When I was a child, the “tradition” was more strict. Some artisans wouldn’t consider what I do (Sashiko on the Denim) as the authentic Sashiko. Today, it is rare to hear their voice over the Internet. Not only are they old and polite, they only share their “voices” to those who physically visit them for their mastery. They are very kind to us who visit, but not kind enough to make a visit and share. It is rare, and therefore very precious.
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On Instagram, I met an eldery lady who shares her insight, “Sashiko Sampler (Hana-Fukin) is not the Sashko.” As you may know, many Japanese enjoy colorful & pictorial patterned Sashiko on the white cloth (dish-towel). She says she doesn’t like it, and they aren’t Sashiko. Many may disagree with her saying “many japanese already enjoy it as”Sashiko”. Her perception is wrong. Sashiko is merely a craft so it should be more free in interpretation.” Some may consider her as a haters, and she leaves negative comments.
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Is she wrong? I personally enjoy Sashiko Sampler. So, I am not standing on the same side with her. However, I feel the strong need to listen to her. It is easy to say “This is reality.” and ignore the haters/negative comments. However, is it the real voice that we unintentionally & already re-painted? In fact, the number of artisans who raised me was like her. The internet changed the way we communicate. We used to respect eldery much more – regardless if they are right or wrong, their wisdom was valuable. Here, the same thing. Many are looking for the knowledge of “how to”. However, the core of Sashiko can be passed down by learning wisdom. It is another important part of my job to listen & introduce those “silent voices”.
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ここ数日、思うことが重なったので、久々にブログにしてみるつもりです。@sashiko_dad で概要を紹介しつつ、長文になるだろうブログもそこで一緒に紹介できればと思っています。
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2012年。刺し子の未来を憂いていた時に頂いた言葉。「淳が必要なのは、刺し子への覚悟だけ」。覚悟が決まると未来を憂う余裕すらなくなるんですね（笑）。
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2020-08-17 15:43:21
🌿Listenning and learning from the voices of strict tradition can stengthen one’s foundation of craft. Respecting tradition doesn’t require one to be bound by it. 🕊
It’s always important to respectively listen and acknowledge, even if we don’t completely agree. Thanks for the reminder!
Sorry, I meant to write respectfully, not respectively.
Thank you for sharing this usually ‘silent voice’. It is so helpful to hear and to understand more of the hidden voices within the history and practise of sashiko 🙏
Muchas gracias por compartir tu cultura ♥️♥️♥️
Great post, I admire her for being a hater. There are always two sides of the coin and the grey in between .
Thank you for your posts, I’m always learning from you. It’s very humbling🙌
We need to listen & learn from our elders even if what the current “trend” may be. I was taught Sashiko by an elderly Japanese lady when she was visiting Australia in the 1980s and she saw me making a temporary repair on a well loved wool jumper of my father. We were travelling & the only thing we had in common was needle n thread. The bus driver acted as our interpreter in the evenings. Very special memories for me of a lovely person.
All views should be heard and respected. Technology accelerates the pace of change and not all of us are always comfortable with that pace. By continuing to hear the voices of our elders, we ensure we do not lose their experience even as we change 💙🙏
If you learn the traditional way, then your work will be stronger. Once you understand, then you can make changes. Maybe the new way is not sashiko, but it is still beautiful.
年上の人や先人の意見を聞く、というお話からズレてしまいますが、どうしてその方は布巾は刺し子と認められないのでしょうか？ 最近の一般の見方だと、刺し子と言えば花布巾、という感じがしていました。 生活に欠かせない補修いう意味の刺し子とは違うからでしょうか？
I’ve been taught that in order to break the rules, you need to know them first. So there is definitely something in learning the traditional way, but things also evolve as society does.