Ogawa jute rope · 6mm single-ply (treated) – Shibari Store by Anatomie Studio

Ogawa jute rope · 6mm single-ply (treated)

CHF 20.00

Single-ply tossa jute from Ogawa, Japan. Lightly oiled and ready to use.

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Free shipping on orders over CHF90
Delivery within 3–7 days to Switzerland
Plain, unbranded packaging

Key specs

Material: Jute (tossa)
Colour: Natural
Treatment: Lightly treated
Construction: Single-ply, 3 strands
Diameter: 6 mm
Source: Ogawa
Vegan: Yes

Ogawa is a long-established rope from Japan, and their jute rope is a common sight in shibari. This is a single-ply tossa jute in natural colour — lightweight, with a very consistent twist making it a popular choice for photography. Ogawa has a relatively loose twist and is quite soft, which means it breaks in quickly and holds knots and frictions well.

A note on JBO: Ogawa jute rope has a light smell due to the use of jute batching oil during production. This smell fades over time, particularly if the rope is allowed to air. If you'd prefer a rope with less JBO, our own Anatomie jute line has a much lower smell.

We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location.

Surface fuzz is normal

New jute develops a layer of fine fuzz. Some people singe this off; you can also brush it off with a coir brush, or just allow it to shed naturally with use. It's part of the breaking-in phase every jute rope goes through and not a defect.

Keep it dry

Jute is a natural fibre and doesn't love being damp. If you can, we recommend airing your ropes out after use by hanging them. If your ropes do get wet you'll need to hang them under tension.

Re-oil when it dries out

Over time and use, jute loses some of the oils and will start to feel stiff and brittle. Re-treat the ropes with a jute-suitable oil (camellia/tsubaki oil is standard, jojoba oil is also very popular). How often you'll need to treat your ropes depends on how often you use it, whether it's used on skin or clothing and also the climate.

Which length do I actually need?

Most people will want to purchase the 7.5 m length for shibari. We make longer lengths available to for those who prefer to cut ropes to a specific length, or sometimes because Naka-style practitioners like a single long rope in their kit.

How do these ropes compare with your Anatomie line of ropes?

They're quite similar apart from a few details. Our Anatomie jute ropes are a bit tougher in general, which makes the longer lasting but also comes at the cost of a slightly longer breaking-in period. Ogawa ropes are feel a little bit softer out of the box, but do have a slight JBO-smell in the beginning too.

If you're unsure where to start we suggest purchasing our Anatomie jute ropes.

What is JBO and will the smell go away?

JBO (jute batching oil) is a mineral oil used in jute production worldwide — the distinctive "new jute" smell comes from it, and Ogawa rope carries more of it than some other lines. The smell fades with time and airing: hang your ropes somewhere ventilated between uses and it will diminish noticeably over the first weeks of ownership. It fades faster with use. If you're sensitive to the smell or want minimal JBO from day one, our own Anatomie jute is the lower-JBO option.

What does "lightly treated" mean? Is it ready to use?

Ogawa rope arrives usable out of the packet — you can tie with it straight away — but "lightly treated" is an honest label: it retains its factory character, including some of the JBO smell and some initial fuzz. Some rope lovers enjoy putting their own finish on it (singeing, oiling, breaking it in to their taste); others use it as-is and let it break in naturally, which Ogawa does quickly thanks to its soft, loose twist. If you want a rope that's been fully hand-finished before it reaches you, our Anatomie line is treated more extensively in-house.

Is this rope suitable for suspension?

Ogawa 6mm jute is widely used in suspension by trained practitioners — but no rope is "suspension-safe" on its own. Suspension safety comes from education, technique, rope inspection, and proper hardware. Inspect single-ply rope regularly for wear and high-stranding, retire ropes showing damage, and if you haven't trained in suspension, please learn in person before taking anyone off the ground.

Why is Ogawa rope so well-regarded?

Ogawa is one of a small handful of long-established Japanese rope makers, and their jute has been a fixture in shibari for decades — it's the rope many practitioners in Japan learned on, and the one you'll spot in countless performances, workshops, and photographs. For rope made in the home of the art form, with a spinning tradition to match, Ogawa is often the reference point other jute gets compared against.

Part of the appeal is provenance, but the rope earns it in the hand too: a remarkably consistent twist, a soft and lively feel that breaks in quickly, and the light weight that makes it fast and responsive to tie with. For many aficionados it simply is what shibari rope should feel like — and owning it is a small connection to the lineage of the practice itself.