Author: atsushijp

One of the biggest reasons for this account is to share the “full stories”. I am tired of people “cutting & pasting” what they want to hear & learn, and resulting in changing the cultural contents. Therefore, I ask you to read as many stories as possible here before trying to “define” it. Instead of reading the comfortable stories, I want them to have a moment to “stop & think”. I believe that’s something I can offer to this world. 

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So, as a result, I am trying my best to be as “difficult” as possible on SNS. Sometimes, I have more “unfollowers” than new followers in a day. It probably means I wrote something they didn’t want to read. It is okay. “Being liked” is not the (only) goal in this account. (of course, I would like to be liked.)

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However, when one approaches me with respect for Japanese culture (courtesy), I believe I am quite decent & welcoming. I shall never forget someone’s kindness, too. So, when a daughter of someone who I received kindness from asks me for help, I do everything I can. More than 6 hours of conversations, with theme shifting here and there, the Story by Isabella about Sashiko went on Air last night on a public radio: The World. She cut and pasted what we talked about. However, she also did her best to understand the whole picture. I laughed how she “cooked” our raw stories, and I appreciate her for the massive effort to make it happen. 

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I have A LOT to say about the story about Otsuchi. (I have only shared stories about Otsuchi in Patreon since it is too personal to me). It is probably time to share more. I plan to have a Webinar about Isabella summarized beautifully. (The link to the Radio is on Today’s Story).

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僕の英語での活動の一番の原点は「娘に何かを残したい」という、とても個人的な思いです。崇高な思いというよりは、我儘な願い。日本とユダヤの血を引き継ぎ、且つ御母様とはご縁を頂いた,、そんな学生の方から「お話を聞かせて下さい」という連絡が来た時は、そりゃもう大歓迎です。6時間以上の取材。テーマもどんどん派生して。それでも、日本の当たり前を共有できているからか、嫌な気持ちには一切ならず、楽しんでお話ができました。それを10分に纏めた、「彼女の物語」がラジオに流れたそうです。今の僕の原点、大槌刺し子のお話です。

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I learned the word “Cultural Appropriation (C/A)” in 2019 with pain. Ever since, I have been trying to educate myself. I learned that I am not alone in this. C/A is a very sensitive and broad topic to discuss. The significance relies on the person’s experience, and for that, I am a newbie in being POC (I was a majority in Japan as the Japanese). I respect the strong statement to protect the culture from Appropriation. At the same time, for Sashiko and Boro, I am on the easier side saying “Anyone can enjoy Sashiko (if they want to)”. Occasionally, I receive worrying support that someone is using the word “Sashiko & Boro” for something completely different. I am not a “police” to rule it. So, usually I ask them to mention my account to share what Sashiko is. I sometimes write a favor to them to learn more. Not Knowing itself is okay.

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The C/A happens when one “ignores” and “indifference” the Cultural Content. Since C/A can be complicated, I made it as simple as possible (for now). “Not Knowing” and “Misunderstanding” are not forms of C/A to me. After “hearing” & “knowing” the cultural contents, and deciding to ignore the voice for their own purpose, or indifference it, then it becomes an issue. Sanding Fabric with Rotary and then stitching is neither Sashiko nor Boro. It can be a form of fashion saying “distressed”.  I just want them to stop using incorrect names. I respect their creativity and admire what they do with different names. However, it will be a significant issue when they decide to ignore the voice and continue calling their “purposefully sanded & stitched denim” as Sashiko/Boro for their purpose (marketing, popularity and money). 

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I want you to call your stitching Sashiko since you are trying to learn what Sashiko is, regardless of how it looks. The key is in the “willingness” to learn, which is the sign of respect the culture.

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会社経営＆商売をしていた頃は、一年先を見据えた計画が大切でした。毎月の収支。毎日の売上。呼吸をし続けることが何よりも大切で、一年先の生存が何よりもの優先順位でした。今は30年先を見通しています。30年先に何があるかというと、娘が今の僕の歳になるのです。その時に胸を張って「刺し子はお前の文化の一部だ」と言えるような動きを、今しておきたいのです。きっとそれが、日本で刺し子をしている皆様への贈り物にもなると思うから。

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End of September. Beginning of October. I love Autumn. I used to be a smoker. The cigarette changes its taste from heat, humid and joyful to dry, cold, and somewhat “ending” something. 

