I welcome changes in Sashiko and Encouraged.

When you read my Stories, please keep one thing in mind: I welcome changes in Sashiko. I welcome anyone who is interested in Sashiko. I accept any “Changes” in Sashiko. I enjoy seeing many interpretation & modification & application of Sashiko into their own field of creativity. Some mislead my stories as I act like a “gatekeeper” of Traditional Sashiko – or even I deny all of the changes in Sashiko. I do NOT deny it. I even encourage them to “change” it.
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All the reason I speak up with caution to the world is about “How & Who makes the change”. The change itself isn’t a matter of good or bad. The “Tradition” without change & adaptation isn’t really Culture. Unfortunately, right now, “How & Who makes changes in Sashiko” are those who do not belong to either Japanese Culture or who do not stitch as much.
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The issue itself isn’t the lack of experience of belongings. It is the lack of acknowledgement, and misleading the majority in a form of trend to maximize their profit. It is a Change with ignoring the origin, and focusing on their profit. We may call it “Cherry Picking”… I find it disgusting when they intentionally change someone’s culture for their own comfort. Well… it is probably a history of humanity – but then, I am protecting Sashiko for “the majority” from “those”.
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時間が空いてしまいました。ん〜。なかなか調子が出ません。運針だけじゃなく、日々においてもリズムに乗れない。結果、できるだけ毎日更新しようと思っているインスタグラムも億劫になってしまっておりました。音楽で音程を合わせる為には、頭の中で考えていてもダメで、実際に楽器から音を出し続ける必要があるように、普段の生活の調子も合わせる為には動き続けるのが一番の近道なわけで。でも時に苦しくなってしまうのです。
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感情に矛盾が生じているのを認知しながら前に進んでいることは、良くないのかもしれません。端的に言うと、嫌だと思いながら辻褄を合わせる為に誤魔化しながら前に進んでいるのかもしれません。誤魔化しなしの気持ちは、「私は今の刺し子の流行が嫌だ」ということなのかもしれません。刺し子は針仕事なので、どのような変化をしても問題ないし、寧ろ変化をすることが大切だと思っています。ふきんも、パッチワークも、様々な刺し子のルールも、針目の大きさも、糸の太さも、運針の有無も…これまで嫌だと思うことは多くありませんでした。変化そのものは嫌じゃない。では何が嫌かというと、「変化を作る人の考え方、刺し子への向き合い方」が嫌なんだろうなと。極端に言えば、粋を感じない論理的で西洋的な変化を「日本人すら」、日本の日常の手仕事の刺し子に持ち込んでいるのが嫌なんだろうと思います。
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私が尊敬する刺し子の署先輩方も、試行錯誤を繰り返されています。でも、なかなかに声は広がらない。それは「刺し子の技術」と「声を広げること」は全く別物で、寧ろ反比例すらするかもしれないと思う程に「別人格」が必要に思います。私の中にも二人存在していて、だからこそ己の中の矛盾を感じているのかもしれません。
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2024-07-23 23:27:42

Source : I welcome changes in Sashiko

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RE: I welcome changes in Sashiko

When you read my stories, I ask that you keep one important thing in mind: I warmly welcome anyone who has an interest in Sashiko, the traditional Japanese stitching technique. Sashiko is a beautiful and intricate art form with deep cultural roots, and I believe it should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or experience. I am open to and even encourage changes within Sashiko. I find joy in seeing the many different interpretations, modifications, and applications of Sashiko as artists and creators incorporate it into their own unique fields of creativity. These new approaches can breathe fresh life into the art form, allowing it to grow, evolve, and adapt to contemporary contexts.

However, there seems to be some misunderstanding about my perspective. Some people misinterpret my stories or views, mistakenly thinking that I am a “gatekeeper” of traditional Sashiko, or that I am resistant to any changes within the art form. They may believe that I seek to preserve Sashiko in its traditional state and deny any evolution or innovation. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I do not oppose change in Sashiko. In fact, I encourage it wholeheartedly. I believe that change is essential for the survival and vitality of any cultural practice. A tradition that remains static, without evolving or adapting, is not truly a living culture. It risks becoming stagnant and losing its relevance to contemporary society.

That being said, I do speak up with caution when it comes to changes in Sashiko, and I think it’s important to explain why. My concerns are not about the idea of change itself—change is natural and necessary. Instead, my focus is on “how” these changes are made and “who” is making them. The nature of the change matters, but so does the person or group initiating it. Unfortunately, we are currently seeing changes to Sashiko that are being led by individuals who do not have a genuine connection to Japanese culture or who have not engaged deeply in the practice of Sashiko stitching. These individuals might not fully understand the cultural significance of Sashiko or the careful techniques that are involved in creating it.

The issue here isn’t just a lack of cultural connection or experience; it’s a lack of acknowledgment and understanding of Sashiko’s roots and traditions. It is also about the way these individuals are presenting Sashiko to the wider world. In many cases, they are misleading the majority, turning Sashiko into a fleeting trend or a fashionable commodity, rather than respecting it as a meaningful cultural practice. This is often done with the aim of maximizing their profit, rather than promoting an authentic appreciation or understanding of the art form. Such an approach to change ignores the origins of Sashiko and focuses solely on personal or commercial gain.

This form of selective alteration, often referred to as “cherry-picking,” involves taking parts of a culture that are convenient or appealing while disregarding the deeper, more challenging, or less marketable aspects. It can be seen as a disrespectful and distasteful way to treat someone else’s culture, particularly when it is done for personal comfort or profit. It is, unfortunately, a common occurrence throughout human history—cultures are often appropriated and altered to fit the desires and needs of others. But in this case, I feel compelled to speak up.

I feel a responsibility to protect Sashiko and to ensure that its practice and tradition are preserved with integrity and respect. I want to protect it for the majority who respect its origins and practice it with genuine appreciation and understanding, from those who might exploit it without a true connection or appreciation for its cultural significance. This is not about resisting change but rather advocating for thoughtful, respectful, and informed change—change that honors the spirit of Sashiko and allows it to thrive as a living, evolving cultural practice.