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Born and raised in Hong Kong, Naoko is a Shibari artist, performer, and educator based in London. She founded Kokoro Studio in Hong Kong (2015–2025) and later established Studio Yukari in London in 2022. In 2023, she was recognised as the third deshi of Naka Akira and is a member of Nawa Naka Kai. Naoko’s first encounter with Shibari was as a model.
She was quickly drawn to its eroticism and the powerful, intimate conversation that can unfold between two people through a single piece of rope. This experience led her to study in Tokyo, where she trained under various Japanese teachers. In 2015, she began formal studies of semenawa under Naka Akira.
Her style focuses on using rope as a tool for empathic conversation — to subtly reveal desires that cannot be expressed with words. Her tying is responsive, progressive, and present, shaped by the model’s raw reactions and emotional expression. The focus is always on the person, not the rope. While she is known for her work in semenawa, what truly defines her style is her empathy, affection, and love for her partner.
With experience across both Asian and Western rope communities, Naoko’s work reflects a wide cultural perspective. She has taught and performed in over 20 countries. She has also had the honour of assisting Naka Sensei at his Nawa-kai, Satsuei-kai, and Kenkyuu-kai in Tokyo, as well as at his international workshops in London, San Francisco, Antwerp, Helsinki, and Copenhagen.
This workshop is going to be a mix of demonstration and discussion of concepts in floor play. Instead of focusing on the form/pattern or a specific harness/tie, Subay will talk about the small details in floor play that might make all the differences, such as (a) the different use of nawajiri (b) when to use...
MUSUBI is a performance followed by some sharing and discussion. The performance will be improvised and without prior rehearsal as Subay never rehearses her shows. In the sharing and discussion part, Subay would like to share her thoughts about doing shows, her journey as a female rope top (in particular how she found her style)...
In this session, Subay will discuss her journey into the world of semenawa and how she approaches it in a feminine style. This session will include a discussion and demonstration of floor ties. A big thank you from us to Organic Space, London for hosting Subay for this session. Details: Format: discussion/demonstration Minimum Knowledge...
In this session, Subay will share her experience tying diverse bodies. She will discuss general concepts and demonstrate practical skills, including assessing and designing alternative structures, tension control, rope handling, body movement, suspension set-up, and other tips and tricks. * Content of this session is subject to changes (based on the capabilities of Subay and...
This workshop is an introduction to the fundamental elements and philosophy of Naka Style, as interpreted by Naoko. Naka Style follows the tying style of Naka Akira sensei, who recently appointed Naoko as his third deshi (disciple). Naoko will also share her personal approach to semenawa. We will build understanding on three important aspects of...
This workshop is an introduction to the fundamental elements and philosophy of Naka Style, as interpreted by Naoko. Naka Style follows the tying style of Naka Akira sensei, who recently appointed Naoko as his third deshi (disciple). Naoko will also share her personal approach to semenawa. We will build understanding on three important aspects of...
In Shibari, we often see floor tying, partial suspensions, full suspensions, hashira or floating bamboo. Tying to furniture is less explored. In this workshop and demonstration, Naoko will share: - The emotional impact of being tied to a table - Ties that focus on exposure and/or feeling of tight binding - Traditional aesthetics in Table...
Kani Shibari (蟹縛り), also known as the “crab tie”, is a traditional form of bondage in which the wrists and ankles are tied together, usually with legs spread apart for exposure and shame play. In this workshop, Naoko will explore: - The background and feelings of Kani Shibari - The relationship between M-shape and Kani...
Gote Shibari is one of the most iconic and foundational ties in Japanese rope bondage. In group workshops, especially for beginner and intermediate students, it is often taught as a fixed form. This helps students focus on learning essential technical components. While this approach is valuable for building solid rope techniques, it often leaves little...
