When I started sharing my stories, I received several worries. “You may make enemies (even if you do not mean it) by being direct”. Yes, I am aware of the risk of having “enemy”. Although I do consider nobody an enemy, I realize what I say/write may end up making them my enemy. I would like to “be liked”, of course. However, “being liked” isn’t the priority in this account. Protecting my own culture by sharing stories is the priority.
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What I do is a very non-Japanese thing to do – to say something direct & (somewhat) confronting. I think I can say/write what the readers want to hear/listen. At least, I kept silent completely. However, the reality that “one may become an enemy by saying something honest” is already the result of some distortion.
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I am not here to change you. I am here to share the stories so that you can choose to learn & change. Not knowing is okay, but hurting people without knowing is just sad (for both sides). Therefore, I share. It is up to them to learn, or consider me as an enemy. I feel “responsible” to share the stories because I am saying the current information is insufficient. However, I do not own any explanation for what I say/write. Often (not always), the truth isn’t spoon-fed. We need to “find” it. The information someone may bring to your month is modified based on someone’s convenience. I will spoon-feed them when I receive the support (Webstore, Class, Youtube, and such) – that’s my work to keep Sashiko sustainable. However, wouldn’t you feel strange if someone spoon-feed you with no cost…? (I wouldn’t swallow that). I am not a master of Sashiko. I am still learning what it is – and how I can share in other languages.
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英語で刺し子を紹介する時に、「刺し子は◯◯（だけ）ではない」という表現をしています。例えば、「刺し子は補修だけではない」と。常に答えが正義となる西洋文化では、「では、刺し子は何なんだ？」と半ギレされることも増えてきました。英語では簡単に定義できないから苦しんでるんですけどね。日本語だと簡単です。「刺し子は味噌汁（みたいなもの）です」。多くの日本の方が、「あぁ、刺し子は味噌汁か」と理解してくれるのが「前提」の力です。日本語学んでって言うと逆ギレするし、答えを提示しないと苛々するし、どないせーっちゅうねん（笑）
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2021-04-05 12:21:42
わかります。お陰でこちら側も文化だけでなく深いところまで考えさせられる機会を与えられています。
Bellísimo bordado
Please do keep sharing your valuable stories. I love learning for it is to be alive ❤️
👍🏻👏😌🥰
Thank you for the information and education you provide. Many appreciate it, even if others complain. Continue your good work and know that you do have support.
I am very appreciative of your willingness to teach.
Thank you for sharing informations of sashiko, I get the informations from nowhere but from you 🙂
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You dont need to be a ‘master’ at sashiko to make something beautiful-well done for speaking up and sharing-you are doing fine and so is your needlework-you must have a lot of patience already to do the work you do-love from Scotland 🌈
P.s. l do also think your work is of a very high standard with precision and great skill
This is very important to preserve the origins of any tradition and to make people aware, to educate them about it, to show the roots. You’re doing a great work showing what shashiko really is and where does it come from, please keep it up ♥️
❤️
You may be not a master of sashiko but what you share and try to explain also in English is so clever and respectful for your own culture and others. Everyone should be honoured to have this opportunity of trying to understand, even if it’s only a bit, this Japanese art. You don’t have to justify what you write (well all your writing are a pleasure to read so far). If some pple don’t like your posts, I feel sad for them. A very deep thank you for the millions of us that are able to enjoy what you share. I’m not a native English speaker. So sorry for my poor English.
Main de la création et du partage.
I’m American so I relate to (and appreciate) your directness. It’s a gift.