Welcome to Our Sashiko Archive

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.

Start Here

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.

Small pieces of Kofu.

atsushijp, 2017年12月20日

Small pieces of Kofu.
Yet, not old enough to be the part of Boro.

We do Sashiko, then make small craft like these cat brooch. Too good to Waste. Mottainai.

小さな端切れ。
でも襤褸には使えないようなもの。
それも無駄にはせず、こういう小物を作ってしまえる所が、手仕事の面白いところでして。

2017-12-20 09:40:36

@SashikoStory Boro Cat JapaneseCraft JapaneseTraditional KeikoFutatsuya Kofu OldFabric Patchworking quilting SashiCo sashiko 刺し子古布襤褸襤褸アート

Comment

山田かおる says:

2017年12月21日 at 11:26 AM

この猫の胴体部分の藍色、大好きです。そして金魚色は最高のパートナーですね。こういうのを見ると、また端切れを棄げられなくなります。

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