I am a bit surprised to learn that people have come to this account by looking up “Cultural Appropriation (C/A)”. I am still learning about C/A. I just learned the term a few years ago. Please do not conclude your understanding of C/A by reading my own story & understanding. There are very good accounts to learn C/A from.
☆
C/A can be very sensitive & complicated. Therefore, I make it as simple as possible when it comes to C/A in Sashiko. The keyword is “Acknowledgement”. If you worry about C/A, or hurting someone by using a foreign word, don’t worry too much. Well, then you may think, “If worrying about it will stop C/A, wouldn’t it be a problem”? Unfortunately, there are some who believe they know better about their foreign culture without even learning their language.
☆
I share an Example of actual C/A I experienced. A person says BORO is a Japanese Craft. I say Boro is NOT a CRAFT (more accurately, Boro has some aspect of being interpreted as craft, but it will significantly filter the cultural significance). It is okay if they don’t know me & insist Boro is a craft. Not knowing can be solved by just “acknowledgement”. However, when they keep insisting Boro is Craft (Art) no matter how nicely & repeatedly explain, Cultural Appropriation happens. Even if they are doing it for non-profit reasons, as long as they use it to market themselves with the word, it can be an issue. Their action causes emotional labor, and massive pain. C/A happens when they don’t care what “it” really is. They just want to learn ideas that support (validate) their understanding. I hope you see a clear difference between “One with Worries” and “One with Confidence”. Your worries will encourage you to keep learning – acknowledging. That’s all I ask for now about C/A in Sashiko.
☆
–
–
–
☆
「襤褸はクラフトだ」という西洋人がいます。私個人として襤褸はクラフト（工芸品）だとは思っていません。工芸品としての側面もあり、また工芸品としての解釈をすることも可能ですが、日本語以外で襤褸を”クラフト”と断言してしまうことは、何かを”無知に”変えてしまうことだと思います。この方とは数年間英語でやり取りをしているのですが、ご自身の襤褸の理解が間違っていないことに絶対の自信があるようで。いつもと同じ論理に戻るのですが、日本語も話さず、日本人とも話さず、襤褸と言うものがわかるものなのでしょうか？日本人でこれだ毛どっぷりと刺し子に浸かっている私自身、襤褸とは何かを今でも問い続けているというのに。無知とは怖いものです。無知は暴力になりますから。
☆
2022-07-23 22:43:35
Thank you for continuing to speak about this. I am learning so much from you. I have always found Sashiko stitching lovely but did not know its historical and cultural context. I cannot afford your online course right now so your IG posts are the “classroom” I have access to.
@gabriela.otofuji
芸術について考えています 「その刺し子は芸術だ」と確かに言えると思いますが、それは「他者の視線」に過ぎないのではないか？と思うようになりました 客観的というより感情や生活への寄り添いがない他者の視線 何も知らずに「芸術だ」と言うのはそういうことではないかという気がします 工芸と呼ぶこともまた然り カテゴライズして呼ぶときに寄り添いがあるか それは「知っている」「知ろうとしている」が鍵になるのかなと、今回の投稿で思いました
I can’t remember how I first found your account but I’m glad I did and that you’ve encouraged me to learn more by reading your posts
thank you for this. The concept of Cultural Appropriation is very difficult and I think the road to understanding it is long. On the journey, we must be open to learning and changing our opinions and above all, be respectful. I lnow the post and the group you refer to. That person was rude to me too which upset me, so I can’t begin to imagine your pain from her comments. ❤️ Kathryn
🪷🙏🏼
🙌
So it wasn’t this instagram account I first found but your description elsewhere of some of the difficulties you had been having in communicating with people and some of the backlash you had received. It was helpful so I came here too. What you right here continues to be helpful. Thoughtful, nuanced, rooted in your experience and above all in stories. And always open ended, open hearted. This is very different to the way many people communicate on the internet so I want to thank you for adding your human voice here.
クラフト。日本人の私にはこの言葉は何となくさわやかで綺麗なイメージで、暗くドロドロしたイメージは無くて。襤褸と逆のような気がしてしまいます。勿論個人的な意見ですが。