I would like to keep this account as “Sashiko Story”, where you can read & watch the Sashiko we practice instead of a “Sashiko Business” Account. Therefore, I prefer to write a story rather than an announcement. Well… at the same time, thinking about “Business” is important to keep it sustainable. Periodically, please let me share our Business Account @Upcyclestitches for the latest update (which I don’t write so often… I focus on sharing stories here).
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I will be out of the office starting 2/21 to 2/25 next week. If you would like to receive an order by next weekend or so, please place the order by 2/20. After that, I will process it after I come back from QuiltCon. I appreciate your understanding – I do all of the shipping process with my own hands.
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It may be too “spiritual” for some, but I strongly believe in the “invisible” power – like energy, Qi, Reiki… you name it. I often get a suggestion to “outsource” the shipping & packing process. However, I would like to keep it the way I pack the orders with my own hands – while wishing that the customer would enjoy it. It is my sign of appreciation – and I hope that some may feel the same by me doing so.
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For the Japanese, this “invisible energy” was something ordinary. In Japanese, when translating “treat the wound”, we say “手当てする (Teate)” – which can mean “Put Hands On” by following the Kanji Character. I am always inspired by hand-work – so I try my best to apply “hand” to many of my “ordinary” activities. Sashiko can be powerful because of this – all hand-made, with something invisible (for many, but may be visible for some).
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来週2月21日から5日間ほど、出張に行って参ります。刺し子のお仕事を頂いての出張なので、SNSは引き続き更新できるかと思います。Youtubeでの配信はお休みさせて頂いて、もしかしたらここで少し配信をするかも…という感じです。
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また今回も沢山の刺し子に興味がある方々とのご縁を頂けそうです。いつも通り、全力で、私が持つ全てをお伝えしてこれたらと思っています。一針ずつの刺し子ですが、一針を綺麗にするだけじゃないぞ…と。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子
In Today’s post, [Japanese Comes First].
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20代から講演の機会はちらほら頂いていたのですが、カンファレンスホールで刺し子についての講演を英語でするという未来は見えていませんでした。講演の題材は「刺し子の今と、文化としての持続可能性」と言う、まぁ言葉だけでも面倒な感じのものです。もちろん、これを面白く伝えていくのが私の役目です。「文化はどう続くのか」と言う話をする為に、刺し子の今と昔を比較する必要が出てきて、悩みに悩んで勇気を出して、本も出版されていらっしゃる @sashikonami さんに写真の提供をお願いできないか尋ねたところ、とても丁寧に了承下さいました。んでもって投稿のシェアまで！とてもありがたい話です。
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「運針が大切だ！運針会だー！」と限られた日本語分量で日々投稿しているので、どうしても「運針会にご参加頂いた方」と言う小さい空間で刺し子をしているように思われるかもしれません。でも、基本的に、刺し子を実際にされている方全てを先生だと思っているし、友達になりたいと思っています。「運針会」と言う線引きをしているのは、「刺し子好き」と言う人の中には、実際に針仕事としての刺し子が好きではないんじゃないか…と言う人もいて、これまで苦い痛い思いをしてきたから…です。「刺し子が好きと言うより、刺し子をしている自分、あるいは刺し子から得られる実利が好き」と言う方とは、遅かれ早かれズレが発生するのでね。
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そんなわけで「運針会にご参加下さった方」を優先として、その居場所を守る活動で手一杯なわけですが、だからと言ってそれ以外の刺し子が嫌いな訳でもないし、ましてや否定などはしておりません。私の好みは激しいですが、「ご自身の刺し子（針仕事）」を持っていらっしゃる方は大好きで、フォローさせて頂くようにしています。とはいえ、インスタグラムが情報収集の場所ではなくなってしまっているので（日々変な人に絡まれる為）、なかなかフォローさせて頂く方は増えないのですが、それでも「あぁ、この人の刺し子、好きだなぁ」と言う方は沢山いて、いつかご挨拶できる日を夢見ています。案外＆相当人見知りなんです。
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民藝として、生活の中の必須としての刺し子が、手芸として、自己表現として、はたまた作業療法的な役割を持ってきて。過程そのものには正解も間違いもなく、唯一の「間違い」が、ある点を「無かったことにする」と言う文化的な暴力です。私の存在意義は、その暴力への対抗手段としての「共有すること」だと思っています。昔と今。そして各地域＆各個人。その点を繋いで今があり、きっと未来に繋がるんです。たかが刺し子ですが、その刺し子には誰かの助けになれる力があります。また同時に、「一人の力は微力かもしれないけれど、決して無力ではない」と言う尊敬する友人の言葉を胸に、1時間弱の短い時間ですが、思いをアトランタに残せたらと思っています。
