A Criticism I received the other day: “After reading & watching your contents, what I learned was ‘all you want is money.’” Well, where to begin. At least, the contents the person watched were for free. Oy Vey.
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Yes, I sincerely want you to learn Sashiko from us. I realize the Sashiko introduced in English isn’t a whole – not wrong, but insufficient. However, I don’t “beg” anyone to take my class (not yet, thanks to many supports). We all have different styles of learning. Some may learn better by just watching. So I share hours of unedit versions of my stitching. I will do my sincere best if one decides to take the Online Sashiko Class.
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“Whom to learn from” is up to preference. I understand the need for “spoon-feeding”. Some may prefer a teacher who brings everything to their mouth. It isn’t just my (or Japanese) style. Regardless of any style of learning, I have advice (for you) as a Sashiko artisan (not a teacher) who has spent a lot of time learning Sashiko. When you choose a teacher, make sure they explain what they “can’t” and “don’t”. There is a significant difference between “Can’t” and “Don’t”. Sashiko is a pretty vague category to teach “everything”. Learn not only the technique but also the reasons behind. A long established culture usually has stories for “why” – Why Sashiko thread? Why no knots? Why stitching from the back? Anyone can be a teacher of anything in today’s society. Therefore, it is up to us(learners) to choose the future. And, yes, it would be great if you could take my Sashiko Online Class 😀 (the details of online Sashiko class can be found @upcyclestitches
and their website, or link from our profile.)
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ワークショップ等を開催して僕の目からみる刺し子を英語で伝えるようになって、「教えること」の大切さを実感するようになりました。とはいえ、日本語圏での刺し子だと、「好きなように針を動かせばいい」と思っているのは変わりないのですが、英語圏で日本をそれほど知らないだろう方が「刺し子はこうあるべきだ」と断定している文章を読むと、「伝えること」の大切さを感じるのです。言い換えると、「答え（正義）」が必要な文化圏で、「押し付けない文化」を紹介することの難しさです。極論、「押し付けてくれ」って言われている訳なのでね。そういう意味では、非日本語圏では、「私から学んで下さい」と大きな声を出せるようになりたいなと思うのです。
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2021-01-22 09:53:53
Hello, I am a textile artesan from Italy, I know only the basics of sashiko can you send me details about your classes?
出来ることはたかが知れているけど日本からいつも応援しています
Oh Atsushi! These people misunderstand you. Having taken the online class I can assure people that you do not do it for money but from a heartfelt desire to share your tradition.
I appreciate your wisdom
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽♥️
As someone who is learning as much as I can for free, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity. That said, I look forward to the day I can afford to take the class. Thank you again for all you are doing!
Your mention of spoon feeding made me recall my first Japanese professor in university. One of his favourite lines was “we’re not going to learn like babies” 😂
For me, it’s a pleasure and honor to support my teachers. That person is missing out on the joy of sharing abundance.
（私から学んでください）と大きな声を出して頂きたいです。
You offer a service, and you should receive pay for your service. Artists deserve pay for their work.
I am turned off by the defensive tone of your posts. Can’t you just focus on sashimi without all the responses to complaints. It detracts from what you are doing. I have to unfollow. It’s depressing.
I really do not understand this type of disgusting “parting shot”. (check the comment from[janeinteriorsnyc] on this post / I do not reply to this person because she may delete the comment & mine will be gone as well).
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I am not here to advertise what I do. I am here to protect my own culture – so yes, I need to defend myself from ignorant & insulting comments & attitudes.
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By the way, for anyone who worries about Cultural Appropriation in Sashiko, the comment is the example of cultural appropriation. “Your worries & care” prove that you do not appropriate the culture in my understanding. This person cares only the superficial part of Sashiko (how it looks). She ignore the voice & (inconvenient) fact. I will fight back if this person start saying her stitching is Sashiko – because she understands nothing about Sashiko at this point, and define my “life” as depressing. I hope this kind of “example” explain how my understanding of Cultural Appropriation is.
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See? I am NOT making up those complaints or negative feedbacks I introduce. These people literally exist…
I have watched hours of you stitching and at first I didn’t understand the needle was in the plate of the thimble. I didn’t understand how your hands move. But one night I had a dream about stitching and in the morning I understood. My stitches are no at all good, but now I “get it” and can improve, all from watching you and listening to you talk. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. (I have just been diagnosed with heart problems and blood pressure issues and this is helping me relax and focus and it makes me very happy.) THANK YOU!
People who leave such comments are your insecure competitors