In the previous post, about “making knots or not” in Sashiko, I am NOT judging a

In the previous post, about “making knots or not” in Sashiko, I am NOT judging any Sashiko stitchers who choose to use the knots at the start/end of stitching. The Knots can be more secure in some projects like Denim Mending. Some tried the “no knots (Kasane)” style but didn’t work. Then they chose to make knots. It is perfectly fine. There is no such a thing as“Right and Wrong” in Sashiko. However, when it comes to teaching a Sashiko to others, it has to be handled carefully. There is a significant difference between “can’t” and “don’t”. If someone teaches a foreign topic based on “can’t”, then it may twist the original culture. 

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This may be an extreme analogy (again), but let me try with Sushi. In the U.S., we can have many choices in Sushi bars. Even a vegan can enjoy Sushi (I used to be one). Here, we do not need to know how to clean the fish. Crab Sticks, Avocado, Cream Cheese… I enjoy these non-traditional Sushi. However, if a Sushi chef teaches that there is no need to use the fish to make Japanese Sushi…and if the chef cannot clean the fish… wouldn’t it be a big twist in culture? This twist wouldn’t happen to Sushi because Sushi is very famous as a Japanese culture. Many people know (Traditional) Sushi requires seafood. How about other cultural topics with less information available, like Sashiko? A loud voice may twist the culture. Therefore, I ask them to try to learn. Therefore, I stand up to teach. I am NOT saying their Sashiko is wrong. I just want to share “Sashiko is probably more than what they (I) know”. I am here to share “the Sashiko” – not to exclude anyone. (The photo is the inside of the Jacket.)

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以前も配信か何かでお話したのですが、お寿司と刺し子を比較した例え話です。日本全国に刺し子は存在していて、”重ね”をしない刺し子も勿論あったんだろうと思います。だから、「重ねをしないと刺し子じゃない」なんてことは思ってもいません。ただ、”重ねをする刺し子”も存在したのは事実で。今、米国では魚を食べられなくてもお寿司を楽しめます。巻きずし一本丸々天ぷらにするし。ただ、寿司を教える人が魚を捌けなくて、その上「日本の寿司は魚捌けなくてOK」で罷り通るとしたら、それはやっぱり誰かが声をあげなきゃいけないと思うんです。寿司はもう既に文化が確立されてるから問題ないのですが、刺し子は確立された文化じゃありません。”英語圏での変化”が逆輸入された時に、日本の”重ねがある刺し子”を知っている人が居なかった場合……文化が途絶えます。僕自身、重ねは好きじゃないんですが、”重ね”がなかったことにはされたくないんです。大袈裟ですかね？

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2021-01-03 09:42:28

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