I am aware that I am taking risks. There are a lot easier ways to “expand Sashiko business” for money & fame. However, Sashiko is more than a (temporary) business to me. Therefore, I need to take risks to get chestnuts out of the fire… I just sometimes realize how bad the risk I am taking. Endless emotional labor. I know 99% of followers here do not cause anything emotionally exhausting… but unfortunately, as I often say, the labor is not a majority decision.
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Here is another extreme analogy. One visits a Japanese house. I ask them to take off their shoes. They say, “oh, in my house, we keep shoes on.” and expect “us” to work together to have “mutual” understanding. Do you see how culturally scary this analogy is? They are visiting a Japanese house, yet insisting it is a choice of “understanding”. A similar thing is happening in Sashiko.
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I would rather avoid conflict. I should ignore indifference. However, I speak up, because, in the worst case scenario, the world understands it is okay to keep shoes on in a Japanese house. Then, all the stories around the culture will be lost by the dominating group. I don’t like conflict. Everytime I reply knowing that the advice will make them extremely uncomfortable, my heart beats rapidly. I learn by experience. I know the pain will come: minimizing, undervaluing, victimizing and eventually receiving the criticism of being “You are arrogant”. Regardless of the pain, I need to do this: because they pick whatever they want, and change the culture unnaturally. If I were to visit a western culture, I would follow their “ordinary”. If they claim that they can introduce Sashiko/Boro, they need to learn & follow the Japanese courtesy… Please help me out with your kindness to wipe out the superficial niceness.
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白人女性と家族を持って、米国に移住して、刺し子を教えるようになって、勉強量が圧倒的に増えました。「針の使い方だけ教えれば良いんじゃね？」と無邪気に思っていた4年前。いつの間にか、あまりにも文化が切り取られすぎていて、刺し子と同じくらい社会学の情報発信をするようになりました。妻の専門が心理学ということもあって、日々読書です。今日の投稿もそんな感じ。また配信で愚痴らせて下さい。変化は良いんです。でも、大切なものは切り取られたくない。お味噌汁には絶対に必ずなにがなんでも、「出汁」は必要です。
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2021-09-02 20:25:55
愚痴っちゃって下さーい😊
🙏🏼
integrity is worth taking risks.
It’s not an negotiable, when people come to your home knowing it is a Japanese household they should be prepared to remove their shoes at the door just like in Hawaii and embrace something different! Who know we might actually learn something about another culture!
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Keep going. You are doing good work.
昆布の森まで消えつつ。。。守らなければ。。。
❤️
Keep speaking your truth and be 100% you always. Let others adjust to you. The right people will except learn and understand. Thank you for your honesty
Keep speaking your truth and be 100% you always. Let others adjust to you. The right people will except learn and understand. Thank you for your honesty
You are right. Taking your shoes off before entering a Japanese home is basic respect and courtesy… and hygiene. I’m not Japanese, but for years I myself took my shoes off before entering my own house and expected my kids to do the same for the sake of hygiene. In fact, I still take my shoes off at the door when coming in from the street, although I’m more lax now. I see it like this: My house, my rules.
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I have only discovered your Instagram today and so pleased I have. For me, you don’t learn something by changing it. I love many different crafts and for me I want to learn no only about the method but also the culture. Respect seems to be lacking these days, with people thinking only of themselves or that they know best. As many have said, stay true to yourself and your culture ❤️