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As I talk about “Cultural Sustainability in/with Sashiko”, I want to share the “flow” of Sashiko. I rarely share someone’s work here, but it doesn’t mean that I do not like others’ work. There are so many Japanese Sashiko Artists/Artisans whom I respect & wish to meet one day. @sashikonami kindly allowed me to use her photos in the upcoming lecture. As you can tell, her Sashiko & our Sashiko aren’t so similar, yet both are very important parts of this culture. Unfortunately, Dualism (in West Culture) is changing the culture more than necessary. I am here to share (to include), not to exclude. Therefore, I think it is fair to ask a Sashiko Teacher to be able to speak Japanese (to communicate with many more Sashiko Artisans in Japan). Sashiko is more than what is introduced/translated in English, and I am here to share “what” is missing.
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子
I often receive an Interview Request regarding Mending & Sashiko. Nowadays, the interviewer studies my message about Sashiko prior to the first contact, and they ask me the question with the understanding of me saying “Sashiko is NOT the word for Mending itself”.
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Mending is a very important part of the Sashiko – but the word Sashiko itself is NOT about mending. In fact, the principal exists in the opposite direction. [They Stitched Sashiko so that They would Avoid Mending]. Sashiko existed to avoid mending – which is completely opposite of celebrating the Mending.
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Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy Mending for myself, both Visible & Invisible Mending. I understand that many associate Sashiko to their Mending – and some may teach it or publish a book about it. Is it Cultural Appropriation? No, it is just a lack of both “learning (from non-Japanese)” and “sharing (from Japanese)”. It is quite alright when they try to keep learning it – using the word itself isn’t going to cause the pain – ignoring the voice when a person from that culture speak-up is the issue. I really appreciate those who follow this account while telling/calling/teaching/publishing about Sashiko. My message can be quite uncomfortable – but they listen to it. Unfortunately, the trend sometimes/often ignores the voices – and I am just trying to be a stone in the big trend of “Cerebration with Ignorance”.
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「刺し子 x デニム」。まだ私が刺し子の職人さんと一緒に仕事をしていた頃に、小言を言われながらも固いデニムに針を通すようになりました。サステナビリティの流行からか、今では刺し子とデニムの組み合わせを探すと、穴の空いたデニムの補修だったり、はたまたツギハギだらけの衣類を作ったりと、様々な解釈がみてとれます。なかなか見つけられないのが、既存の衣類に「穴が開かないようにする為の刺し子」です。弱くなった＆破れたから針を持つのではなく、「補修は恥ずかしいから」と針を持つこともあった当時の刺し子をした方々の気持ちも置いてけぼりにはしたくないのです。刺し子をどれだけしても、どう頑張っても布は弱くなるし破れます。今のサステナビリティ信仰では「補修を喜ぶ（楽しむ）」ことが主軸になっていて、もちろんそれが正しいと思うのですが、同時に「補修しか方法が無かった（から補修しないように刺し子をした）」日本人にも思いをはせて欲しいなと思うのです。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #SashikoDenim #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子
In this account, I am sharing “stories” so that I can somewhat illustrate what Sashiko is. In Workshop & Online Class, I teach the “Core & Essence (the most important element)” in Sashiko. 5 years of experience with positive reviews encouraged me to be confident that anyone can reach the “Sashiko we practice” by practicing with a specific form.
