In Traditional Japanese craftsmanship, there is a word that I cannot fully trans

In Traditional Japanese craftsmanship, there is a word that I cannot fully translate to English. It is “職人 (Shokunin)”. The direct translation is a “craftsperson”, but I feel the description is incomplete. It is a strict, and very Japanese-like world there. For example, an apprentice to a traditional Sushi bar would not touch a knife for the first few years. No one teaches anything to him/her. The apprentice runs errands for the “master”, and peeks into the skill and learns. No teaching. No explanation. Just respect & years of time.
☆
Some say, “That’s very inefficient. An apprenticeship should be based on teaching/learning like a school”. I understand that. I agree when we focus on “skills” and “technique”. The Japanese apprenticeship requires a full-life commitment. Not many people can do so in 2020. Especially in Sashiko, no one should be that committed because (1) it is super difficult to make a living as a Sashiko craftsperson (2) Sashiko was an ordinary practice. Therefore, I established the Sashiko Class. Instead of spending 20 years learning like me, you can get the essence of Sashiko in 3~ hours of practicing. However, it doesn’t mean that I do not respect the Japanese apprenticeship. I want them to go through the similar experience of traditional (strict) Japanese craftsmanship. The Patreon & Live Streaming is my offer to make it happen. ☆
Anyone can enjoy Sashiko in a way of their preference. However, please hear my thoughts, though. There are people who have (had) spent their entire life in Sashiko. “Freedom” is a too shallow word to define their contribution.
☆
–
–
–
☆
今週も金曜日、同じ時間に配信ができそうです〜！毎週と決めたい所ですが、妻の予定次第な所もあるので、毎週確認する感じで。詳細は明日お伝えします！
☆

2020-06-09 09:23:25

Source