Sashiko/Boro is not the first Japanese word that got twisted in translation. Som

Sashiko/Boro is not the first Japanese word that got twisted in translation. Some by good intention. Others by selfish purpose. “Futon” is not a sofa bed in Japan. “PechaKucha” is a (negative) word for noisy talkative action. 

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Some words are twisted for the “marketing” purpose – or as “fashion”. The pain occurs when a stranger changes the essence of the word for their own profit – and we know they will move on when the market shrinks. “Zen”, “Wabi-Sabi”, “Kimono”… they are examples of famous words in English – yet not many understand what they really are. Unfortunately, “Boro” had joined in this example, and may be “Sashiko”. 

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Let me try to explain more (read mindfully, please). One big difference in this topic between “Zen” and “Sashiko” is that the Japanese had established “Zen” as a “practice” while they chose not-to-establish “Sashiko” for many reasons. There is no universal Right and Wrong in Sashiko. When we want to learn Zen, we can visit Zen Temple. There will be the “Zen” the Japanese have been practicing. How about Sashiko? There are no teachers who can teach the “Universal Sashiko” even in Japan because there is no such a thing as “the absolute Sashiko” (as I teach “our” Sashiko – there are many fantastic Sashiko teachers who teach their Sashiko). Many Sashiko teachers in Japan are aware of this fact. Therefore, many styles of Sashiko can co-exist without any disputes. “No dispute in differences” is another beautiful byproduct of Japanese culture. Meanwhile, some are trying to define/teach “the correct Sashiko” in English. Something important is lost in translation – and I am here to protect the original.

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沢山の日本語のコメントありがとうございます！嬉しすぎて返信が長くてごめんなさい。以前、「日本の刺し子を再定義したい」と書いたことがあります。これは本当に僕の想像力不足で、誤解を招いてしまい、人々に「淳は刺し子を決めつけようとしている」という印象を与えてしまいました。意図は真逆です。「刺し子の数だけ正解がある刺し子だからこそ、その声を集めたい」というのが、再定義と書いた本当の願いです。刺し子の花ふきんが好きな人も、花ふきんを刺し子じゃないという人も、どちらも真実で、その声を残すことが結果として「刺し子ってなんだろう？」と興味を促すことに繋がれば良いなと。”定義”は怖い言葉じゃないのです（日本だと怖い感じですが……）。どんな声も真実で、それを丁寧に残すこと。僕の一番の願いです。なので日本の方からのコメントは本当に嬉しいのです。

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2021-02-15 09:15:23

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