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In #Quiltcon 2023, I have an honor to offer a lecture. Unlike just Sharing, or Teaching, I believe the purpose of the lecture is “Delivering the Message”. The title is “Japanese Sashiko Today as Cultural Sustainability” – but I do not plan to talk about only the concerns – I would like to deliver “something” for those who registered to be there. “Acknowledgement” to the stories? “No such a thing as Right and Wrong in Sashiko” as a New Rule? I am spending a good amount of time reflecting on what I am doing by sharing Sashiko.
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[I want you(them) to know “The Unknown”]. This is probably the message I would like to deliver. The Sashiko today is built on the lives of so many “Unknown” Artisans – or just ordinary Japanese who happened to stitch. I do not want to ignore them even if they prefer to be anonymous. Not all artists have a chance to speak to the world (via their Art), yet I say I am not the Artist… It is because of these so many “Unknown Craftsmen” who made the foundation of what I am sharing today. “Unknown” doesn’t mean “Non-Existence”, and it is my job now to introduce “Unknown” as indeed Existence hidden in the trend. If you are gonna be in Quiltcon, please come to see how I deliver the message.
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ワークショップでもなく教室でもなくパネルディスカッションでもなく。講演という形は久々です。英語で大きな会場は初めてです。「刺し子の今と昔」という切り口から何を伝えることができるのか、悩みまくりです。核になることが決まりました。それは「無名を知る」ということ。刺し子は、というか日本の民藝のほとんどは「無名の職人」によって成り立っています。有名になることは素晴らしいですが、無名を無かったことにしてはいけないのです。だから学び続ける必要があります。どれだけ教える立場になったとしても、その分野をずーっと続けてきた人は何かの本物を抱えていて、常に必ず何か学ぶところがあるのです。続けるってそういうことです。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子
A Close-Up Photo of the previous Sashiko Jacket. 9 geometric patterns that Keiko chose in 2021 to “recreate (trace)” what a Japanese would have enjoyed in their ordinary life. This photo probably can clarify it is all “hand-stitched”. Yes, it is a lot of hand-stitching to reach there, as some very occasionally share their impression of “intimidating” (which I hope you do not feel they are intimidating because it is NOT our intention at all).
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After teaching Sashiko for 5~6 years in English, I am so glad that there are more stitchers who think this amount of Sashiko is “Doable” – or even “not so difficult”. It takes months to complete one jacket for us. If a person stitches “one-by-one”, it may take years to complete. I often receive a compliment/distancing saying [Wow. You are so talented]. After so many good experiences here, I am confident to say out loud that anyone can reach here with reasonable amount of practice.
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When one learns the “form”, it doesn’t require decades to be a “master” – not a self-proclaimed master, but actually the master with actual stitching results (who often tend to not to consider themselves masters…) There is nothing wrong with stitching “one-by-one”, and that’s the start for everyone. Please enjoy Sashiko the way you like – and then, please keep learning more. Sashiko is more than just making one beautiful stitch. It becomes a cultural issue when they “decide” to ignore the “more” part of Sashiko as they think they cannot reach there. Anyone can do this when they learn the form, and I am here to share for the “inclusion”.
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柿渋ジャケットの拡大画像です。当たり前っちゃ当たり前なのですが、全て手刺しです。「根気があるね。私にはできない。」とお褒め（？）の言葉を頂くこともあるのですが、個人的には心から「誰でもできる」と思っています。また「根気」を続けようとすると続かないので、どちらかというと「中毒」に近い状況に陥ります。その土台にあるのが運針かなと。先日の運針会に引き続き、3月27日の運針会も満席となりました。ありがたいお話です。興味のある方は少し面倒ですがブログを一読頂いた上でご連絡下さい。こんな時代だからこそ、丁寧なやり取りの上でご縁を頂けたらと思っています。できるだけ日本の「礼」を意識して頂ければ。きっと刺し子でも大切になってくるので。
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#Sashiko #刺し子 #JapaneseSashiko #日本人の刺し子 #運針 #Unshin #SashikoClass
Recently (in the last few years), our Sashiko works have been picked up for exhibitions and some events (like Live Performance). We will have our first exhibition in April. It is an honor that they would like to have our items for their events & interest from you & others. We will keep making Sashiko, and I hope you will find an opportunity to see, feel, and touch our Sashiko Jackets & items.
