There are 18 people’s Sashiko on the Sakura-Colored Sashiko Jacket (with Asanoha

There are 18 people’s Sashiko on the Sakura-Colored Sashiko Jacket (with Asanoha Pattern) that I introduced a few days ago. Each artisan stitched 1~2 of pieces with specific pattern & Natural Dye Threads, and then Keiko constructed into one piece with confirming the balance of each Sashiko artisans. Here, with permission, I share some of the artisans’ individual pieces. 

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I often write in Japanese “みんな違ってみんな良い – All Different, All Good”. It supports my statement of “There is no such a thing as Right and Wrong in Sashiko”. However, “All Different, All Good” doesn’t equal to “Whatever is fine”. In order to be “All Different, All Good”, one has to learn, practice, and be confident in what they want. Then, they will not need anyone to tell them what to do based on the tradition, wisdom, and ideas they have learned. All of the 18 Sashiko artisans use the round shape Sashiko thimble (either metal or leather). They decide the stitches size based on their rhythm, not the pre-printed size. They all prepared the pattern by themselves based on Keiko’s direction. They followed the direction to contribute, but they practiced their “own” Sashiko. I hope I am communicating how “free” Sashiko can be when one learns the essence. The Sashiko introduced in English is NOT wrong, but insufficient – if you wonder why your Sashiko doesn’t look ours, here is a reason. I am very fortunate to meet these 18 Sashiko artisans.

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先日ご紹介した運針会ジャケットの個別の刺し子です。許可を頂いた方の内、まずは2名の刺し子をご紹介です。（誰のかわかるかな？）。先日も書いた、「みんな違ってみんな良い」ですが、英語に翻訳して少し道が逸れると、「じゃぁ何でも良いんだ！」となります。何をしても、何を刺し子としても良いんだ……と。日本文化の前提として、”「みんな違ってみんな良い」わけがない”という固定概念があります（笑）理想を追って精進を重ねた上で、「みんな違ってきて、結果それで良い」のであって、何の努力も勉強もなしに、「私は違う。だから良い」とは工芸や手芸の日本文化ではなかなかならないんじゃないかなぁと。僕自身、刺し子をされる方とお話ししていて、「ご自身の針目、楽しまれる針目で良いですよ」とお伝えしても、「でも違ってきていいの？」とご心配頂くことが多いです。それほどに、日本人の同調圧力は当たり前に存在して、だからこそ、声を大きくして「みんな違ってみんな良い」なんです。最初から個人主義の文化にて翻訳をする際は気をつけなきゃいけません。

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2021-04-09 10:41:25

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