Pup Namikaze 🇦🇹

PW: Guten Tag, Namikaze. Welcome to the Woodpile! Would you introduce yourself?

NAMIKAZE: I am Steffen (Steven in English). I was born in Germany in a little city near the border of France. December 19 is my birthday. I moved from Germany to Austria in 2013, mainly because I didn't get along with my parents. Life in the region I lived in wasn't particularly good. There were a lot of things that happened, and I had a lot of negative experiences.

PW: Tell us about your pup name.

NAMIKAZE: That´s simple. Nami is short for Namikaze, which is my last name in Japanese.

PW: How did you become a pup? Did someone introduce you, or did you discover the pup world on your own?

NAMIKAZE: My first contact with pups was with my ex-boyfriend Rex in 2008. Yes, I am an old dog. He's been doing this for a while, and he talked me into it. During the discussion, I thought the concept was fascinating. I still have old pictures of it in a private folder. I thought pup-play was great back then and wanted to explore more. I had my first experience with him and built on that. It was non-sexual at first, and that still has an impact on me. He passed away in 2015, therefore I am alone now. He was my anchor—you could also call him my handler. I could talk to him about everything. The relationship didn't last long because he wasn't ready for anything more serious. He was my friend. It hit me hard when he died. Even after moving abroad, he visited me often. We would speak on the phone for hours. Even from a distance, he taught me so much. I have a lot to thank him for. My puppy years, including my first walks and everything of my development till the moment of his passing.

PW: What’s it like as a pup in Austria? What is the pup community like there?

NAMIKAZE: The pups here are a bit divided. On the one hand, we have those more focused on sex. Other people, like myself, are less sexually inclined. But basically, everyone is quite warm and friendly. Serpen Taki, who you interviewed, was here with me at a meeting. He was welcomed just as warmly as I was. All in all, I think it is great that we pups are an open group. I've met pups from all over the country, and most of them are in the state capitals. They're easy to reach by train, so we are somewhat connected. It was here that I met my best friend, Arko. He lives a little further away from Vienna, but our good train connections make it easier for us to meet up.

PW: Can you tell us a bit about your hometown and what it's like to live there?

NAMIKAZE: You mean Vienna? It's the biggest city and the capital of Austria. I like this city, because it's the most livable city in the world. Public transportation is well-developed here, and many cities envy us for that. Some even aspire to be like Vienna. We have lots of parks where you can relax, a large thermal bath and other wellness facilities. The food is great! You should visit it sometime.

PW: What cultural experiences in Austria do you enjoy?

NAMIKAZE: Well, we have nudist areas on the Danube Island. We also have various balls, such as the Opera Ball. But there is also a queer event called the Rainbow Ball and a fetish-themed ball as well. In Vienna, we also have the famous sausage stands offering amazing sweet or spicy varieties. The UN is considering recognizing them as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

PW: Tell us about Namikaze. What kind of pup is he?

NAMIKAZE: I am Namikaze, and Namikaze is me. We are the same. There are no distinctions; rather, it is a way of looking at life. There is only one present, one history, and one future. I don't have to pretend when I am wearing the hood. I'm sort of like Brian from The Family Guy.

PW: What kind of activities or scenes does Namikaze like to explore?

NAMIKAZE: I do a lot of things. I'm most comfortable in the water. You can see from a few photos that I enjoy being in the water. Apart from that, nice conversations, traveling the world, meeting new people, the usual stuff that you know.

PW: Do you have any fetishes or kinks within pup play? Where would you place yourself on an Angel to Devil scale?

NAMIKAZE: I love rubber! And of course, my pup-play. I am the well-behaved, sweet puppy you see in my pictures, but I can also bare my teeth when I have to. I can be naughty, and I can be nice. The full program, you could say.

PW: How does being a pup affect your human life?

NAMIKAZE: Because my colleagues at work know of my pup side, I'm quite open about it. There were moments when I've growled at them and sometimes they've given me a strange, questioning look. However, when I can let it out, it goes smoothly.

PW: What’s the most exciting thing you have done in full pup gear, wearing your hood?

NAMIKAZE: I had a very nice moment at the CSD Graz. It was 34 degrees Celsius and I was walking around in my latex outfit. But it was still really great! As I tried to get out of a fountain where I was cooling off, a policeman advised me to stay inside and cool off for a while before passing out.

At the CSD Innsbruck, they even set up a paddling pool for me because they knew that I would be wearing all latex. I have also been able to cool off in a paddling pool at events in Vienna. I guess that shows that I truly am a water puppy.

PW: How has pup-play impacted your mental health?

NAMIKAZE: This question covers a lot of things. My story is not exactly a very positive one, because I've been through a lot. Even with my parents, I had problems finding support. I had grown used to my father constantly putting me down. My mother was really the rough one. She beat me almost every day. That's why I left home as soon as I could. I never learned from my parents what it was like to be loved. I was never told that I was loved. The first ray of hope was my first boyfriend. But I didn't really feel loved or was told that I was loved. To be fair, he didn't live long enough. He was killed right before my eyes. Rex helped lift me out of the hole and helped me make sense of it all. Our relationship didn't last very long, but I give him a lot of credit for being there. He explained to me that he wasn't as ready for a relationship as he thought. We remained best friends, which was fine with me. But due to some unfortunate events, I had to go back to my parents. I began another deep fall. Rex had been the one who could lift me up and get me out of the funk.

Then I met my third boyfriend, who allowed me to move to Austria. This was my chance to finally escape my family's abuse. Looking back, this was nothing more than running away. Rex was particularly annoyed with me, but I needed to escape, and he knew that too. He visited me often, and my boyfriend saw that I was in much better spirits as a pup than as a human. Rex's death was a real blow for me. He was an anchor, a support in my life, and I owed so much to him. My relationship with the third boyfriend fell apart. This one lasted a little longer than the other two, but once again, I was never told that I was loved. He couldn't say the words, but he couldn't show it either. He simply didn't care what I did in life. After all, it was my life, right? Shortly afterwards I met some new people, including two puppies and my fourth boyfriend. He was young and sweet and we lifted one another up. That was the longest relationship I've ever had, but last year that too came to an end. He had one thing in common with the others. He was never able to show me and tell me that he loved me.

Now I surround myself with pups. They all make me feel that I am accepted and liked just the way I am. They accept me unconditionally, despite my occasional shortcomings. I've got some scars, and I do make mistakes. One puppy even makes me feel loved. He's the first pup I met here in Austria.

PW: What do you like to do when not in the pup headspace? Hobbies or interests?

NAMIKAZE: I like to travel. I like to learn new things, always trying to pick up good ideas. I also like to take part in events, out and about with other people. I also like the cinema, and one thing in particular... swimming! As you know, I like water.

PW: Where have you traveled to? And what is on your future itinerary?

NAMIKAZE: I traveled a lot, especially with Arko. In 2019, we travelled by train through Central Europe. From Vienna, we first went to Hamburg. Then to Berlin, Paris, London, Zurich, and then back to Vienna. We've also been to Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Italy together. Though we've traveled a lot together, I'm open to other travel partners. I have even visited one or two pups before. Poland is still on the agenda for the future, as well as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. But as soon as the Rail Baltica is finished, we'll head to Spain and Portugal. I love traveling by train. I prefer rail and water travel over flying. Except Japan. I've been there before, and it's definitely easier to get there by plane.

Contact Namikaze:

All photos by Pup Namikaze unless noted.