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As our profile states, we are a “mother & son duo” of Sashiko practitioners. Keiko has more than 40 years of experience, and I was born in the Sashiko family… so I probably saw Sashiko before I saw my father’s face. However, our work as SashiCo or Upcycle Stitches just recently came above the surface. Our Sashiko wasn’t available before 2013 online (at least, I wasn’t teaching & sharing stories this intensively). There are many reasons for this, but a rough summary is that we “restarted” in 2014 after some tragedy. It indicates that it took about 5~10 years to rebuild what we were proud of, passionate about, and simply part of our lives.
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There is nothing wrong with using “Sashiko Machines” (& I don’t dislike it at all although I won’t promote it here). It can be called “Sashiko”. However, I believe, the core experience of Sashiko exists in “Hand-Stitching”. No matter how fast we stitch, it takes time, and that’s the value there is in a society where we expect as “quick” and “short” information/practice as possible. My goal is to build the foundation of Cultural Sustainability of Sashiko by sharing stories rather than creating the Temporary Trend – and I appreciate you being here to help our foundation.
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配信2本に英語での集まり、そんでもって一番大切な運針会…とイベント盛り沢山の2日間でした。眠い……。今回の運針かいも素敵なご縁を頂けて楽しい時間になったのではないかと思っています。また思いは配信で共有しますね。さて、「茨城県で展示会やるよ」というお話を配信で触れたのですが、確認したところ、恵子さんの個人の展示会ではなく、何種類かの刺し子（私の実家含むw）を集めて展示販売されているイベントのようです。茨城県ひたちなか市の「横瀬画廊（029-285-1987）」様にて、2/11~2/20の予定で開催されています。開催時間等は直接お電話にてご確認頂けると安心かと思います。ウェブにも情報は載ってないので。もし足を運んで頂ける方がいたらレポート頂けるとすごく嬉しいですー！（写真のジャケットは多分行ってないですが、似たようなものが行っています）。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子
This is an article from our Patreon (written on December, 2020), and intending to share more information about a style of Hari Kuyou – that I introduce on Instagram. I made this article public for limited time so that we can share the actual images of Harikuyou happening in Japan. It would be great if you could consider supporting us on Patreon for us keep sharing the stories (For those who already support me on Patreon, I really appreciate your understanding of sharing this article outside of the Patreon).
Feb.8th was the day of “Kotoyouka (事八日）”. “Harikuyou (針供養)” is one of the ceremony we have on Kotoyouka. The Harikuyou – a requiem ceremony for hard-working broken & bent needles, seems to inspire many non-Japanese people with the concept of “appreciating the spirit within a material”. I am very happy to share how important it is to be familiar with Animism in Japan. It is very ordinary for us to appreciate a “matter”.
I haven’t been back to Japan for more than 7 years. It was a pity to not be able to share the Harikuyou in Japan with photos. One of the followers on Instagram kindly shared some photos of her visit to one of the most famous Shinto shrines for Harikuyou – Osaka Tenmangu.
Harikuyou in Osaka Tenmangu – Report of Harikuyou
Each Shinto Shrine has their own “Spirit” to appreciate. The spirit can be a form of “God exists in Nature”, “Historical person with great achievement”, “An emperor in history”, and/or “someone who sacrifices their lives to the development of Japan”. It is very challenging to summarize this concept, and it requires a collection of books to explain the whole picture. In short rough summary, it may be easy to understand that each Shinto Shrine has a “theme” in their own form of Appreciation (*1).
*1 – As a famous example, please let me share Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Yasukuni Shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japanese Modernization. It includes the spirit who sacrificed their lives in World war II – and it means it includes those Kamikaze pilots. It has been a political issue to visit Yasukuni Shrine as a “politician” because it “could” validate the history of Japan going into war. It isn’t an easy discussion to conclude, but I hope this explains what I meant by “theme” in each Shrine.
In some of the big shinto shrines, they have many buildings. Each building often celebrates a different spirit even in the same Shinto Shrine (which is very confusing for many western people who believe in The (Absolute) God).
