Born on September 13, 1959, Kamui Jūbei is one of the most respected figures in classical kinbaku. He describes himself as 「傀儡の緊縛師」 (kugutsu no kinbakushi), “the puppet‑master of the rope.”
Jūbei’s most recognizable hallmark is his generous, creative use of pulleys (shachi) to build suspensions, a technical mastery he first learned and later refined under the guidance of master Saikatsu.
His influences form a bridge between the esoteric and the classical. On one side, the mysterious, legendary Kenji Matsui—always a shadowy figure who never allowed his face to be photographed—passed on not only techniques like the mitsu‑hiki shibari, but an entire philosophy of discretion and essence.
On the other side, his time at the rigorous Bakuyūkai (縛友会) dojo under Miura Takumi, a pioneer who worked to rescue and systematize the arts of hojōjutsu as a martial discipline, gave him a solid technical foundation. There, Jūbei completed all four levels of training in just one year, a path that usually took many and that most practitioners ended up abandoning.
In 2008, Jūbei shaped his most personal project: 無門縛 (Mumonbaku), a name that means “binding without a door” or “utterly free.” What began as an “Introduction to Kinbaku” workshop in Yokohama took deep root and grew into one of the oldest and most respected rope gatherings (nawakai) in the Kanto region.
By 2022, Jūbei had solidified his independence by establishing Mumonbaku’s permanent base in a dedicated space of his own in Iruma. According to the community itself, it is a school specializing in the classical style and seme‑nawa, forged under the influence of the legendary Kenji Matsui and master Kō Takumi (神浦匠)—the former Sōdai of Bakuyū‑kai.
Mumonbaku is a space where trust in technique is absolute, but where no dogmas are enforced: visiting other styles and schools is not only allowed, it is celebrated, embodying a rare freedom of learning and movement.
In 2021, Kamui Jūbei was appointed the third Sōdai (総代) of Bakuyū‑kai, the institution founded by Miura Takumi in 1996. Taking on this leadership role marked the definitive fusion of the strictest tradition with the creative freedom he has always championed.
Note on his health status (May 2026)
In late April 2026, while staying in Thailand, master Kamui Jūbei (神威十兵衛) suffered a sudden and serious health crisis that required urgent hospitalization and later medical repatriation to Japan.
At the time of writing, Jūbei remains hospitalized in Japan, focusing entirely on his recovery and temporarily stepping away from all public, teaching, and artistic activities.
Those who wish to follow official updates or learn about the support campaign can check the link at the bottom of the page:
Representative works
- Kinbaku Play – Riko Misaki (Kamui Planning, 2013)
- Kinbaku Play – Mina Misaki (Kamui Planning, 2013)
- Outdoor Kinbaku – Mina Misaki (Kamui Planning, 2013)
- Outdoor Kinbaku II – Mina Misaki (Kamui Planning, 2013)
- Reverse‑hand suspension torture – Shuri (Kamui Planning, 2013)
- Kugutsu ningyō – Mina (Kamui Planning, 2013)
- Floor Rope (Yukanawa) (Kamui Planning, 2014)
- Photobondage – Riko Misaki (Kamui Planning, 2014)
- Photobondage Vol. 2 – Riko Misaki (Kamui Planning, 2014)