As I often use the term “Cultural Appropriation”, many misunderstand me as if I

As I often use the term “Cultural Appropriation”, many misunderstand me as if I am trying to exclude non-Japanese to “protect” Sashiko. No, I am NOT excluding anyone. In fact, I share all the stories to include anyone regardless who they are. This is very important to clarify. I want YOU to enjoy Sashiko, call your stitching Sashiko (if you want), and apply the technique, philosophy, and JOY of Sashiko to your days. Then, what am I shouting so desperately?
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I believe everyone agrees that all cultures come with Stories. In other words, these “Stories” will illustrate the culture itself. When the stories are “taken away” or “repainted”, the culture will become something else. It is very important to go through a process of “Scrap and Build” in many cultures. The trend is very good at “Scraping”, yet “Building” requires some wisdom & experience especially when it comes to Cultural Context. It is easy to imagine that we shouldn’t destroy a 300 year old property in a neighborhood “just because”. The process of demolishing may be necessary, but the community & locals with stories are supposed to be the part of its process so that they can “rebuild” something related.
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I do not only mind the change in Sashiko, I welcome them. I consider you here as the future of Sashiko – which may require the process of “Scrap” – however, with you here, I know the process of Build will be mindful as you are careful to listen to the Locals. Unfortunately, however, the issue is that you here are the minority in this trend. Many don’t “care” – or they don’t know how to care. Some teachers aren’t really teaching – they are just offering what the market/audience wants. Sashiko is more than design – it is a series of Stories both joy & struggle.
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The photo is “another side” of the previous post – it explains a lot when we imagine which is the “showing” side.
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「文化は壊れても良い（いずれは壊れるもの）」と、昨日文章にしました。諸行無常。仏教の根本にあるもので、刺し子が変わることへの拒否は勿論してないし、壊れるだろうなぁとすら思っているのです。ただ…同じ壊れるにしても、「壊している対象と工程と、できれば本質を知っている人」であって欲しいと思うのは、日本的すぎるでしょうか？破壊に情緒を求めてしまうのは繊細すぎるでしょうか？結果が一緒なら「なんでもいい」とする人は、刺し子は…というか手仕事は向いてないと思うのです。そんな「情緒」すらわからず「侘び寂び」を乱用するから、もうわけがわからなくなるのですよ。刺し子と侘び寂びは相性は良いですが、英語圏の刺し子とは違うものです。
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2024-08-21 00:45:24

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