In Osaka Tenmangu, the Harikuyou is performed in Kibi Shrine (building) in which celebrate the spirit of Kibi no Makibi (吉備 真備) who is well-known for a one of the first “International Students to China in 717”. Those “International Students (we call it ‘Kentoushi – 遣唐使）” imported many techniques, skills, wisdom and culture from China. Since the group of Kibi no Makibi is known as the one who imported a variety of embroidery techniques to Japan, the ceremony for needles is held here.
I hope it makes sense – the relationship between who is appreciated in each shrine and how it is related to what they have accomplished.
Something Soft for the needles to rest
Harikuyou is a ceremony to show appreciation to the hard-working needles. Therefore, we stick the needles into something soft so that they can rest in it. In some places, they use “Tofu”. In this Shrine, they use “Konnyaku – こんにゃく” (a traditional Japanese food and is made from Konjac Yam).
As you can see, many kinds of needles are brought to the Harikuyou. A dressmaker’s pins, hand-sewing needles, and also Sashiko needles as well.
Harizuka (針塚) where needles rest forever
The needles in something soft will be serviced (purified) by a Shinto priest. Then, it will be buried in a mound – so called Harizuka (針塚) – Needle mound. The photo introduces that this Harizuka is made by contributions from 2 organizations deeply related to needle work in 1926. The 2 organizations are “Union of Merchant & Maker of Japanese Kimono in Osaka” & “A group of volunteers of Embroidery Artisans in Osaka”. It explains how deeply our ordinary is related to the Japanese history.
It doesn’t have to be this “Formal”
As much as I would like to visit a Shinto Shrine to perform the Harikuyou, possibly & hopefully with you one day, the ceremony doesn’t have to be that “formal” like these photos. The most important concept of Harikuyou is to acknowledge the spirit within the Needles and “appreciate” it. It can lead us to appreciate the environment, someone who makes the tools, and each stitcher like ourselves. This is the sustainability of “caring” and “mindfulness” that I would like to pass down. It is the ordinary of Japanese, which can be an inspirational custom for the world.
Interested in how we do Hari Kuyou?
Besides this Report of Harikuyou, the article about the detail of Hari-Kuyou is available on this website for limited time as well.
This is an article from our Patreon (written on December, 2020), and intending to share more information about a style of Hari Kuyou – that I introduce on Instagram. I made this article public for limited time so that anyone can share, learn, and appreciate the unique cultural perspective of Sashiko & related rituals in Japan. If you can affor $5.00 per month, your support will be a good help for me to keep writing/sharing this type of Story. (For those who already support me on Patreon, I really appreciate your understanding of sharing this article outside of the Patreon).
December 8th and February 8th is the day called “Koto Youka (事八日）”. For stitchers like us who use needles ordinarily, it is the day to appreciate the needles even more than usual. It is the day of Hari Kuyou – a requiem service for broken/unusable needles.
I once explained about the Hari Kuyou and Koto Youka in the Sashiko Journey #55 on Patreon. However, I didn’t break it down to a process “How to do Hari Kuyou” in our days. So, I would like to introduce how the Japanese would service the Hari Kuyou, and how I would honor the service outside of Japan.
Pray for the needle with appreciation
The most ordinary way to honor the Hari Kuyou Service is bringing the broken/unusable needles to the shrine. Many shrines, including the big famous one & local small one, shall offer the Hari Kuyou memorials on December 8th and/or February 8th. (It depends on where the shrine locates – In general, Feb.8th for the east part of Japan, and December 8th for the west part of Japan.)
When you visit the shrine on Hari Kuyou day, you will find a big “Tofu” with many broken needles on it. That’s how we farewell the needles. We pray for the needle with sincere appreciation for the hard work the needle had done for us. The needle will be buried to “mound” after a Shinto priest performs appropriate purification.
There is no strict style to follow. We visit the shrine, stick the needle on the Tofu, and pray with puting the palms together.
*For the photo of a big “Tofu” with needles sticked, lease search online with this Japanese character, “針供養”.
