I am back. As I promise(d), I will not give up sharing “What Sashiko Is” for us. Last few weeks, I realized how overwhelmed I was by this “reality”. Once the water overflows from the glass, it will no longer keep the water within. I tried to suppress my emotion for a while, yet it overflowed like the water. Unfortunately, the Sashiko I have received will not be the main stream of Sashiko. In the best case scenario, some will remember it – and all I am doing is for that. Some advised me it is “too late”. I thought I knew it, yet once I realized what I was suppressing, I couldn’t force myself to suppress them further.
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I know you are here. I know the Sashiko I share will be somewhere in someone’s memory. However, the Sashiko introduced in English has become something different. We call it “言葉の一人歩き (A word start walking itself)”, and the word is leaving some Japanese Sashiko artisans behind. I don’t know if it is a matter of cultural appropriation as I want “everyone” to enjoy Sashiko regardless of who they are. However, there are so many “Sashiko Teachers” who think they know about the practice without either (or both) Japanese language or Sashiko itself. How can one “teach” a cultural practice without proficiency in that language? Unfortunately, however, the information about Sashiko in English is “defined/illustrated/navigated” and “repainted” by those who think they know about Sashiko without even trying to learn Japanese language (or worse, without stitching).
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I know you are here to learn. Therefore, I will continue sharing. It is just too painful to see the “unfairness”. The unfairness is everywhere, and I happened to be facing the one in Sashiko. When I realize it, it is too painful to keep moving forward. So, I need to look for the way to “treat” this pain to continue – regardless, I am back & I will be back.
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I will restart the Sashiko Live Streaming starting July 6th (Thursday). Let me have another week to rehabilitate my “emotion”.
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投稿が途切れてしまいご心配をおかけしております。来週には配信に戻れると思います。配信を中心に「何がどうなっているか」をご説明できたらと思っています。端的に言うと、「3年間無理してきたんだなぁ」ということです。もう1週間、リハビリにお時間を頂けたら。
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2023-06-30 08:22:31
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve missed your posts and the wisdom you share by not giving simple answers but stories. I hope you can manage the pain you’re suffering, it must be overwhelming. I can’t take it away, I can only try not to add more pain by learning from you and other Japanese practitioners of Sashiko.
Remember that when Sashiko stops being “popular” (it goes in waves), the voices of people that do Sashiko (real Japanese Sashiko) will be heard better again. So please keep sharing. Take care ❤️
Don’t give up teaching from your heart and soul and true Japanese wisdom behind it. The trend will fly over and become what it should be again. I have lots of respect for you❤️
I appreciate you and your posts and all the work that you put into kindly and tactfully providing this learning ❤️
I love your work and I have been inspired. Thank you. Bless you.❤️
Nice see you again😊
Welcome back. I missed your posts.
I very much enjoy being taught Sashiko through your eyes. It is much harder than it looks, but in the process, the material and thread tell you their qualities and how they interact. I am willing to put in the time to know it better. I’m sorry others think they can take from this practice. It happens in every authentic art, whether craft or Shaolin, etc. Do not despair. We are with you.
I learned so much from your Domestika class, not just for sashiko, but also for life. I’m very grateful for your knowledge and generosity
On a similar note: I love to do stranded knitting and often have used traditional motifs that were developed in Fair Isle, an island at the northern edge of Scotland. I never say I do “Fair Isle knitting”. Instead, I say I do “Fair Isle style knitting”. I like to honour the creators while acknowledging that I am not from Fair Isle and the knitting was not done there, either. I think that viewing some things (anything?) As sacred is less common in new countries. Canada, where I live, is less than 200 years old and is still developing a sense of itself, whereas Japan is thousands of years old and has many well-established traditions. In our immaturity, I feel we disregard so much that is important, as a 5 year okd child disregards some things the parents try to teach. But they grow up, mature (hopefully), then begin to discover what adults have known all along, like tradition, sacredness, etc. Countries move forward on a combination of sacred tradition and new thinking / innovation. Much like a person walking, alternately left foot then right foot. I’m glad you will keep teaching; I have learned a great deal from you and I treasure that here I always find food for thought. Thank you!
Thank you and please take care of yourself
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, please take good care of yourself 💖
淳さんお疲れ様です。最近配信がなかったので、どうされたのかしらと心配していました。ご無理なさらず、疲れた時はひと休みして下さい。
仕事のPCの横に、刺し子セットを置いていて、休憩する時にチクチクしてます。😸🫶
Please rake good care of yourself…. Remember you have people/friends all over the world who care about you and the work you do. 😊
Please take care of yourself. I’m grateful for your teaching and wisdom in your art. ❤️