I believe I have been making myself very clear on the issue of Cultural Appropriation in Sashiko. Since it is a sensitive topic, I try to make it extra simple for me & Sashiko. With sincere respect to others who share a more strict perspective of C/A, I want anyone to call their stitching Sashiko (if they want to) under “one-condition” – which is “willingness to learn Sashiko”.
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The worst one can do in Cultural Appropriation is indifference. Not knowing is fine. I am here to share a story so anyone can learn. For SNS, the worst one can do is to delete the comment I had spent so much emotional labor on. It happened a lot a few years ago. It also happened yesterday. Disliking what I write is fine, and trying to argue with me is okay. We can all learn a discussion with disagreement, and that’s the whole reason I am here – to learn more & share more. So, I do not block an account due to the disagreement (I block it when one becomes too harmful). Deleting (minimising or ignoring) “what one wrote to argue” after a disagreement about their foreign culture is disgusting, and the exact form of Cultural Appropriation. They said: “I like Sashiko’s beauty, but I do not care what you think. I am not appropriating the culture. What a boring world.” – is yesterday’s comment I received, and got deleted by them, and it is the form of Cultural Appropriation. Enjoying Sashiko itself isn’t the C/A. Ignoring the voice with indifference is the fundamental of the issue. Well, I learn from mistakes so I have the screen-shots of the comments. Interestingly, I planned to have a “Live Streaming on Youtube” tomorrow to discuss the C/A. I will share the comment there as the “exact example” of Cultural Appropriation in Sashiko. I want you to enjoy Sashiko, and “THEREFORE”, I want you to learn & acknowledge the stories behind the word, Sashiko. The word “Sashiko” isn’t only for someone’s entertainment
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ちょっと長くなるので、コメント欄で日本語での投稿分を書きます。見辛くてごめんなさい。久々に書ききれない程長くなった。
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2021-11-22 10:00:58
【この投稿の日本語分です】
世の中には失礼な人は沢山いて、SNSで情報発信するということは日々そういう人と対峙するということでもあります。嫌われてもいいかと思える様になったし、意見の相違は頻繁にあることなのですが、唯一吐き気がする程嫌っている事があります。それが、理由も説明もなく「返事が付いたコメントを消す事」です。同意できなくてもOK。嫌いでもOK。でも、そこに返事するのに費やした時間や気持ちすらも「なかった事」にする行為は、とても卑怯で劣悪で最低の行為だと思っています。間違いを認めるにしろ、意見が違うままにするにしろ、消しちゃだめよ。学びもへったくれもない。ただの時間の無駄。残念ながら、それが横行しているのがSNSで、僕が戦っている主戦場なんだろうと思います。「都合が悪かったら無視すればいい」という人だけじゃなく、僕の時間をかけた返事そのものすら消す思考回路。理解できませんが、でも、そうやって文化って捻じ曲げられてきてるんですよね。負けねーぞ。（たぶん金曜日、相当愚痴ります。最後に「俺はアジア人と結婚したからお前の文化がわかってる」ってコメントにあって、あぁ頭の中に蛆が湧いてるなぁと思った昨晩でした。コメントはスクショして有るのでね）。
Thank you for your perspective and for taking the time to share with us. I think cultural appropriation frequently gets boiled down to, “Only people from that culture can practice, wear, or try those cultural arts and practices” without allowing room for those outside who want to learn and expand their understanding and appreciation, so I appreciate your more open approach. I’m sorry you have continually faced comments from people who claim to want to learn Sashiko, and then brush off your valuable wisdom gained from a lifetime of practice in this practice. Thanks to your posts, my own understanding has deepened beyond the initial “how pretty!” response I initially had when I discovered Sashiko through non-Japanese sources. I enjoy reading your cultural insights and thoughts on continuing Sashiko in the modern age—Thank you for your time and patience with us!
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Gracias por compartir tus historias y defender sashiko de la propiación cultural. Te respeto y aprendo de tus historias.👏👏👏
Thank you for all your posts! The ones that share your beautiful work, the ones that unpack your story and the ones that teach about context, culture and history. I’m sorry that there is so much resistance to learning without appropriation. I find that cultural appropriation and willful denial/ignorance of it is almost standard US American behavior (I grew up and live in the States.) I push against this all the time and am so glad for your voice and posts!
ファイト❣️
I am so sorry this happened to you.
I appreciate your page and interesting posts very much and also the beautiful images. I’m sending you good wishes and appreciation. I’ve learnt a lot from your insights
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