I appreciate many encouraging comments & advice on yesterday’s post. No matter what happens, I will keep sharing the Sashiko Stories. It isn’t a job or a hobby. It has become my life to preserve where I am from. I do not reply to all the comments, but I do read them carefully. Some comments make me think more and more, and I am happy to do so as it is a process of building a bridge.
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99% of the comments I receive are positive. The advice is indeed true that I should ignore the negative comments. However, it is also a FACT that the negative comments written in non-Japanese exist. Some even left defamation saying that “Atsushi isn’t well respected in Japan”, if you remember those events. You say “Ignore them”, and I understand you are absolutely right. Yet, here, I have another interesting fact. I have NEVER received one single aggressive comment in Japanese (or from Japanese for that matter).
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Do all Japanese Sashiko Artisans like/agree with what I write? Is my voice so small in Japanese? I don’t think so. It is impossible to be liked by everyone. I do have Japanese followers here so I believe they read what I say. Some of them may be unhappy with what I say for their reasons. I don’t know as I have NOT received anything. Why? It is because that’s what Japanese would(n’t) do. That’s the nature of Japanese culture. In this trend, the loud voice gets attention, then verified. English has the power to do so. I see one on the other side of so-called “masters” without proper understanding. Oh my. I feel I need to re-read Catch-22.
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Photo is non-related to this caption today. It is Sashiko Thread offered by Keiko in Japan (for now). I am on the waiting list… and hopefully I can introduce some @upcyclestitches
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本年も無事福袋の販売まで漕ぎ着けることができました。余裕を持って12月の中旬から宣伝をして年末年始に販売…というのが一番かなと毎年思っているのですが、どうしても目の前のことに時間を割いてしまいギリギリに。
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数年前「売り切れ」が発生してしまう福袋を企画して、ご不満の声を頂いたことがありました。在庫処分の福袋では無い為、今年も「準備した数が売り切れた後は時間を頂く形でお送りする」ような福袋です。1月中に受け取りたいという方は是非近日中にご注文を頂けると幸いです。毎年「知らなかったー＆買えなかったー」という声も頂くので、宣伝も少し増やしますね。年末年始ですが変わらず仕事もインスタも続けますー！
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購入ページへのリンクはストーリーから辿って頂ければ幸いです。
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2023-12-30 09:56:25
Is it possible that Japanese are more tactful? Sometimes I am appalled with how rude people can be. What is the purpose of being mean and rude? Who does that help? I have always believed something should not be said if it isn’t useful in some way, either to make someone feel good, or to help. 🤷♀️
Appreciate the coloured threads as tools of saahiko artisan practice. Also aa a metaphor for all the perspectives we share side by side. Very important to me!
🙏🏼🪷☸️🧵🪡
If I were you I would stop writing about the negative comments you are receiving. You are feeding them what they want, seeing you writing about them probably gives them a buzz
I would ignore, block & move on. Don’t let their negativity taint your passion.
Keep being you and true to yourself and your beliefs. Let the loud critical voices fade away. Do they really matter? You have so many supportive followers who appreciate your images and posts. The colours of the threads are beautiful.
Is this color sold out? How might I acquire this color of thread ? The indigo/purple shade
I love the soft colours of the thread 😍.. maybe Japanese people are more polite than westerners? We used to be taught “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all’ but, since the Internet, it seems have been forgotten. Is it true that manners and politeness are still highly regarded in Japanese culture? If so, please don’t loose them 🙏 I wish we hadn’t
Too many people think they need to voice every opinion and thought that pops into their head…just listen to your own and what makes you feel good
I feel like a lot of English speakers tend to be more direct and aggressive. They also don’t tend to consider how their words impact another person. Empathy is difficult on the internet and I am sorry you have dealt with this.
HEAVEN ❤️❤️❤️
I follow a few ‘Sahiko’ groups on FB. Sadly, much of what is posted has nothing to do with Sashiko. Sometimes I will respectfully, comment to let folks that while what they have posted is beautiful, it is not Sashiko. Do you express frustration and sadness at how many people claim their work represents your culture? Yes, and rightfully so. Keep protecting your heritage.
I love what you do and share, thanks you🙏
… sorry for the ignorance of others. Though hard to ignore, always consider the source and don’t give negativity your power. There is strength in silence- the strength needed to fly Eagle heights🦅🔥
Thank you for all that you do to champion sashiko, a craft your family has practiced for hundreds of years, if not longer.
It is such a personal practice and I imagine there are regional differences in how to teach and learn it, even variations from family to family. But as you teach, the soul of sashiko is the rhythm in which you sew, the care you put in choosing materials and stitching.
I wonder if it’s easier to think of “American sashiko” vs “Japanese sashiko” the way that there’s “American Chinese food” and actual Chinese food. Both are delicious but it’s up to the individual to decide if they want the authentic experience or the one they’re more comfortable with. I would gladly give up General Tso’s chicken for some Ma po tofu with Szechuan chilis, but I do have very fond memories of learning how to use chopsticks and experiencing new flavors through my neighborhood restaurant’s General Tso’s.
You have a right to be angry. People can’t just say a piece embroidered in running stitch, or with a traditional pattern, is sashiko without understanding how sashiko started and how it has changed throughout time. I am starting to see the same thing happening with kantha embroidery from Bangladesh.