I had shared some of my understanding about the relationship between language & culture. My message is clear – if one teaches about the cultural topic (here, Sashiko), then don’t the teachers have to be fluent in that language spoken there? I received many types of reactions, from agreement to accusation to me for being arrogant (?). I am NOT saying they have to be fluent in Japanese to enjoy Sashiko – or even teach Sashiko as a part of their teaching of general art. However, if one makes money by representing themselves as an expert in “Sashiko”, then… is it too much to expect them to be fluent in Japanese?
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I wanted to share the pain from this. While I was brainstorming, I read an Instagram post by Daki (@woolandtheforest) thanks to Ainur (@mamasteddybear) – talking about a phrase of “Our Language as a Protection (to Our Culture)”. This is a summary of my pain – the protection violently broken by other languages. I wrote a long article on Patreon about what it means to me. With a big appreciation to Daki & Ainur, I made the article available to the public for a period of time. I hope you will find mindful time to read my story & follow Daki & Ainur for their perspective (pain) in this matter.
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https://www.patreon.com/posts/52417798
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またとんでもなく長い文章を書きました。全部英語ですが公開記事です。乱文乱筆ですが、一読頂けたら嬉しいです。日本語でも書きたいことは山程なのですが、どうも「お金を頂いてご支援頂いている英語圏（Patreon）」での文章に比重が向いてしまいます。責任も感じるし。でも日本語も蔑ろにしたい訳じゃないんですよね。文章…好きなだけに時間がかかってしまうのです。ちなみに今回のテーマは「文化を守る役割としての言語」です。
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2021-06-12 13:00:02
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Thank you for your writings and your voice!
This is so important! In the yoga community we are seeing the repercussions of appropriated culture being white-washed, commercialized, and made into gimmicks. I’m not saying non desi folx can’t teach yoga, but I’m certainly not going to practice with someone who isn’t making the effort to learn and teach the culture, language, and philosophy that goes with it.
Atsushi Ji 🙏🏾 pranam, thank you for sharing my work on decolonizing traditional textile cultures, and gratitude to you for continuing tirelessly to do the important work of protecting this precious artefact of Japanese culture; Sashiko. Ive followed your work for some time and have the highest respect for you. Reading your patreon post today had me nodding along in recognition, resonance, compassion, a sense of shared pain and mutual understanding.
The part where you write about Kantha and Sashiko was as if you had read my mind! I was making ready a topic on how much I see the two techniques lumped together when you look at the online craft scene.
The correlation between language & culture is not just strong, it is intrinsic! It is form expressing itself as function. Language is the ‘form’ through which culture ‘functions’ in the material world. Without language human cultures would remain as nice ideas we had in our minds that never came to Be. So to interact & engage with any part of another culture should mean to engage with the language first! You are very right in pointing out that just because the internet has allowed the critical step to be bypassed doesn’t mean we shouldn’t resist it; we must find a better way to engage in cross-cultural interaction in a way that protects and preserves, not invade and destroy. Thank you again for your wisdom and your strength in performing this crucial duty for your culture. P.S. I refer to you as Atsushi Ji, as Ji is a title of deference we use on to give due respect to teachers and those we consider as ‘masters’ (even masters who don’t consider themselves to be so). 😊 These are cultures where devotion, respect and due deference are the platform on which all learning takes place. Without which learning is just mindless, undiscerning accumulation of information. Thank you for being the sharp end of the knife and for teaching the discernment required in learning Sashiko.
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