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It is the end of the Indigo Season. I am cleaning out the tiny garden in our small backyard. It takes a long time to make it: from seed to leaves, then dyes and then what we use it for. If we can appreciate this long slow process, I would like to share the importance of understanding it after taking a long time & effort. Easy definition is great, but it limits the whole picture. How can I summarize my whole life into one sentence? Of course, definition is necessary to develop the further definitions (stories). This account is for that.

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October is the most difficult month for me for several reasons. I will keep sharing my stories so that you can enjoy the process of “defining” what Sashiko is “for you”. 

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10月ですね。9月の後半から10月前半の1ヶ月は、どれだけ時間が経っても、まだ昔に引き戻されます。というか、パラレルワールドが横にあって、同時進行している感じで。刺し子にしても、家庭菜園にしても、冬の準備にしても、一番忙しい時期なんですけどね。いろいろ考え、そして迷うのが10月だったりします。

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さて、そんな哀愁に包まれつつも、一つお知らせです。僕は米国に在住して米国で刺し子を紹介することがメインなのですが、時間がある時に日本の恵子さんのウェブショップのお手伝いもしています。新しい染色とか、作品とか、なんとか皆様に気軽にお伝えできないかなぁと考え、LINEの公式アカウントを試してみることにしました。詳細はSashiCoショップのブログに書いたので、一読頂けますと幸いです。（https://sashiko-shop.sashico.com/）。

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配信して、一番迷う時期を乗り越えたいなと思っています。 また配信にて〜。

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Ever since Sashiko became a trend, many kindly give me generous compliments about how beautiful what we make. They call me a master, artist, and even “gifted” for what I do. Some share their “wishes” to be like me as an extent to respect the Sashiko we practice. I humbly accept their admiration, and I appreciate them. However, I am a walking (inferior) complex, a mass of many layers of complexes. 

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I have been doing the same thing: Sashiko Stitching for many years. Before the trend, what I did was criticized as boring, uninnovative, and “sissy” work (Please be advised that the Sashiko was a work for women historically). Some say, “Why don’t you get actual work. You are a grown up boy/man”. Others laughed at me, “Oh, you wasted student loans by choosing to stitch. You don’t need a brain to do what you are doing”. The worst phrase was: “Why pay so much to something that handicapped people do?”: which is disrespectful for me and the people with challenges. 

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From my childhood, I received more contempt before than the admiration I get now, although I am doing the same thing. Some are repainting this for their convenience (money) while ignoring those “(my) History”. Therefore, I do not “define” words so easily. One day, it can be flipped by those with “privilege”.

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Only thing I can do is “share” the stories & practice “as is”. I try to be as difficult as possible on SNS to protect myself. I am more honest on Patreon with many longer stories. I pass down the core to those who take my classes. Since the pandemic, I started receiving requests to offer “In-person private” classes. It is very expensive, yet I sincerely appreciate their willingness to learn. I am not ready yet to offer “the answer”, I am still in-between admiration & insult. Therefore, I bring everything I can to the class & share so that the student can find their own answer. I believe that’s how it is supposed to be.

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急な話なのですが、お仕事を頂いたので一日出張してきます。お金がかかってもいいから対面で刺し子を学びたい……と。それだけの熱意を頂くと僕も「大変だし……」と断る選択肢はありません。どうなることやら。俺と対面で一日ですよ（笑）楽しんできますー。

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Sashiko is not the word for the Japanese mending technique itself. Mending is indeed a great part of Sashiko, but what we often would use for “mending” is just “hand-stitching for mending”, not so much Sashiko. People who use the word Sashiko as the mending technique is twisting the word & meaning of it. Sashiko is more than that.

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Many cultures have “mending” as their ordinary practice. I am pretty sure that your culture does as well. With name or without the name, your ancestors probably used the needle to mend fabric. So, mending itself isn’t anyone’s invention. There is nothing special in mending “itself”. However, it doe NOT mean that “Sashiko” existed in all of the culture. It existed in ordinary Japanese culture, and therefore it carries a significant amount of “Japaneseness”. 

