This is a repetitive message, but a very important one from me. I often get a question, “Would it be okay (less painful) if I call it Sashiko inspired?”. This is a thoughtful question. However, honestly speaking, I feel there is no need to add the word “inspired”. If you think you are doing Sashiko, please call it Sashiko. If you think you made Sashiko, call it Sashiko. Just Keep Learning what Sashiko is to avoid unfortunate Cultural Appropriation. What you know isn’t probably wrong, but not-a-whole.
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Of course, you can call it “Sashiko-inspired” if you want to. However, calling it “◯◯-inspired” doesn’t issue a freedom to do “whatever” you want. The word “Inspired” will not excuse anyone from C/A when the voice is ignored. When you try to respect what Sashiko really is, then no need to worry much. That’s how simple it is “to me”.
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When a person doesn’t care about the culture & the voice, I really do not understand why they have to name it “Sashiko(inspired)”. For me, naming “Sashiko” means that they are interested in the Japanese culture behind them. If they don’t care, they can name it from their own culture. I really do not understand their logic – unless they are using the foreign words for the “marketing” purpose, which is disgusting and painful – which is the C/A I need to fight for. Otherwise, as you are here to learn more, please call it “Sashiko” or “Sashiko inspired”, as you want. I hope it makes sense.
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「刺し子風の」と枕詞をつければ何をしてもいいでしょ？という人もいます。問題の本質が見えてないなぁと。刺し子には絶対的な正解はないので、原則何を刺し子と呼んでも良いんです。でも、そこには日本への理解があってほしい。言葉の一人歩きを懸念していますが、でも、その言葉の一人歩きを止められるのは言葉じゃないことを知ってほしい。あくまで想像力なんです。想像力があれば、これほど毎日書く必要はないわけで。
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2021-02-13 10:56:07
Thank you for the education this was v helpful for me
I’m going to disagree on this. Let’s use some examples. I believe some things must be reserved for only Japanese people (including diaspora) to make and use. If France can be hyper-protective of what “champagne” is, and that only french-made champagne in that region may legally be called champagne, then I think it’s valid to say that “anime,” for example, cannot be made by non-Japanese people. For those who are familiar, Young Justice, an American-developed animated show, even animated in Korea, cannot and should not be called anime. Similarly, Avatar the Last Airbender cannot be called an anime. “Kimono” also cannot be used to refer to even imported Japanese robes, especially when not worn by Japanese people. When there IS an English term that could suffice, NOT using those terms can make it harder for Japanese people to maintain authorship over Japanese culture, especially abroad. For embroiderers not from Japan, “-inspired” IS necessary, for the same reason American-made carbonated wine cannot legally be called “Champagne.”
はじめまして。わたしは「刺し子」が好きで自分のために楽しんでいる者です。「 」をつけるのは伝統的な刺し子とは目的も異なり、現代版といえばよいのか、、歴史的なことは少しは知っているものの、違うのです。それを刺し子と呼んでしまってよいのか迷っていました。と、ひとり語りをごめんなさい。投稿を拝読して少しゆるされたような気持ちになりました。ありがとうございます。
Hear, hear. I just wrote about this yesterday on my Facebook but now I think I need to do more to express myself on Instagram. Manifestly, as you note in your other post, Sashiko is a Japanese art. If I take traditional needles and thread and use a traditional pattern, that is Sashiko. If I take traditional needles and thread and use them in some other ways, my culture already has a word for that – embroidery. And if I teach a class on embroidery, I can mention that Sashiko is one of the world embroidery traditions that I have learned from, but I will never be able to teach a Sashiko class itself.
Amoroso Sashiko, bella inspiración, GRACIAS😍❤️
🙌 thank you!!! I just finished a Sashiko protect and wanted to make sure to honor the fact that it comes from Japanese tradition and that I didn’t just do it, to make a bauble for the house. You put it so well thanks
Il sashiko per me non è semplicemente un ricamo e cosi pure boro-sashiko un rammendare con pezzi vecchi di stoffa é un mondo una cultura antica
…pertanto se poi realizzo un opera che non solo usa quegli aghi ncessari per i tipi di stoffa usati, utizza i filati in contrasto con il ditale e magari può aver fatto corsi e assembla scarti etc etc ma il punto non é sashiko fatto con le sue regole ma magari un punto filza ma il lavoro si é contaminato da quel pensiero e dal modo di vedere, dallo sguardo sul lavoro.. . Penso non sia corretto parlare di sashiko che viene anche confuso con il punto filza ma la contaminazione nella ricerca creativa esiste e penso in quel caso non sia sbagliato parlare di ispirazione .. è in verità più che voler appropriarsi di un mondo infinito, volerlo rispettare per non conoscerlo o non saperlo eseguire come merita che che ha influenzato nel pensiero e nell’esecuzione tuo lavoro
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This is a really helpful and informative post, thank you for all that you share. I have used Sashiko style phrasings before because I have noticed that people otherwise do not understand the difference between what I can show them (I have only been learning and practising and honouring the tradition for a little over a year) and what you can show them. I learn so much from you and I want others new to Sashiko to feel the same and always recommend your account 🖤
💞 sashiso is not just peace of art…. ur work is full of knowledge that we can implement in our daily life… for me it gives me mental peace and positive energy to move on together with the traditions that should not be forgotten cause of our hectic life style.. 💞💞💞
指子に見えるタトゥーだったら指子って言えるかなぁ…ところがこういうポストありがとうございます！
You are very generous!🙌
Золотые слова. Золотые мысли, я то же думал об этом!