If you are new here, you may wonder why I am so particular about the link between Sashiko & Japanese Culture (Philosophy, People & Story). Some (actually quite considerably) left this account with their parting phrase saying [Oh, you are over-reacting. Stop Whining for attention] and such. You may have seen that in the comments section of this account. They define me as an angry person fussing over something insignificant (non-important). They think I am sharing Sashiko Stories “just because” instead of imagining the variety of stories by one culture which they don’t even know.
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So, why do I care so much about the Japaneseness of Sashiko? Why do I mention the risk of anyone randomly being a “Sashiko Teacher” without even mentioning where they learned Sashiko from (even from Youtube or Google Search – they gotta have learned Sashiko from somewhere). The answer is simple: When we ignore the significance of Japaneseness in Sashiko, then there is no point in calling the stitching “Sashiko”. I am not fussing over the Sashiko you and I practiced today. I am just sharing the Sashiko Stories based on Japanese Culture & Philosophy, and then those who find my stories inconvenient define me as angry & over-reacting. In my standpoint, I am not so particular about the link between Sashiko & Japanese. It is just the fact – that Sashiko is deeply rooted in the Japanese mindset.
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It is sad that I have to even clarify what I do to preserve what I decided to devote my life into. However, this is the society we live in now. Sashiko isn’t the only case experiencing similar issues (I can only talk about Sashiko, though). I am not in despair, though. Thanks to you here, a small stone in the big trend causing small whirlpools is becoming bigger and bigger. I am that “small stone” – with many people caring about the existence in the big flow.
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珍しく（自分で決めたわけじゃない）締め切りがあるデニム。一目刺しなんてしちゃったものだから、とんでもなく時間がかかってしまっています。終わりが見えているだけ、まだマシなのでしょうが、それでもこれだけやってれば良いわけじゃないので、なかなかに大変です！完成品としてお披露目できる日が楽しみだー！
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2022-11-20 12:34:48
Keep up the good work. I have shared your posts with several people I know who love Sashiko as much as I do. I love the history of it and think it’s the most important part about it, really, its beauty running a very close second ❤️
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Como antropóloga, tal vez para mi es más fácil entender el lazo evidente entre este arte y tu cultura. Estas actividades, a veces vistas como “artes menores”, reflejan el universo simbólico de los pueblos y expresan sus vínculos con su pasado, sus tejido social, su sentido vital y valores culturales, son expresión vital de su Alma. Me siento privilegiada de conocer a través de este medio, por lo general lleno de contenidos mucho más irrelevantes, a alguien que se atreve a compartir su arte y cultura desde su intimidad y vulnerabilidad, muchas gracias❤️
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Just keep stitching. There are many who appreciate what you are doing, ignore the rest.
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“When we ignore the Japaneseness in Sashiko, then there is no point in calling the stitching “sashiko.”
I’n new here and missed that brouhaha, but your are right on the point here. I look forward to your Sashiko Stories.
We need the “small stone”. 🙂💚🌿
I began following you because of your stories, so please continue. I find that in ‘new’ countries like Canada we don’t have much history and our ‘culture’ is really an unfocused mix of many different cultures (except for all the aboriginal nations). I think this is a big part of people’s ignorance, which leads to fear of what seems different. That can lead to aggression in many forms. I have studied Japanese in the past, but with no one to speak with, I have forgotten much. I am very interested in all aspects of Japan, its culture, the language, the arts and practises. So thank you again for all that you share. I know many here will feel the same way.
The story and history must be maintained and shared, I appreciate what you are doing! Your work, your teaching and the millions of stitches are so important.
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So strange that people would ignore the Japanese-ness of Sashiko. It’s a fundamental part of the practice!!!! Keep up the good work.
It’s going to take a while before people learn that culture belongs to specific people and there is a a right way and a wrong way to interact with things that don’t belong to you. I think we are making progress though.
I came to Sashiko through my interest in Japan and its culture. I am grateful for anyone and anything that can increase my understanding.