I share my honest Sashiko Stories. I say that Sashiko in English isn’t wrong, but insufficient. For those who think they already know about Sashiko, my voice can be interpreted as an act of “Division” or “Fragmentation”. No, “Exclusion” is the opposite of my voice. All I am asking is to “learn” more so that they (non-Japanese) will not exclude something that already existed in Japan innocently. For that, I am trying to share the Japanese way of being consistent, or more broadly, how Japanese “Wa (Harmony)” works. “Wa” doesn’t exist in rules or extreme dualism. An act of willingness to understand more will bring us the Japanese “Wa” harmony. (Don’t get me wrong: the concept of “Wa” has also some issues…in a different way).
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Insisting individualism is kind of the opposite of this “Wa”. In Western Culture, “Being Right (Justified)” is very important. In “Wa”, inclusion is much more important than being “correct”. Therefore, I often hesitate to define the words. Definition will define the “answer” and it may leave some nuance behind because of my ignorance.
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Boro is NOT a technique. The question will be: “What is Boro then?”. Well, this account exists for that. Boro isn’t the word for colorful patchwork. Boro isn’t the choice of sustainable fashion. Boro isn’t an environmentally friendly textile. Those are all “outcomes” of interpretation. The interpretation done in innocence is okay: However, unfortunately, there is some intentional filtration. I do want to include those who intentionally twist the culture – since they are also a part of on-going culture. All I am doing is to pass down something that identifies myself, to someone who may appreciate it.
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月末と来月の出張に向けて、ずーっと花瓶の下に敷いていた襤褸を持ち出しました。米国で襤褸を紹介する時に、「実物に近いサンプルがあればいいよね」と恵子さんから受け継いだ襤褸です。布は重なり厚いのですが、摩擦には弱いので普段遣いはできません。なので花瓶の下に敷いて呼吸だけさせるようにしています（ほんとは草履とかの下の方が本質に近いと思うのですが、ほら、米国なので玄関が無くて。正面のドアを開けた所は泥まみれになるので、普通の雑巾を置いています。まぁ、襤褸の本質はその「泥まみれ」にあるとは思うのですが（笑）
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襤褸の美は「刺し手の美に対する意地」だと感じると同時に、「刺し子を繰り返してりゃそれなりのものにはなる」という気楽さを感じています。というか、10年先の布の痛み具合を計算して刺し子するのは、もう芸術家の域ですしね。普通に大切に使い、必要があれば針を通す。多くの方に見て頂いて、襤褸に近い何かを感じてもらう。そんな大切な役目をこの布には背負ってもらっています。
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2022-01-18 14:23:26
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