24 March 2013

Fundoshi File No. 1

I had a productive day gathering fundoshi photos from all over the internet, from reader contributions, and from some other great fundoshi-themed blogs (like Eisbär's, where I found this great fundoshi-tying video: http://youtu.be/DcaFVRAEtHg)

Always among my very favorites are those posted by Rokusyakudorei:
































 

 
 



 
 
 



His photographs are pure fundoshi-wrapped poetry... Expertly tied over a body that seems to have sprung from the chisel of a sculptor.  Traditional yet sensual, with just a hint of something darker in the coils of rope and the leashes.  These photos seem to be captured with beauty in mind, musky masculine beauty fully acknowledging the bulging contents of his snugly-cinched loincloth, yet imbued with light and shadow and a delicate lyricism that is downright seductive.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful. I haven't the skill yet to tie a fundoshi so perfectly. Generally the waist rols over instead of lying flat against my skin like in the pictures. No less comfortable and supportive though.
I had a fundoshi first, after a year of wearing them pretty regularly. I was called in late at night to fight a house fire. I was sleeping in a fundoshi and just jumped into my turnouts and away I went. When we were finished, I realized that the simple muslin garment had remained together and supportive throughout an interior fire atrack and two air bottles. It was still holding everything together, albeit sweaty and smoky. It may be the first time one was used for firefighting, at least in North America. I'm sold.

John said...

Hey Mike! After two years of wearing fundoshi, I find I am still modifying the way I tie them. A lot of it has to do with mood. I find it always finds my natural curves and can stay all day or night in such perfect alignment with my anatomy that I'm not aware it's there. It does its job and cradles my junk and now and then it provides some gentle stimulation which I find very pleasant. I find it perfect for more athletic pursuits and would think it would be perfect in your line of work, stay in place, doing its job and wicking away moisture. Thanks for what you do, BTW. It takes a special person to run into a burning building when the rest of us are running out.

Ryan Rokushaku said...

Mike, that's an amazing story!

Ryan Rokushaku said...

Kodo, the Taiko group, also ties their fundoshi so amazingly flat and neat and perfect! I would love to know how they do it. I've seen backstage pictures where there is an ironing board with some fundoshis rolled out on it, so I bet it involves ironing. Not my forte, but I bet a freshly ironed fundoshi feels great when it's being tied on!

Anonymous said...

Excellent photos! F4A gets better and better!

Ryan Rokushaku said...

Thank you so much for enjoying the site! I'm always looking for new photo contributors if anyone has self pics, scans, or artwork they'd like to share.

John said...

The photos featuring the collar and chain keep bringing me back. I con't know what it is about them which fascinates me so much, but deep down, I want to BE that guy.

derill said...

All photos are so good i enjoyed to view. thanks