[Sashiko introduced in English isn’t wrong, but insufficient.] I guess I am suffering because I finally realize the gravity of my own saying. When we google, on SNS, on discussion boards, we can find so many people answering random questions about Sashiko as if they know it all. They say Sashiko should be ____. They define the “right” and “wrong” in Sashiko so easily. I never say: [That Sashiko is wrong], yet someone who doesn’t speak Japanese tells me what is the “right” Sashiko. I believe they offer the answer out of their “kindness”. Unfortunately, kindness without knowledge can destroy something, or someone. With great power comes great responsibility. “Answer in English” is the power here.
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I guess this is what is “normal” in today’s society. The “easy answers” are more in demand than “wisdom” themselves. Don’t get me wrong. I know & appreciate you here trying not to “be them”. You are here to listen. To be honest, I am not upset about those who just enjoy Sashiko and spreading their own “answers”. What am I upset about? I guess I just need to clarify my message. Please do not learn Sashiko from someone who thinks they know about Sashiko – because their teaching just narrow the culture. If they do know Sashiko, they won’t be able to define answers so easily saying “This is all you need to know”. Those teachers & authors are taking advantage of language power balance – and because English is so powerful, some Sashiko in Japanese are left behind – and some of them are already “gone”. It is so sad. It is so unfair. I admit I am angry – not only for myself, but for other Sashiko artisans who had spent their lives in Sashiko. Again, you (or anyone) enjoying Sashiko are harmless (more like a treasure to me). It makes me smile. I just cannot stand those who think they know Sashiko enough (to teach/publish). Is this “Cultural Appropriation”? Is there any “name” for my anger? I am sure that I am not alone in this.
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毎日「刺し子って何なんだろう？」と考えています。「（昔の日本人の）日常の針仕事」という説明が一番しっくりきていて、日常だからこそ、「人それぞれ」だろうなと。そして、日常だったものだからこそ、「日本的な要素が沢山詰まっているもの」とも思っています。良いも悪いも含めて。私含めて現代人は簡単に「答え」に縋ります。二元論で判断し、曖昧さは排除する。それはとても西洋的な流れです。日本人には日本文化の素晴らしさを知ってほしいなと心から願っています。
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2023-07-01 20:31:32
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Cultural appropriation…cultural arrogance…consumer culture. I think your anger is totally justified. What you are doing by speaking about it and educating us is a powerful antidote and has really helped to open my eyes to these issues. Thank you.
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Yes ‘easy answers’ are more in demand than wisdom but that can only be addressed one life at a time. Thanks for trying!
Other cultures might have a different concept of “mastery”. For instance, an American might find an online martial arts course, develop a vague understanding of the kata, and think that they know it well enough to learn more styles. Japanese people will spend 10 or 20 years as a humble student and know that they only have a small understanding of the very complicated art form. Of course this is a generalization.
English is very much the language of the colonizer. Just as japanese is very subtle and layered and nuanced (I dont speak it but several family members do and it seems that meanings and words can be incredibly profound, precise, and contextual), English is more like an appropriating adapting virus, always reinventing meanings that empower the speaker and disempower the colonized. The power in choosing not to be aware of this powerful aspect of the dominant culture should be angering because it is like a giant cultural eraser and I think this is the part that angers and hurts you? 🩵
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Thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts. For 15 years now, I’ve been interested in and have studied the ways language and culture can’t be separated. But I never thought about the power of English. Or, quite frankly, the way my own language and culture (English) can’t be separated. I’m sorry that we English speakers aren’t taking the time to properly understand the culture – your culture – behind Sashiko and what Sashiko means.
Gracias por compartir!!!🙏💛
Yes, I do think it’s cultural appropriation and it is very disheartening. You are making a difference though. You, your teaching, and your thoughts are positive and far reaching. Thank you!
I hope that you can take comfort in knowing that the extraordinary beauty of true sashiko will stand the test of time, even if sadly some is lost. The “sashiko” of the well-meaning people who give incorrect answers is a passing fashion that will fade and return again in years to come. It will likely never be as extraordinary as true sashiko, but it will continue to help many people find true sashiko.
My native language is Spanish, but I am glad that my parents unsderstood when I was a child that English was the global language me and my sister needed to learn. So my parents made a huge economical effort to send my sister and me to a British School which tough English and was quite expensive. I am now 54 years old and my knowledge of English had helped me in my career, in my studies, when searching information and specially when traveling around the world including Japan which I already visited 4 times. As a global language, the knowledge of English gives you the power to reach people from all around the world. And many people speaking English on Social media aren’t native English speaking people. The problem of people believing that know something that they don’t I think is not related to the language. It is just the same problem as someone sees some video and believes that can do the same and die, for example. Many people believe they know everything. I took my first Sashiko class from a women that defined her not as an expert or a teacher, but as a student and a fan of Sashiko. She told us what she new but also told us that she is exploring and studying every day about the culture and techniques and pushed us to read and explore and find our own way. Not all people out there are damaging the culture or are disrespectful. It is just that disrespectful people are outside in every activity, art and culture around the world. And any other activity too. What is important is that people like you are still reachable for the people that actually wants to learn the culture from the real owners of it. We are here reading YOU!!
I hear you and appreciate your feelings ❤️
i feel compassion for the mix of awareness and emotion you are processing.
Your class is a great start to understanding. Thank you.