Thank you for all the comments & suggestions to the previous post. I apologize for not replying to each, but I read them carefully & learned something from them. When I try to “name” what my anger toward, it can be “Cultural Arrogance”, “Cultural Eraser”, “English Language as Colonizer”… and so many in the comments section. Thank you. I guess my message is the same here. “Acknowledgement to the upstream (of its culture & practice)” is missing. I am angry toward those who ignore the upstream, yet speak for the “Right Sashiko”.
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The culture & its practice is for “everyone”. Again, I want “everyone” to enjoy Sashiko regardless of the level of skill & understanding. I am glad that Sashiko can offer something inspirational & helpful. In reality, sadly, the Sashiko introduced in English is insufficient, or misunderstood… why? Because teachers/authors decided to prioritize their profit (money and/or attention), and intentionally Ignore the upstream. Calling their teaching the “Ultimate Source”? Sashiko as “Zen”? Sashiko(Boro) is a practice to embrace imperfection? Sashiko as an “ancient” technique? They are all misleading what Sashiko is without proper “effort” to understand – and as they are all described in English, the one who learned from them offers the easy answers to others. The word is walking by itself without any context.
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I realize I am the first one who uses English (somewhat) proficiently with decades of Sashiko experience. None of the Sashiko Masters I respect are properly introduced in English in this trend. I am angry with myself that I didn’t realize it 10 years ago… Now, what can I do to reverse it? Sashiko Workshops? Live Streaming on Youtube? 150+ Articles on Patreon? I have been focusing on the “Grassroots Movement”, and I will continue doing so. All I can do is Grassroots & keep sharing.
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15年前。私は勝手に刺し子には未来なんてないと思っていました。今では「情けなかった」と振り返りながらも、当時には絶望するだけの理由があったのも事実です。本質を伝えれば、こんなに短期間で文化を担う技術が育成できるのかと。教える側ではありますが、学んで下さった方々から教わった事です。刺し子は残ります。あとは「どう残すか」という課題です。似たような環境にはいるのですが、昔は絶望、今は希望で一杯です。
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2023-07-03 07:58:11
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Very much respect to you and I have no words of advice but please keep doing what you’re doing. I gaze at your work in awe💙
頑張って！すごいことやっていますから （＾ν＾）
👏👏👏 how you’re teaching and sharing is wonderful. I hope even more people embrace learning Sashiko and the culture. I hope you find some peace knowing how much knowledge youve passed on
Oh, “culture eraser” is a perfect term! It really helps people understand the image of removing something important. And I want to say that there is no need for people just doing stitch patterns to call it Sashiko. There are other words for that and they don’t have to pretend to be doing Sashiko when they don’t know and haven’t tried to learn a real understanding of what Sashiko is or isn’t. There’s just no need to call visible mending or straight stitching Sashiko, which I see quite a bit on IG.
I didn’t know there was political correctness to sashiko.😮 I came for the art of it, but I’m learning so much more.
I so agree with you. Cultural appropriation is rife with so many Asian skills and centuries old techniques. I find this happening in Indian techniques like kawandi and kantha. All these western “experts” who never actually bothered to learn from the real artisans in the villages in India. I am so glad I found you and hope to keep sashiko alive for my granddaughter who is half Japanese. I have viewed your course on Domestika and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope I can do a class in Japan someday.
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とてもとっても素敵です💖✨
Вдохновение, воплощение вселенской гармонии! 😍🪡🧵
Esse bordado japonês é muito lindo!Já pratiquei um pouco
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Iniciei o curso de Sashiko pelo Domestika. Teu trabalho é lindo.
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So inspiring!