“Why is it so wrong to use Boro under the food(dish)?”. This is a reasonable question. Please understand that I am not here to accuse someone who does not know. I am here to share my voice as a native Japanese who practice Sashiko so the culture won’t be twisted more than necessary.
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The question explains how “Boro (and Sashiko)” can be a foreign word for non-Japanese. “Boro is beautiful and gorgeous. Why not use it as a part of fancy dinner?” is a common reaction I see in other languages. It explains my friends’ feedback that it was too late to speak up. Well… I cannot give up. Therefore, I share many stories. Please read the posts on SNS & articles. If you like them, please support us and read articles on Patreon. The articles in Patreon offer the “short-cut” to understand my “whys”(most of the articles are quit long, but I do not fear there.)
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Here is an extreme example. Would you enjoy having soup from an used “toilet”? The chef says it is super clean and sanitized. Materialistically, toilets and bowls are both from ceramics. Even better, we can flush the leftover in the toilet. Such a good way to save water and the environment… is it? Fine. Someone who has never seen “toilet” is using it as a soup bowl. It is strange, but it is their choice. However, what if they started saying, “having soup from the toilet is trendy” while claiming it is “your” culture? Don’t you speak up to protect your own “culture”?
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This is an extreme analogy, but not far from my actual feeling. Also, this example only focuses on the story of “dirty” perspective of Boro. There are many more stories why it is wrong for us. My 30 years of stories. This is the reason I ask you to “imagine”. It is you who decide whether “Boro under Food” is acceptable or not. I keep sharing.
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「食卓に襤褸は嫌だろ……」とここ最近声をあげているのですが、「なんで駄目なの？個人の自由じゃん」という反応は絶えません。うん。個人の自由なんです。だからこそ、「いや、それはマズイでしょ」と誰かが言わないと言葉が一人歩きする。
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そこで疑問なのですが、日本語でこの文章を読まれている方の中で、「”襤褸”の上で、ご飯食べても（食卓に襤褸が出されても）全く嫌じゃないよ。」という人がいたら想いを聞かせて頂けると嬉しいです。自分の感覚を誰かに押し付けたい訳じゃなく、「自由であれば何でも良い」っていう流れが嫌だなというお話なので。
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2020-12-22 10:33:14
makes me think about a certain kind of fabric that is traditionally used to sweep the floors around here in austria. if i took a completely new, pristine one and used it as, let’s say table cloth, people would most likely frown or be irritated or disgusted. even though it was perfectly clean. and the fabric isn’t ugly or anything, but we are only used to seeing it in a dirty context… just like drinking from a perfectly clean toilet…
but still this cleaning rag isn’t as loaded with meaning and cultural context like old boro pieces… so even more important to listen to japanese voices and those “silent voices”, as you describe them. thanks for sharing your insights.
襤褸を食卓に乗せるのに抵抗があるかどうかは襤褸がどういう経緯で出来た(残った)物かを理解しているかどうかが大きく影響している気がします。私は食卓に襤褸は嫌だなぁ、、。
Thank you! I love to read your explanations of Japanese culture, boro, and sashiko. Your heritage is so rich and deep with meaning. I love to hear it all.
Like using baby burp clothes as placemats.
💛⚡ an sparkle of light over Boro and its tool feature. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏼
You should collect some of your stories and publish a book. Essays or maybe a coffee-table book with your beautiful writing and photos of your Sashiko. I am sure that there are many people who would love to see that and probably even help you finance the publishing. Books matter. Happy New Year!
I have been learning a lot from you. Thanks
Gracias😊
個人的にあまり襤褸は好きでは無いので偏った意見になるかと思いますが、食卓に載せる、食べ物を襤褸の上に、と言うのはその食事を作った人や食べ物に失礼な気がします。
言葉としとの「襤褸」に対する小さい頃からのイメージ、日本語の意味を知っているだけに食事とは結び付かないです。
Hermoso bordado 💙💙💙
はじめまして。日々 lost in translation を生きている米国在住の日本人として、投稿されている和文と英文の内容が毎回少し異なっているところに勝手に共感しながら拝読しています。私は刺し子や襤褸に関して無知なので、「このテーブルクロスは日本の Boro なのよ❤️」と言われても「へー。」と思うのが正直なところです。ごめんなさい。ただ脳内でぼろ→Boro に変換しているあたり cognitive dissonance 認知的不協和の表れかもしれません。
I think your reasoning is totally logic. 👍
意外に気にならないかもしれません。綺麗に洗ってたり、染め直ししていれば。メンテナンス次第な気がします。
What does Boro mean to you? Just curious? Boro to me is referring to Borosilicate glass but I often see cool Japanese clothes or cloth under this same hashtag. 💚
Hola, soy una persona que cuando quiere dar un ejemplo de absoluta limpieza digo “se puede tomar sopa en el inodoro” jajaja!!!