For me, “Tradition” is an accumulation of Stories. We have one fact as “History”

For me, “Tradition” is an accumulation of Stories. We have one fact as “History”, but there are millions of Stories around it. Sometimes, people use the word “Tradition” to describe “Outdated”, “Old-Fashioned”, “Stubborn”, and “Obstacle to Change”. Then, the opposite side of “Old” including these words “Creative”, “Flexible” and “Innovative” get their attention. I don’t think it is a form of “versus” in dualism. It’s not like defining which is good or bad. Instead of “Traditional vs Innovative”, it is “Traditional, then innovative”. It is on the same line as Sashiko & Boro are not words contradicting (or comparing) each other.
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I share Stories related to Sashiko and Boro in this account. The stories are quite insignificant for us. However, when the word crosses the cultural (country) borders, the “story” will make the culture more valid & meaningful. Word/Practice without Stories can be a form of Cultural Appropriation, and we can avoid the C/A by simply “Acknowledging” the stories behind. “Not knowing” isn’t the issue. “Intentional Ignorance (Indifference)” is something we have to protect our culture from.
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Sashiko carries Stories. So does your fabric. The stories part of the tradition make the future with our own stories. Stories often come with “care”. We all (want to) have a place to be, and I believe stitching can preserve/create one for everyone. Therefore, please, please keep learning what Sashiko can be for Japanese, instead of following some superficial “definitions & answers” provided by someone who only focuses on money. Stories matter in Sashiko.
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中学校までは読書が大嫌いだったのに、高校受験での逃避行動で読み始めた小説にどハマりして、それからは本の虫です。小説やエッセイという文字によって形作られる物語は、普遍的にわかりやすくなっています。でも、当たり前ですが、文字がない所にも物語は存在します。絵画だったり彫刻だったり音楽だったり、針目だったり、はたまた祈り（念）だったり。効率と生産性が中心の現代では、求められるのは結果です。どれだけ素敵な物語があっても結果がついてこなければ、「一般的」には失敗です。ただ、人は「何か」に思いを込め、それが物語になります。僕の役割は、大嫌いと大好きを両方経験している読書と刺し子を使って、何かを繋げることだと思っています。それが「刺し子物語」。きっと皆さんにもあるはずです。針仕事にまつわる物語が。それが刺し子であり（あるいは刺し子じゃなくても良い）、日本人が大切にしてきた日常の営みの一つだと思うのです。想いを背負って未来に繋げる。きっと伝統の本質ってそこにあるんだろうと思っています。
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2022-04-24 09:41:31

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