries have been getting their freak on in the bedroom. They have also expressed their sexual desires through their art for much longer than many western cultures. What inspires me about Seiu Ito’s work is that he was honest and open with the thoughts that were swirling around his creative mind, whether through illustration or photography. Check out some BDSM from many generations ago below…