Tomorrow is Feb.8th in the US (It is Today in Japan). If you follow this account

Tomorrow is Feb.8th in the US (It is Today in Japan). If you follow this account long enough, you may know what Feb.8th is for Stitchers in Japan. Yes, it is a day of “Hari-Kuyou” – a Farewell Ceremony for broken/bent needles.
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“Culture” isn’t something extraordinary. It is developed (preserved or changed) over many years by the people who belong to the culture. Therefore, “Culture” often comes with many stories. In other words, the “Stories” make culture. In Sashiko’s discussion (teaching) on Internet platforms, I occasionally hear the word “Just Because” or “Simply”. There isn’t such a thing as “Just Because”: there are always stories, which often give us the reason for why. Why this thread? Why this needle? Why Sashiko isn’t only about technique? All of my sharing & teaching offer the stories for why.
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If one is a part of culture, saying “Just Because” is fine because they just doesn’t “connect” the story & fact. Once they think enough, they can find reasoning. “Just Because” or “Simply” without a good understanding of the culture is quite dangerous because it can be just an excuse to not to learn more. We have a ceremony for the broken needle, and we have reasons why. We believe a spirit in the needle, and we have stories for it. I appreciate you following this account and keep reading. I wish they were to teach not only “How to make perfect stitches” but also “The stories behind the culture”: Well, that’s why I am here to share more stories on the other side of teaching saying “Just because”.
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米国に移住して、こちらのカレンダーで生活をするようになり、日本の祝日や祭日には疎くなってしまっているのですが、どうしても事八日（針供養の日）は頭に残っています。「刺し子で針供養だから覚えてるのね」と思われるかもしれませんが、実は針供養が一番の理由ではないのです。そんなに針折れないし曲がらないし（笑）。なぜか昔の日本の方は、12/8と2/8を事八日として特別な日としました。理由は様々あると思いますが、やっぱり僕も何か「違う雰囲気」を感じる日でもあるのです。空気が違うというか、流れが違うというか。
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上記の段落、全く「説明になっていない」のですが、でも日本語だと「何か」伝わるんです。これが本当に言語の面白い所で、この「説明になってないけど伝わること」を、どう英語で伝えていくか。先は長いですが、一生かけて形にしようと思っています。
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2022-02-07 20:28:03

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