Let the needle Rest after all hard work
The whole point of the service is to let the needle rest after all of their hard work. The needle became unusable or broken because we used the needle heavily, intensively, and/or on the thick fabric. They worked so hard for us. At the end of the needle’s life, we stitch the needle to something very “soft” and pray for their rest in peace.
It seems like the “Tofu” is a common materials for the softness. However, it doesn’t have to be Tofu. In some regions, people used “Mochi (Sticky Rice Cake)” or “Konnyaku (konjac jelly?)”. Some think that using food is “wasting”, so they use a piece of “sponge” to honor the service.
I understand “what kind of soft materials we use for Hari Kuyou” is pretty flexible as long as the needle can rest in a soft material.
I have heard that we can find documents that the Japanese practiced this Hari Kuyou as early as the 9th century. It is more than 1,100 years ago. That’s how long we have been appreciating the needle. Stitching (not only Sashiko but also any kinds of stitching in Japan) was something more than just stitching for the Japanese people.
Not “Recycle” so much. More of “Reincarnation”
I understand that some understand this service as the “recycle custom” – how to recycle the needle instead of just throwing them away – because disposing the needle is kind of dangerous and unfriendly to the environment.
However, the service itself is not so much about “recycle” as we think today (environmentally). It is more like “Reincarnation” for the spirit within the needles.
The needles we bring to the shrine will be buried in the “Needle mount” designated in the shrine. How about the rest of us who don’t have the shrine that take care of it nearby?
In the past, the Japanese chose several ways to “farewell” the needle. It all depends on the regions but following the similar steps.
First, they all appreciate the needle and put them in something soft.
Second, if they have a Kamidana (a household Shinto altar) in their house, they would pray for the needle by putting the needles on something soft in front of Kamidana. With sharing the appreciation to the needle in front of “Gods”, it serves a purpose of purification.
Then, they chose a way to “say good-bye” by…
Bury it in the ground
Flow it in the river
Drop it in the sea
In today’s society, for environmental reasons, I do not know if we flow it in the river or drop it in the sea. They may bury it (needle & something soft) under the ground if it is their personal property. However, since we have much better transportation structure (like public transportation and our own cars), it is more popular to visit the shrine for the best service for Hari Kuyou.
How about in the U.S.?
How about those who lives outside of Japan, like Atsushi who lives in the U.S. then?
Well… I do not have a Kamidana in my house. There are no shrines in the driving distance. Therefore, I perform the service by myself.
I put the needles on a small piece of Tofu.
I tell the needle my appreciation for going into meditative status.
Then, I bury it wrapped with an old (yet white) cloth to the ground of my yard (where my daughter will not play with digging like our kitchen garden.
A style is important, of course.
However, here, the day (moment) of appreciating the needle is the most important part of this Hari Kuyou, I believe.
Needles work for us, to make it happen
We use needles every day without doubt. The needle enables us to talk to the fabric throughout stitching. Have you ever felt that the needle is kind of in a bad mood? The needle is an inorganic substance. However, we believe that a spirit existed in it, and the spirit often reflects who we are on that day. Isn’t it interesting? The more we think about it, the more I believe that there is actually “spirit” in all of the things.
Needles work for us a lot.
Without the needles, our work will not be achievable.
Therefore, we appreciate the people/spirit who makes the needle, who use the needle, and the needle themselves.
Some Japanese people do not hold the needle on the day of Hari Kuyou no matter how “busy” their schedules are. It is a day to appreciate the needle. Therefore, I keep sharing, Sashiko (thread, fabric, thimble, needle and many more) is much more than just words.
Thank you for your support.
Report on Hari Kuyou
I also share a report on Hari Kuyou from my friend. I hope this will help you to experience & learn What Hari Kuyou is for us.
February 8th. If you follow this account long enough, this is a kind reminder. If you are new, please remember (learn) today as Koto-Youka (事八日), the day for Hari Kuyou (針供養) in which a shrine/temple offer a ritual (ceremony) to farewell broken, unusable, or bent needles.
