Photos of a Woman Trying to Make It in Japan’s Rope Bondage Scene

I first met Milla Reika in Osaka, Japan, 2009. New to the country, she overheard me bragging to my friends about a Japanese rope bondage show that I had been invited to. Upon hearing the word shibari, this Australian skater girl practically begged me to take her with me. I did.

Seven years later, when we caught up for a drink, I found myself staring at the self-assured woman with a cigarette in one hand and a coffee in the other, marveling at what she has become.

Reeling from the intense exhilaration of that first shibari show, Reika threw herself into learning the art with the sort of enthusiasm that only comes with youth. She spent hours studying the knots, ties, and history of shibari, and we even tried our hands at photographing the art, but things only really took off when she walked through the doors of renowned S&M Club Matrix. After talking with the mama-san about her interests, she was offered a job right there. Too busy to teach Reika herself, the mama-san recommended her to other rope masters in Osaka. Only a few months later, with coaxing from her mentors, she began performing locally around the city.

A year later, Club Matrix had closed it doors. The mama-san would not reopen the club, no matter how much Reika argued for it—but instead, to her surprise, the mama-san turned the keys over to the younger woman and told her to take over. Reika gladly accepted.

The male-dominated scene was jolted by the arrival of this young Australian girl not only topping, but running her own club. Her presence generated equal amounts of interest and reservation, and as well as navigating the shibari scene and learning Japanese business protocol, Reika had to earn the respect of the community.

Reika quickly began to receive attention for her performances, even from respected Riggers. Her performance skills, however, didn't help the business of running a club. With limited industry experience, no networks, and no history in the scene, Reika struggled to keep the Matrix afloat, and in 2015, the club closed its doors for the second, and final, time.

Recently, Reika and I met at a cafe in Ame-mura, Osaka's American village, after she returned from a six-month trip to Australia to reset and regroup. She looked commanding and ready for a comeback.

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