Osaka 5mm jute shibari rope is now available here! This is without a doubt my favourite rope to date, which is destined to be a best seller.
It is the closest so far to Japanese jute (asanawa) which is the ‘gold standard’ of serious riggers but come with a champagne price tag. The lay (twist), weight and density is almost identical which gives it superb flexibility and handling right off the reel. Each ply of the 5mm (true 5mm) version is made fromn 9 yarns to give a fine and consistent rope. This combined with the lower density will make your ties, knots and frictions look very clean and sharp. At 12g per metre, this is fast, flickable rope.
In the photo below, you can see some premium Japanese ropes (2 outer left and right) and, in the centre, some Osaka which has been oiled and signed. I suspect that the main difference you will feel is in your wallet 😉
The fibre is a pale golden brown and clean with minimal impurities. It’s so soft that it can be used as is, just like the best Japanese rope. If you are really fussy, just singe off the fuzzies, which are minimal, and treat it with oil or wax, e.g. NaWaX. However, it will break in and mature beautifully with just a bit of use. Apart from Tossa Lite, Osaka is my lightest, most flexible and least dense rope.