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I see some “artists” who sell items saying “with a Japanese Mending Technique called Sashiko”. They aren’t wrong, but their description is insufficient. Often, a “business (being professional)” comes with responsibility, and I believe they are responsible for sharing the stories. I feel as if they share the message of “Cheddar Cheese is the (only) Cheese” without explaining about the other kinds of Cheeses. Isn’t it sad that we live in a world where we only enjoy Cheddar Cheese? I love Cheddar, but also I really would like to have some Camembert, and more. While “appreciating” the foreign culture, I really hope that they don’t “limit” the culture they are just visiting. I shared a video of “Mending” on Youtube. I am not sure if I would call it “Sashiko Mending” yet.

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(https://youtu.be/_TyNPXqSLCQ)

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上記Youtubeにて、今年の夏に活躍してくれた半ズボンの補修の解説を行いました（英語での解説ですが、少しだけ日本語のキャプションもいれました）。穴が空いたズボンに当て布をしただけなので刺し子なのかなと我ながら疑問です。衣類の修復をされているプロの方々からみたら、とんでもない仕事だと思います。ただ、英語圏では「これ」が刺し子であり、襤褸だと理解されるようになりました。間違ってないのよ。でも、足りてないんですよね。出汁を感じない味噌汁。チーズが乗ってないピザ。美味しい所がもっとあるのに。

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I decided to step out of my comfortable zone to protect my own identity. Only one way I found to protect is “to share” my own stories so that someone may receive & keep the Sashiko I have been living with. I was born with being “decided” to be the next heir of Sashiko Family Business, and I hated my fate from the bottom of my heart. In order to escape from this curse, I kept learning about it, and I still have been struggling to find out what I am facing. 

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I teach Sashiko as a “condensed essence” of Sashiko: Core & Essence. Once they learn this core, other “how to” will be supplemental (as I share some tutorials on Youtube). As I wrote above, I share my Sashiko story to respect myself & what we have been through: which I didn’t want to admit to for a while. 

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Anyone can do/teach/write/sell Sashiko. I know some people make my stories indifferent to the general ideas: After all, it is hand-stitching. However, I want them to know there are people’s lives in those stories. Sashiko is easy enough anyone can “teach” after spending a decent amount of time researching & stitching. However, Sashiko isn’t shallow enough to accept someone’s ignorance and indifference. I know we live in a world where “Instant Gratification” defines success, and even happiness. I probably do the same in non-Sashiko things. I am aware that what I do (Sashiko) seems to be somewhat indifferent to someone who values Instant Gratification. I share stories based on both struggle and gratification of my 30+ years. So, you are reading my stories of my life. It would be great if you could keep reading my stories, both here and possibly on Patreon. And, please help me out by spreading your words.

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英語で刺し子を伝える。ビジネス面に集中したり、有名になることを目的にした場合、この英語圏での刺し子ブームにおいて僕がすべきことは、ひたすらフォロワーさんを喜ばせることなんだろうと思います。でも、僕は敢えて、耳障りが悪いことも書いています。気持ち良い言葉だけでは、伝わるものも伝わらない。ただ、時に僕自身が苦しくなります。伝わらないから。そりゃ好かれていたいのが人情です。届けても目の前で破られる手紙はキツイ。そんな時に見る写真が、昨日紹介した運針会ジャケットの刺し子だったりします。全く同じ気持ちでなんか居なくても良いんです。でも、針目見りゃわかるんです。あぁ、刺し子の楽しさはきっと伝わったんだろうなって。まだまだ先は長いですが、ここまできたらもう人生懸けての腐れ縁です。どこまでいけるかわかりませんが、最後の最後まで貫きます。

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As I share Sashiko Stories, I love stories (I have been a big bookworm). For me, “reading” is a secretive dialogue to a book & author. In reading, we imagine scenes that the author also may have visualized. When lucky, we can even smell, taste, hear, and actually see “it” in reading. Is it too eccentric? That’s what our brain (imagination) can do. All I am asking in this account is to have the imagination (care, respect, and mindfulness) to the people, culture, and the “ordinary” behind the word, “Sashiko”.

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I believe in the power of stories. At the same time, I know the limitations of stories. As Zen greatly influenced Japanese culture, its teaching of “不立文字 – Fukyumonnji” is important to understand the whole. It is a teaching that, on top of teaching in words (both vocal and writing), it is essential to “practice” it to reach an understanding. In short, “reading” isn’t enough to fully understand the practice. Therefore, I decided to teach Sashiko. Unfortunately, the teaching based on “how precise you can make Sashiko stitching” or “How to be creative by following steps in Sashiko” will not bring to the core of Sashiko. No one measures each “stride length” when they run. They simply put the legs in front of them one by one. Of course, a good teacher is necessary when they want to improve their running. It is normal to run, but in Western culture, this doesn’t apply to Sashiko. Once we focus on “the ordinary”, the result of stitching will be similar, yet very unique. That’s one of the beauties of Sashiko I enjoy. 

