Cultural Guests of Honor

Portland, Oregon model Victoria Lovecraft has been exploring her fascination with Japanese-style rope bondage ever since she saw her first shibari performance in 2017. Her dynamic rope suspension performances with shibari artist Noble Manqué display the beauty of the authentic deep connection that is possible between trusting tying partners.

Team Sakuraka is a Seattle-based wotagei team spreading the joy of the Japanese lightstick dance style throughout the Pacific Northwest, their mission is to practice and perform together for the purpose of inspiring themselves and others to strive for their very best.

Shibari artist and instructor Noble Manqué has been teaching the art of Japanese-style rope bondage full time since he established Noble Rope Arts in 2008. His photography and rope suspension performances are known for capturing the emotional facets of shibari. He resides in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his muse and frequent model and performance partner, Victoria Lovecraft.

Alisa Freedman is a professor of Japanese literature, cultural studies, and gender at the University of Oregon. Her books include Japan on American TV; Tokyo in Transit: Japanese Culture on the Rails and Road; Women in Japanese Studies: Memoirs from a Trailblazing Generation (edited collection of 32 memoirs); Introducing Japanese Popular Culture (edited textbook featuring 42 trends); annotated translation of Kawabata Yasunari’s The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa; and Modern Girls on the Go: Gender, Mobility, and Labor in Japan (coedited volume).

She has published numerous articles for academic and general interest publications, literary translations, and guides to publishing and professionalization skills. She is the Faculty Fellow of a University of Oregon residence hall and has received a national award for her mentorship work. Alisa enjoys presenting at public events like cultural festivals, anime cons, reading groups, and TEDx.