Sadistic Circus is Tokyo's biggest fetish event. This twice-yearly carnival-esque extravaganza boasts an extraordinary amount of activity.

There are continuous shows in various rooms, all artistically expressive and quite entertaining--even if you aren't into SM/fetish. I checked out the most recent Sadistic Circus on September 17. It featured Butoh, which is a slow and sensual, dark style of Japanese theatrical dance heavy on the makeup and costumes. Also featured was everything from belly dancing to straight SM shows, lots of rope bondage action by the "big" rope guys in the bottom room with high ceilings (to allow suspensions several meters into the air), lesbian wrestling in a makeshift ring, not to mention shows by performance artist Satomi, who did a flesh hook suspension show.

All in all it was a voyeuristic, circus atmosphere with more peanut gallery gawking than playing.

If you have any kind of curiosity about the lowdown of Tokyo-style perversity, this is Sadistic Circus is a pretty accessible place to start. Of all the fetish clubs, it is lauded as the most "artistic."









MAQI is a freelance writer who covers topics usually relating to the arts, culture and travel. She has contributed to about 20 publications, from fashion, travel and inflight magazines to Japanese newspapers. She also does Tokyo correspondence for UK's Bizarre magazine and Skin Deep Tattoo magazine. She likes sushi and cake.