Dec.8th is the day of “Harikuyou (in Kotoyouka)”. It is a requiem service for broken/unusable needles. All needles break eventually. When a needle is broken, it becomes unusable. However, they didn’t just throw it away. Instead, the Japanese held a ceremony to appreciate the needles – more precisely, appreciation to a spirit in the needle.
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Sashiko may be just a pattern or design in this big trend. I understand the trend focuses on “how to”, and the market expects “to make” and offer easy solution to make something that looks like Sashiko. There is nothing wrong with that. However, there are stories behind the word. We call it “tradition”, “Custom”, and then “Culture”. To be honest, I am tired of the “easy definition” of the word that doesn’t belong to them. Some say they know about Sashiko… I wonder what they know about Sashiko, because I don’t say I know about Sashiko. I’m still learning. Please keep learning. I am here to share. Please support the Japanese artisans, so that we (they) can keep sharing & continue making. We believe everything has a spirit in it. If you find our items are a bit different from the others, there are reasons for your sensitivity(taste).
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さて。事八日。私達の事納め。年神様の事始め。針を使う人間にとっては、針供養の日です。古い慣わしで、もう知らない人もいるくらいなんだろうと思います。米国に移住して、一人で刺し子をするようになって、供養する針はめっきり少なくなりました。それでも、昔を思い出しながら、針に生かされている日々を感謝し、事八日の日は針を持たないようにしています。
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針は消耗品です。ただ、その消耗品にすら神様（魂）が宿ると考えた日本文化は、やっぱり世界に誇るべきものだと思うのです。まずは伝えること。そして伝えながら、学び続けること。刺し子や日本文化の一部を残す為に、一歩前に出る覚悟は決めました。挫けそうになるし、もう嫌だと思うこともあるのですが、引き続き背中を押して頂けたら嬉しいです。どうやって押すって？皆様の気持ちや知識を僕に教えて頂くことが、何よりもの力になります。
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2020-12-08 10:32:43
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I love the beautiful intention behind this. 💚
@suzieanderson06
Thank you. Our favourite needles bend a little under our thumb, we instinctively know their length, their point of pivot… when one breaks I am sad. Our journey ends. I have a little pot. They remind me.
Thank you for sharing about this day. I must have heard of it before, it feels like a memory.
When people ask me for a Sashiko needle, I will pass them an appropriately shaped needle for their thread and stitching intention, and lightly remind them Sashiko is so so much more than a needle or a stitch.
Oh I didn’t know that! Love learning about little traditions different cultures have!
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So interesting. I’m learning to sew, from the beginning I started keeping my needles in a box. I didn’t know there’s a day to thank them. Japanese culture always amaze me. I would love to know how exactly they should be appreciated? 🌱💚
That’s such a good tradition, to value the tools of your trade! I didn’t know, thanks for sharing!
Thank you.
@yyull je parle bien à ma machine à coudre alors pourquoi pas.
Thank you
Thank you, I’m always learning new things with Sashiko, love this art💕🙏
I will take my broken needles to Japan next time most likely to Sensoji in February.
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@dat_elbkroenchen ich werde künftig auch ein Requiem für kaputte Nadel abhalten. 😉