On the Internet, we can find some photos of “stitching (or similar)” saying “Sashiko (Boro) inspired”. They made me wonder what they are “inspired” by (from). Today, I am reading a well-written, and very important article about the word “inspired” written by a Japanese person I respect, and I am learning how to articulate the dull pain in my chest.
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The source of inspiration may be the specific “Pattern” such as Asanoha or Shippou. However, there are no such a thing as Sashiko pattern. They are geometric patterns we often use in Sashiko. They may be inspired by the (superficial) comfortable message of Sashiko translated (modified) by someone who think they know enough – like Sashiko as the way to recycle fabric in SDGs. It is true that we reuse materials a lot, but Sashiko is NOT the word for “Visible Mending”. When I share these stories, some accuse me saying, “You always complain with denial saying ○○ is NOT ●●. You need to explain when you deny it”. Well… I am explaining everything here through sharing my stories. Sashiko has been my life. How can I explain everything in one sentense to someone who does not try to learn the cultural perspective of the practice? Sashiko and our stories do not exist to satisfy someone’s Instant Gratification, or even worse, self‐assertiveness and profit.
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I am still learning English so that I can speak up in this big trend. Or, without English, the voice from Japanese people may be buried in its history. I make myself available to share my own stories every Thursday at 9 pm EST on Youtube (Search the channel “Sashiko Story”). Do not use the word “inspired” as the excuse for the Instant Gratification. I am happy that what we can do inspires you, so please keep learning. Please keep sharing the stories where you are inspired by (from).
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少し思うことがあり、デニムへの刺し子を再開しました。麻の葉は「100mの麻の葉企画」で目一杯（飽きる程）なので、もう一つの楽ちんな柄の七宝で刺し子をしています。他の柄は、刺し子というよりは準備するのが面倒なんすよね（笑）。ここ数ヶ月で運針会を数回開催する中で、「楽しく刺し子をする」という刺し子配信の原点みたいなものを思い出すことができました。今のスタイルが悪いって言ってるんじゃなく、それは絶対に必要なのだけど、英語での本気感を日本語に持ち込む必要はないなぁと。というわけで、明日の配信は久々にデニムに刺し子をしながらの配信予定です。何か私ができるお話し等でリクエストがあればコメント下さい！（なぜ裏面から刺し子をするのかについては触れる予定です）。
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2022-05-12 13:59:57
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Your posts make me more and more appreciative of Shashiko and the culture behind it every day. I am no seamstress, yet I am drawn to wanting to try this method of stitching, which seems within reach for me, as a way to keep my fingers working — I’m 70, with arthritis — and as a form of meditation — a way to slow down my life during what is a terribly rushed and overwhelming time period for me and for my husband. Yet every post I read here also makes me more and more hesitant to pick up the needle and thread at all, for fear of offending by overstepping cultural boundaries. It is a conundrum that I have not been able to resolve, because the more I read here, the more and more confused I become as to what is, or might be, respectful and allowed — or disrespectful and not allowed — by and to those of us not born to your culture. So I just continue to read only and not do. However — at 70, my time for doing grows ever shorter. What would you advise someone like me to do? Asking in all seriousness and with respect. 🙏 🍂👩🦳🍂
Unrelated to Sashiko but related to people trying to place their personal ego on trying to own Japanese culture , their are predominantly white people whom discourage others to owning a shiba ken saying they are difficult and only a certain type of people are privileged enough to own them !! Yet I ask Japanese friends they say this dog not difficult? Why people try to feel special and monopolise Japanese culture ?
Me gusta mucho leerte y tratar humildemente de entender todo lo que queres trasmitir y la frustración de ver que tu cultura de sashiko y el verdadero sentido se diluye por moda o ganar dinero! Me encantaría saber tu idioma o hablar inglés como para poder seguirte !! Pero me conformo con tus mensajes de Instagram!
Te saluda Marta