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In Hari-Kuyou, we say good-by to the hard-worked needles while letting them rest in something soft like Tofu. Japanese believe(d) in a type of Animism, and each item, such as a needle, has its own spirit in it. To properly appreciate the spirit, they had a ceremony on Feb.8th to “pray” for the next stage for the spirit while resting our own hands by not-stitching (so I won’t do Sashiko today).
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Why Feb.8th? How do we do it? Where do we do it? I have several articles including my friend visiting a shrine for their own Hari-Kuyou on Patreon (https://ift.tt/RJbEvr4). I made those specific articles public for a limited time, so please search for them.
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Kuyou (供養). We use this word for a deceased person as well – in my own elaborated translation (not by dictionary), Kuyou means “Sustain Our Care To” in our ordinary. Do I expect everyone to believe there is a spirit in a needle? No, but “caring for needles” for a day would be a great way to take care of what we do, and also ourselves as who we are & what we look for. We are all here thanks to something/someone. We all have preference, so like or dislike, agree & disagree are okay – but “care” as opposite of ignorance will better define who we are. Our Sashiko doesn’t exist without (specific) needles, and our Sashiko won’t be “alive” if you aren’t here. It isn’t really difficult to “sustain our care to”. We just need a fixed day to remember it – like an anniversary. Feb.8th is a day for the needle from stitchers.
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2回の大きな出張と4月の日本旅行。5月に入るまでは目まぐるしく忙しい日々が続きます。ただ、忙しいからと言って刺し子が進まないかというと寧ろ逆で、忙しい時に「今日ぐらい大丈夫だろ（いや、大丈夫かな）」という状況で進める刺し子のヒシヒシ感が好きだったりします。全く精神が落ち着かない刺し子です（笑）仕事したくなくて針持ってるっていうだけの話かもしれませんが（笑）ただ今日は事八日なので針は持ちません。自分なりの形で針に感謝をしつつ、最近ふと思う「供養」の意味に考えを巡らせてみようと思うのです。
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#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子
Thank YOU for mentioning this account here and there. If you are new & here, please read what I write instead of what you think I write. I sometimes bring up the topic of “Cultural Appropriation” – but it is NOT my intention to limit your creativity & fun. I want anyone to call their stitching Sashiko (if they want to), and therefore, I ask them to learn what Sashiko is instead of following the ignorance in trend, or worse, indifference for someone’s profit.
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I teach Sashiko Class both Online & In-person. I believe I am offering some kind of “Paradigm Shift” there – not only (but of course) the technique and design, but also philosophy & how Japanese approach(ed) to Sashiko. That being said, my goal is to pass down our Sashiko – so I share pretty much everything on here, Youtube, Patreon… everywhere I can think of & work on. I even encourage them to share/copy/imitate, or even teach what I do/say. Only thing I ask is to identify the sources (=upstream) – where they get “it” from.
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We “share” things to make a living. Analogy. I share my wisdom as I would share “a river” in front of me. I may use it for cleaning dishes while letting children play in the water – or we may catch fishes together for a day. There are millions of ways to use (appreciate) the river, yet I must tell children where this river comes from. When we ignore (neglect to acknowledge) where “it” comes from, then we may not have the same “it” tomorrow. The same thing goes to a culture – as there are millions of rivers in this world, there are numbers of Sashiko in Japan. But, well therefore, please learn the Sashiko which identify & respect where it comes from. Speaking of our Sashiko, you just need to mention this account as I will be responsible for sharing the stories of “upstream” of our Sashiko. But, your “sharing” will be the biggest help to sustain this culture. Thank You! (thanks @geri_in_stitches & @exhaustedoctopus for tag me!)
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4月の展示会＆オフ会、多くの方のお力を借りて着々と形になっております。展示会には「皆様と一緒に作った作品」も運針会プロジェクトに限らず展示する予定です（作品制作に関わって下さった方には別途ご案内メールをお送りする予定です）。日本には各地にそれぞれの刺し子が存在し「みんな違ってみんな良い」を体現しているのではないかと思うのです。だからこそ一つの答えに固執するのではなく、沢山の刺し子を知って頂きたいなと。そういう私もまだまだ勉強の身でございますので、自戒の念も込めて。
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#Sashiko #刺し子
