Nureki Chimuo Archive

2007.11.15 濡木痴夢男のおしゃべり芝居 第二十回 Nureki Chimuo’s Talking Theater Chapter 20 しゃべっても、しゃべっても…… Talk and talk and talk… Following on from last time, I’d like to introduce a letter of “protest” addressed to me by Rakka-san (this “Rakka-san” is not the Rakka-san who always appears in the “Talking Theater,” but the real, actual Rakka-san. Ah, this is getting complicated after all. Readers, I apologize, but please read carefully. I am trying to write the facts as they are, to the best of my ability. That’s why it ends up like this). I will introduce a letter of “protest” written to me. That “protest,” to put it simply, is essentially saying, “I never said such a thing, Nureki Sensei. Please don’t write strange things about me without permission.” And it concerns the model’s “sense of shame.” Furthermore, the conversation moves on to discuss “shame” and eroticism. The letter Rakka-san sent to me by fax. “...Though I know nothing about actual photo shoots, I once read in a shooting diary by Nureki Sensei for an old SM Select magazine that Sugiura Sensei said ‘All of us here right now are going to get drunk on this world.’ I read it with excitement, imagining a process where the passion and worldviews of everyone involved collide, creating incredible synergy that builds tremendous intensity. I felt the incredible atmosphere of that set – where everyone’s passion, including the Master’s, drew out each person’s expression and elevated them mutually. In his writing, the Master referred to that shoot as ‘Mad Photography.’ I realized bondage photography is the product of everyone’s imagination present on the set. Perhaps models who appear to have ‘no sense of shame’ – whether they are submissive women or not – either abandon intellectual imagination or possess a taste that favors such expressions (where the hidden emotions of ‘shame’ is not tied to the world of bondage). Unfortunately, they might only possess a stereotypical, crude, and shallow view of SM. As you mentioned in your letter, it might simply be

a matter of ‘preference.’ Not limited to sexual matters, perhaps their tastes in novels or films are completely incompatible with mine. Sensei, do you still have the pamphlet for Švankmajer's Lunacy that we went to see together? The words on the back cover left the deepest impression on me, and I still remember them perfectly. ‘As long as imagination exists, the world remains unfinished.’ Nureki Sensei once said, ‘Movies I find interesting are always related to my work.’ I truly felt this film’s philosophy resonated directly with people like us. As long as we keep thinking and hold onto our imagination, even bondage gravure can become something far richer, something beyond mere predictability.” (Note from Nureki. Transcribing this letter from Rakka-san like this reminded me. It’s also her reply to when I once got worked up and insisted, “Recent bondage photos aren’t interesting – it’s because the models have no sense of shame.” After finishing the bondage photoshoot, I met with Rakka-san. We talked about the situation at the location that day. I’ll write a little bit about that location here. If I don’t write it down, you won’t understand why I got so excited. The model was an adorable girl who hadn’t even turned twenty yet. She was petite. Just before shooting began, in a corner of the studio, she spotted the AD preparing five or six types of vibrators, pearl rotors, and dildos. The model, cute as can be, said to the director in a pleading voice, “Wow, there are so many thick ones. Hey, can I try one out?” she asked the director sweetly. Amused, the director said, “Sure, go ahead.” The model happily lifted her skirt, pulled her panties down to her ankles, grabbed the extra-large vibrator in front of the dozen or so staff members, licked the tip, and shoved it into her crotch. And then, three times, four, five times, let out loud cries, screamed, and came. Writing this, people who weren’t there will think it’s a lie. That’s only natural. That bastard Nureki is lying again. But sadly, truly sadly, it’s true. If she’s already been so willingly subjected to such things before the story of being kidnapped, imprisoned, and subject to various humiliations, then there’s no need to tie her up anymore, is there? Even the legendary Nureki Chimuo lost the will to pick up the ropes. But in the drama, I tied her up properly, as it should be. That’s my job. What shocked me was that this sexually mature girl wasn’t so much a genuine “submissive woman” as a “rope bondage enthusiast." And she had such a great personality.

How was her personality great, you ask? No, I’ll stop. If I start explaining it here, it will take too long. I’ll write about that another time.) Rakka-san’s letter continues. “Somehow as I write this, I’ve become quite confused. No matter what reasons I imagine, I myself cannot actually cross the barrier of ‘becoming a model.’ I could never write to Sensei like ‘Lady Hide Ishitani of Yokohama’ and ask him to ‘meet me just once.’ Even if a model is an exceptionally emotional person, there may be times when they must take on demanding blatant expressions they find distasteful. Still, I believe something genuine will seep through. Like the line spoken by ‘Rakka-san” in the Talking Theater, ‘since the model is getting paid, she has to put on the right expression and meet the sponsors’ expectations.’ To state it so bluntly still feels rather harsh. If I were ‘Rakka-san’ (though that’s a strange way to put it, or rather, if I were the ‘Rakka-san’ I would prefer to be), I wouldn’t use the phrase ‘an expression that appropriate’ in the negative sense of ‘acting = something artificial.’ I believe gravure is a ‘work of art’ born from the collision of sensibilities, intellect, and passion between the photographer, editor, and model. My fundamental belief is that models are not merely pitiable figures deserving sympathy, lacking power or responsibility. Rather, I want to believe they possess the power to move the very atmosphere of the moment through their own expression. And then, for the 18th chapter of the Talking Theater, once again the lines from ‘Rakka-san’ (the lines that Mika Suzume also found puzzling…): ‘Rakka-san says that any woman who agrees to be bound in front of photographers, editors, directors, and other staff, and to have it made public, is simply a woman labeled as a ‘model.’ She says that a true masochist woman, who genuinely loves being bound and finds pleasure in only that, would absolutely never show herself bound in front of others. Because being bound is shameful. Shameful things must not be shown to others. They must be kept absolutely secret. Only the woman who guards that secret is a true enthusiast, says

