Keiko in a spiritual place. Nice time!
2015-02-26 12:29:03
Our Sashiko Story to Your Sashiko Journey
Our Sashiko Archive is a collection of stories, reflections, and educational resources about Sashiko, Boro, and the cultural context surrounding Japanese hand-stitching traditions. While Sashiko is now often associated with visible mending, geometric patterns, sustainability, or slow fashion, these ideas are only one part of a much larger story.
This archive preserves more than eight years of writing, sharing, teaching, and conversation based on both research and lived experience. As someone born into a Sashiko family in Takayama, Japan, I have spent much of my life surrounded by the people, values, and stories that shaped the practice long before it became widely known overseas.
This archive is also closely connected to my book, Sashiko: The Untold Story, which explores the history, philosophy, memories, and cultural misunderstandings around Sashiko in greater depth. I hope this site becomes a place to begin, continue, or deepen your understanding of Sashiko beyond simple definitions.

What is Sashiko?
Discover the history, purpose, and cultural background of Sashiko beyond the common stereotypes of “visible mending” or “embracing imperfection.”
What is Sashiko?
Discover the history, purpose, and cultural background of Sashiko beyond the common stereotypes of “visible mending” or “embracing imperfection.”
What is Boro?
Explore the meaning of Boro, how it emerged through generations of use and repair, and why it is best understood as an outcome rather than a technique.
Learn Sashiko from Atsushi
Find information about workshops, online classes, lectures, and opportunities to study Sashiko directly from a Japanese artisan.
About Atsushi Futatsuya
Learn about the author of this archive, his family’s Sashiko heritage, and the ongoing work of sharing and preserving stories connected to Sashiko.
As a Japanese living Western Culture, one of the difficult questions is: [What is your religion?]. I used to say, [I don’t have it]. Then, I realize they consider me “Atheist”, which isn’t accurate. I believe in “something”, but that “something” isn’t defined by Western Culture so easily. For me,…
We now enjoy the “antique” side of Boro – some pieces of Boro are nicely exhibited in museums, or sold in the big antique market as “Art”. This is a very interesting phenomena, and I agree with the beauty of Boro. However, I feel the need to share the Stories…
18 Sashiko artisans contributed their piece to make this one beautiful Jacket. I say, “All different, All Good”. There is no such a thing as “Absolute Answer” in Sashiko. However, when we learn the specific posture, the Sashiko result can be unified without discomfort. They are all different, but somewhat…

#Aloha 🙂