I would like to thank Alison (@alisonglass) for making my week brighter. She offers “Stitch Club”, and she contacted me for permission to use our work as well as some description of Sashiko for her journal. In this “free” society where anyone can be any kind of teacher, this thoughtfulness means a lot. To be honest, her initial DM was good enough to understand her respect for what we do. However, a draft journal I read was beyond my expectation – it is always good to know that there are people who actually care to read what I write. ☆
I use good photos to attract an audience. That’s SNS is all about – quick image & quick “likes”. However, my hope is to encourage people to read “what is beyond the image”. I know Alison is not only one – there are many good readers including you – who is reading this because of my daily “short essay”. However, in this society, “freedom” sometimes comes before “learning”. I get exhausted by sadness, and then re-energized by mindful readers. ☆
A teacher “who knows what they don’t know” is a great teacher to follow. I share our Sashiko, but I don’t share “Kogin” because I understand I am not even close to saying “I know Kogin (I am learning)”. One day, when I have more time (when my daughter is old enough), I would like to join Alison’s Stitch Club to learn more about Quilting. ☆ – – – ☆
ここ数年、「先生」と呼ばれる事が増えてきて、でも本音は「先生とは呼ばないで」と思っていて、常に謙虚で学びの姿勢が大切だなと思っています。英語においては、「自信」と「確立されたこと」を核に置かないと、何も話が前に進まないので、文章を捻り出しているのですが、本音は常日頃「刺し子を教えて欲しい」と思っているのです。長年刺し子をされているけれど、「私の刺し子なんて恥ずかしい」と思っている方の刺し子は、学ぶことが沢山です。そういう方の方が、僕にとっては「先生」なので、だから「（僕を）先生と呼ばないで」と思ってしまうんだろうと思います。大学卒業直後の15年前に日本中を旅して、日本中の刺し子の先生からお話を伺うべきだったなぁというのは、人生の悔いの一つです（ま、当時はどうしようもなく刺し子が嫌いだったから仕方ないんだけど）。 ☆
2020-06-20 15:00:43
Always enlightening! ✨
I am so glad Alison and her stitch club brought to your world. I am looking forward to learning about Sashiko – humbly and mindfully. I hope!
I like reading your posts because they are very well thought out. Shame you have to spend so much of your time and energy in defending Sashiko. I am sure the centuries old practice will look after itself, because only Japanese people, like you and your Mum (and perhaps your daughter) know what it means. Good luck 🙏🏽
Thank you for your writing, it is a privilege to get to know the culture behind your work 🖤
It is always good for me to listen.hear.read what you share Atsushi. I learn and also makes me th8bk your short essays.ANd that is good.I like thinking about sashiko practice Also good that you also share the good things that happen through this IG !❤️
😍😍😍😍
私の田舎山形にも「庄内刺し子」があります。基本を学んだだけですが、刺したくなりました。
Fantastic
👍🏽
I only ‘like’ your posts when I’ve read your words. Your words and thoughts so offen inspire me. Thank you so much for sharing them!
I find reading your words always thought-provoking and helpful to me in my own creative path. Thank you for sharing your own vulnerability, your ups and downs, especially with SNS – I feel the same – but you continue to inspire me to create “better”, with more integrity, thoughtfulness and awareness. And I’m so glad that you can be re-energised by the wonderful messages you receive hear for you to read in the midst of your sadness. Go well, and thank you for sharing.
I look forward to your writings every day ❤️
I found you through Alison Glass’s stitch club, and I wanted to say thank you for sharing your knowledge and talent with us. I love the look of sashiko but never knew where to begin, and I did not want to be harmful by practicing something that is not mine to practice. Thank you for sharing this with us. ❤️