Rakka-san. A woman who casually exposes her shameful, bound self may be an SM model, but she is not an enthusiast, says Rakka-san.’ …I don’t like this ‘Rakka-san’ who makes such definitive statements either.” (Note from Nureki. Yeah, that’s right. The real Rakka-san wouldn’t say something so narrow-minded like “Rakka-san” did. The real Rakka-san has a deep understanding of “SM” and is therefore a woman with broad tolerance. So she’d never even think of making the kind of definitive statements “Rakka-san” made…) So, please rest assured, Mika Suzume-san. After reading my 18th chapter of Talking Theater, you wrote this. This time, it’s Mika Suzume-san writing. I’ll share an excerpt from part of it, but it’s sharp and well written. “...I’ve been observing Rakka-san through your writing, so perhaps my impressions are completely off the mark, but please forgive me, I am an enthusiast too. As Nureki Sensei says, I pay attention to even the smallest details. Therefore, I take issue with the statement that ‘a woman who casually exposes herself in embarrassing situations before others may be an SM model, but she is not a true enthusiast.’ If you say, ‘Women who casually expose themselves in embarrassing situations in front of others often lack the spirit of an enthusiast,’ I might think, ‘That could be true.’ But when you draw a line saying they aren’t enthusiasts, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease. The characters and words written in a text are abstract concepts. So even if we share the same perspective, how we interpret these abstractions can lead to completely opposite interpretations. I’d rather not write anything that sounds like personal criticism. But knowing how deep-hearted you are, Sensei, and how wonderful Rakka-san’s sensibilities are as you describe them, I believe you’ll understand even if I write something like this. That’s why I dared to write this comment that might sound critical.” The above is an excerpt from Mika Suzume-san’s writing.

Mika Suzume-san’s questions and criticisms are entirely justified, and I can only say that she is absolutely right. “SM models aren’t fetishists.” It might have been me who said that. Since Rakka-san would never utter such an unreasonable thing under any circumstances, it was probably me who blurted it out after all. Yet, as Rakka-san said, why did I write that in that “Talking Theater?” There were circumstances surrounding it, and there are reasons too. As for those reasons (which ultimately concern the model’s lack of shame), I intend to write about them little by little going forward. Next is another letter from Rakka-san to me. “...Personally I could never show myself in public the way I do when I’m alone with you. But I think that’s simply because I have no desire to be seen by others. Even if I’m wearing clothes, I can’t be tied up in front of people. But that’s really just a difference in ‘tastes.’ I don’t think it’s ‘how it should be,’ nor do I believe only those who do it are ‘true enthusiasts.’ I have no intention of criticizing the preference for being seen while bound, much less denying it. Especially in the case of the ‘models’ I refer to, I even wish such preferences existed. This might just be my own way of thinking, but when I say ‘model,’ I don’t just mean the ‘professional models’ you mentioned. I also think of the models at Kinbiken (even if it’s not a commercial magazine photo shoot, but a gathering of a small group of genuine enthusiasts bound by deep trust – even then, for that moment, that place is still a ‘stage’ where she alone draws everyone’s gaze, and she still is a ‘model.’) I think she’s a happy ‘model’ surrounded by warm gazes, but she’s also a crucial person fulfilling the role of a ‘model’ in the sense of being an expressive artist who captivates the audience with her own sensibility. I believe she is both an enthusiast and a model. And when I imagine that ‘scenario’ as a happy one, I want the model to have a preference not only for ‘being tied up’ but also for ‘enjoying being watched by others.’ The idea that someone has no desire to ‘show off or be seen’ yet secretly longs to be tied up where no one is watching, but lacks such opportunities, so instead ‘reluctantly’ fulfills their wish in public as a trade-off… it feels a little poignant and sad. Earlier, I awkwardly used the term ‘exhibitionist tendencies,’ but I certainly don’t mean it in the

negative sense of ‘exhibitionism.’ Rather, I believe such preferences make them true enthusiasts. I’ve written quite a bit. I truly agree with Mika Suzume-san’s comment. We’ve received an order to publish a new town magazine, and I really need to get started on the planning and preparations now. But once I start thinking about it, I just can’t stop, and I end up writing a lot.” The letter I recently received from Rakka-san is mostly as above (I haven’t included the parts I can’t disclose, of course). As I copy her writing word by word with a pen like this, her perspective, her thoughts, the warmth of her blood, even her very breath, all come through clearly. Ah, I see, I found myself nodding in agreement. This was the first time I’d met a woman who held her opinions so clearly and could express them so well in writing. It’s not that we can’t meet often and so we talk through letters and phone calls. We see each other all the time and talk endlessly, yet we still exchange letters like this. If we combined all the letters between us, we could probably fill a whole book. When it comes to SM, there’s so much to talk about that we could never exhaust the subject. For her and me, the themes we discuss are almost limitless. If a woman is only interested in going to love hotels, being tied by me, kissing, and doing whatever else, I actually have no interest in her. I might go out with her once or twice, but it wouldn’t last. I too want companions I can talk to. I too am lonely.