Futumomo is one of the all-time favorite ties among those who practice shibari. It’s easy to build, fun to play with, and offers endless variations depending on how you apply the ropes.
I still remember the excitement—and the laughter—during a workshop many years ago, the very first time someone showed us how to tie a futumomo.
The teacher kept calling out, “Tighter, tighter!”, while we were all sweating, laughing, and muttering under our breath. It was a wonderfully fun class; the instructor had just returned from Japan after training with Yukimura, which gave him an aura of authority and mystery.
We all left the workshop thrilled with our brand-new futumomos.
Over time, though, I realized we had only learned half the structure—and that our teacher hadn’t really grasped much of Yukimura’s method to begin with.
Because of that, I made some glaring mistakes when tying a futumomo. Even worse, I was convinced I was doing it right—and ended up passing those mistakes on to others.
That kind of thing happens all the time.
We often meet people who share what they’ve learned in good faith, yet what they transmit is imprecise, incomplete, or sometimes just plain wrong.
For one reason or another, the reality is that a huge amount of misinformation circulates about the futumomo. So, in this article, we’ll take a closer look at what the tie actually is. In the online course, we go further into the technical application and provide detailed, step-by-step guidance for several of its most common variations.
Let’s start by clarifying what a futumomo actually is in the context of shibari.
At its core, it’s a leg restraint that folds the foot toward the buttock, compressing the thigh.
And this is where confusion often begins. Some people describe it as “heel to butt” or even call it the “fat leg,” which is technically not wrong, but sloppy—and sloppy definitions lead to mistakes sooner or later.
So what’s the point of this tie?
In essence, it serves two purposes: first, to restrict movement—it completely immobilizes the leg. But it also provides a remarkably pleasurable form of stimulation.
Both features make it a favorite among self-bondage enthusiasts.
You’ll also often see the futumomo used in suspensions, creating dramatic scenes where the tied person hangs upside down, knees pointing toward the ceiling.
But here, out of basic responsibility, we have to pause for a serious warning.
Suspension requires both the rigger and the person being tied to fully understand the technique and the risks involved, so they can make informed decisions.
Now, are you aware that hanging a person’s full body weight from the ligaments that hold the femur to the hip is downright reckless?
Outside of that context—with feet and butt firmly grounded—the futumomo is a versatile technique that can offer hours of safe, stimulating fun.