I write stories based on my memories, so it isn’t much about “my opinions”. At the same time, in order to explain the memories logically, I learn around my memories & why’s. The more I learn, the more I realize how much Japanese & American are different in culture/mindset. (I live in the US so I say “American”.) I respect the U.S. It is not about good or bad. I just want to share the difference so that the culture of Sashiko won’t be twisted more than necessary.
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The (old-fashioned) Japanese value the “sincerity” more than anything. Let’s say, I had received a bit of defective furniture from a store. We are all human, so a mistake happens. What interests me is how we approach the issue. In the U.S., it is more peaceful for both sides (seller & buyer) to approach that the accident can be somewhat “compensated” – so a buyer may ask for the discount for the bit of damage, and the seller may try to solve the issue with offering the reasonable offer. Everyone is happy, right?
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In Japan, a “sincere apology” for the accident has to come first. Seller’s saying “Oops. That’s unfortunate. Here is the discount” won’t do good (rude). The seller starts, “I am so sorry” and the buyer expects the sincerity (the buyer may not feel comfortable receiving a discount instead). It may be because the Japanese believe(d) “the sound has a spirit in it”. Therefore, I say, the “word” matters to us. It is not just a description of “practice”. It is a “spirit” of ours. (There are many more reasons for “difference”. This is just one of my ideas.)
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The detail of stories is on Patreon. More photos of our products are on Our webs. Link from profile (@upcyclestitches and Portfolio).
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刺し子な福袋。混乱はありませんでした。何よりも一安心。ここからはしっかりお届けして、ご満足頂ける様に心を費やします。刺し子福袋を通して少しでも楽しい時間を過ごして頂ければ幸いです。
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写真。刺し子を長年していると、こういう素敵な、そして物語が沢山詰まったものを手にする機会があります。5巾の風呂敷なのですが、この空白には実は意味があるような気がします。名前を入れて欲しいと作った側と、名前を入れられずに使い続けた側。補修があるから使ってるのは明らかです。なぜ、名前が入っていないのか。持ち主を存じ上げるからこそ思い描ける、刺し子をやっていてよかったなぁと思う瞬間です。日本人の当たり前、やっぱり大好きです。
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2020-12-26 11:08:06
the world needs sincere apologies! 💙
Thank you for sharing this anecdote. I find this very interesting and it has even helped me understand my own reaction. I am half Japanese (4th generation) half Swedish (second generation) and was born in the US. It’s not clear always what values I can attribute to each, but one of the biggest conflicts I can remember having was with a Swede when I lived there, over something he had not done purposefully and therefore refused to apologize for. Had someone laid out different cultural priorities like you did here, it may have been very different. 🙂
There is so much that we, in America, can learn that is more aligned with spiritual context.
I think a sincere apology in any culture is the first priority. It makes both sides feel heard and appreciated and provides a neutral ground on which to build a way forward. I usually get good results by being ultra polite and calm.
I never knew this thank you for teaching this cultural point of difference, now it makes sense when my friend taught me specific words and sound for thanking her mother for my stay .
初めまして☺️是非フォローさせてください🎶
💛🖤💛
🙏🏻❤️
Sincerity and humility go far in any relationship in any culture. These innate, sincere feelings and practices seem to have been bred out of many younger generations not raised in traditional mindsets I also feel that there is a difference between a shop owner and the hired worker…