I have one powerful, yet scary, question that I have been thinking for 2 years or so. The answer to the question will explain a lot of the current situation. My goal is to pass down the Sashiko we practice: I choose a vehicle to do so by Sharing Sashiko Stories. The question may identify how far the trend of Sashiko had gone (or how close it still stays) – 言葉の一人歩き – the word may have been wandring off… or even gone off. The question will clarify a lot for me.
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There is no such a thing as “Right and Wrong” to this question. I do not judge any answers because that’s how they feel, react, understand, wish and want. One may cause the Cultural Appropriation, but the series of C/A repaint the original color – which I need to speak up for. This question is like a diagnosis for me. Therefore, I am so scared of asking this. But, I decided to stand up and gather courage.
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The Question is: “What do you like about Sashiko?”. I will try to talk about it on tomorrow’s Live Streaming, starting at 9 pm EST on Youtube.
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For us, Sashiko is… umm. The Jacket Keiko made in 2015 would probably explain a bit without words?
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2015年の恵子さんの作品です。恵子さんの遊び心に、「遊び心」と名付けた頃の作品です。「これは刺し子なの？」と聞かれると、ふむ〜と考え込み、「あ、でも刺し子は好きです」と答える恵子さんの出発地点です。
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日本生まれの日本育ちという、ある意味での「特権」から移民になって、一層自分を大切にするようになりました。大袈裟に言ってしまえば、失ったからこそ理解できた特権です。基本人間は、想像のできる範囲で、あるいは快適に思い浮かべることができる範囲で物事を理解しようとします。想像を超えた場合は現実から目を背けるか、どうしても目を逸らせない場合は物事そのものを無理に「快適な型」にはめ込もうとします。良い悪いの話ではなく、そういう社会に生きている……というお話です。
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その「視点の違い」を確認する時に、正解だの間違いだのという二元論を持ち出すと、相手の本質を見る前に仲違いしてしまう場合があります。逃げることに躊躇ない（あるいは逃げていると認識していない）現代人において、一度逃げると決めると修復は大変です。ではどうやって「話している相手がどれだけ違うのか」を確認するのか。それは、「○○（共通テーマ）のどこが好き？」という質問です。僕であれば、「刺し子のどこが好きですか？」と。この問いに対して頂くご返答に正解も間違いもありません。様々な回答が想像できます。同時に「違い」もわかるし、逆に「見知らぬ同士」を見つけることもできます。
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このテーマ、実はずーっと隠してきました（笑）トランプで言えばジョーカー的な質問なんです。日本語で問うと、僕の勉強しなければいけない課題が増えます（笑）。英語で問うと、落胆してしまうかもしれない。投げ出してしまうかもしれない。両言語においてリターンもリスクも大きすぎて、これまで言葉にはしてきませんでした。でも、敢えて2022年はこれを使い倒します。配信でのテーマにも登場します。「貴方はなぜ、刺し子が好きなのですか？」（日本語での回答に間違いも正解もなく、また僕が批判的になることはないとお約束します。それが例え「注目を浴びられるから」というものであっても）。
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2022-01-05 22:24:57
magnificent!
The history and how and why it developed from necessity into an art. Like the beautiful expensive sweaters that started as garments made for fishermen that would keep them warm even when wet. It tells the story of all the people who practiced it before, even if I’m culturally separated from them.
The history and how and why it developed from necessity into an art. Like the beautiful expensive sweaters that started as garments made for fishermen that would keep them warm even when wet. It tells the story of all the people who practiced it before, even if I’m culturally separated from them.
Para mi sashiko va más allá de lo que me atrajo al principio qué fue su estética y su armonía. Me interesó su historia, por que comenzó y como se fue transformando a través de los años .
También que sus diseños tuvieran un significado.
En lo personal también que las puntadas tengan un ritmo me relaja es como una meditación!
I love Sashiko stitching as I can lose myself in the process and make something beautiful. I have not done a lot but I do enjoy the working of it.
To me, it seems that there is a direct connection between what I understand the culture of sashiko to be (I am still learning, so sorry if I do not understand fully) and what I think people are seeking today. A tradition of strengthening, remaking, and continuing to use our things is so important to cultivate in our current culture of fast fashion and disposable kitchen goods, etc. What was practical and affordable in history is now environmentally important. And the fact that sashiko is so beautiful means these items are aesthetically as well as practically satisfying. I think that this appeals to people on an instinctive level. And for me personally, I always struggle with the fact that I love to do hand embroidery but I don’t love to have not-useful objects around my home. Sashiko will help me spend my crafting energy on things I use every day.
By the way, thank you for the time you take to talk about your work and about Sashiko history! It is wonderful to get to learn from you.
Thank you for your question. What I like about Sashiko… It is difficult to put into words… As I sit thinking I am feeling emotional. I imagine hands stitching, bringing together. Strength and beauty. Ordinary and special. Contribution. Longevity. This is all a projection as I have not had much contact with Sashiko. And I have not practiced myself. Maybe I am scared to let go of my driven existence and commit. It (my limited contact with Sashiko) certainly provides a refreshing counterpoint to the culture I live in. Maybe it soothes me. In this sense perhaps I am just a passive consumer of Sashiko content.
Precioso bordado
Calm utility
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I like the physical and visual rhythm sashiko provides. The repetitive stab of the needle and the beautifully spaced stitches give me a balanced inner peace.
Keiko’s Jacket is beautiful; it is delicious food for the heart x
You’re right, it’s hard to explain in words. Hand stitching of any kind appeals to me in many ways. It is calming and meditative
You once said that sashiko was like Reiki, I would like you to clarify this point for me.
So incredibly beautiful