Key specs

Material: Jute (tossa)
Colour: Black
Treatment: Treated
Construction: Single-ply, 3 strands
Diameter: 6 mm
Source: Anatomie Rope Shop
Vegan: Yes

A black single-ply jute rope from Ogawa, the long-established Japanese rope maker. Like the rest of our Ogawa line it is light and soft in the hand with a consistent twist, treated to a ready-to-use finish (singed, oiled and softened) and cut to 7.5 metre lengths finished with overhand knots.

Ogawa ropes are dyed after the rope has been produced, which means some dye doesn't reach the core of the ropes and the ropes might feel slightly stretchy in the beginning. Once the ropes settle with use they look and feel wonderful.

We order this rope in batches from the supplier, so it's not always in stock and when it is it sells out quickly.

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 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 light a single long rope in their kit.

How many ropes do I need?

A dangerous question to ask the shop that sells you the rope — so we'll be straight: fewer than you might think if you're just getting started. You can get a single rope if you want to practice the basic knots and frictions, and then add to this gradually as your skills improve.

Once you are ready to move beyond the absolute basics, you'll want between 2 to 4 ropes so that you can practice harnesses and have a bit more fun with tying in general.

A complete rope set would typically be around 12 ropes.