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2020年の秋に日本に一時帰国する予定でした。お寿司、あずき、お味噌汁。あと、カップ焼きそば（笑）延期により脳内で予定していた美味しいものが食べられなくなって寂しい思いをしたのですが、一番きつかったのが、実は「皆様と一緒に作った刺し子作品」を実際に見る機会が延期されてしまったことだったりします。

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8年近く日本に帰っていません。つまりは配信やインスタグラムで頂いたご縁のほとんどが、ネット上で完結しているものです。実際にお会いしたことがある人はごく僅かです。だからお会いしてご挨拶したかった。ネット上だけの関係なのにも関わらず、これほどまでに似て、尚且つ特徴のある刺し子をしている皆様と、一緒に作品を楽しみたかったなあと思うのです。延期なだけです。必ず一時帰国は実現させます。それまでは写真を拡大しつつ、「運針すげーなー」っと感心し続けたいと思っています。ご協力、本当にありがとうございます。

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In 2019, the words “Sashiko” and “Boro” taught me great lessons. Sashiko, Boro, Zen, Kimono, Wabi-Sabi, Matcha, Pecha-Kucha, Ikigai… those words are translated with “something” missing, I feel. I haven’t read all the books, so I shouldn’t speak on behalf of others, but it is insteresting to find out most of the authors do not have Japanese-name. As I always say, they aren’t wrong, but insufficient, because “knowing what we do not know” is one good start in the Japanese mindset.  

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Another extreme analogy here. I feel like I happened to have a huge national event in my small village. They say they appreciate what our village offers as sightseeing locations, yet they focus on the event with their “fun”, often with noise and sounds where the quiet ordinary exists. If the party is a one-time event, like the Olympics, then we would welcome it. However, the event continue every night. We don’t know when it ends… but some say it will end for sure. My house happened to be right next to the park, yet I cannot say anything because the land they host a party is a public property (of local people): park. I speak up. This party “may” change the quiet and “Japanese-like” sightseeing asset. I do not mean to exclude them. I would love to welcome them. I just want them to enjoy what we really can offer instead of what they would bring into our village with their “fun”.

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The words themselves start getting their own “journey” based on what we hope to. Without proper understanding, mixing those words and creating another “catchphrase” can be very dangerous because the word will start walking with leaving the original meaning behind. Again, please don’t get me wrong. Their understandings are NOT wrong. It is just “insufficient”, since some words require an enormous amount of stories to have mutual understanding. Some words do not exist for marketing purposes to stand out in the crowd: for some of us, they reflect our identity. 

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先日、妻が「淳、家計簿って知ってる？」と夕飯時に話題に。我が家も一応家計簿はあって期間毎に赤が出てないかは確認しています。この”Kakeibo”が、「日本的な（出費に意識を向ける）アート」として紹介されていて。家計簿がアートなら、そりゃ刺し子もアートだわ……と言葉の一人歩きが怖いなと思った夕飯時でした（笑）ってか、笑えないんだけどね。

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As you know, I share pretty much everything on the Internet. Stories here to enrich the body of Sashiko, and Unedited Videos & some tutorials to preserve the techniques & skills. I offer Sashiko classes to pass down the “Core & Essence”. However, since I do not want to filter “who can learn” based on “what they have”, all of the stories & videos are free of charge. I care how “Sashiko is” more than anything. I ask them to support me when they can.

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Many people strongly denied this idea saying, “Atsushi, sharing them for free in public is a bad idea”. Yes. I understand that they worry about me & what I do. However, keeping “it” secret can be very dangerous in this “Internet” society: since anyone can be “the answer” without proper understanding. I fear Sashiko being something different by keeping it secret. So, I share even if it may strangle me slowly & surely. 

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This is my life-staking challenge, to believe in “Humanity: We are born decent”. Anyone can teach Sashiko after watching what I had been sharing for the last 5 years. As I am teaching Sashiko in Japanese, what I do isn’t so common even among Japanese people. So, if you decide to teach Sashiko based on what I share, please credit my works & help me to share what I am trying to do. All I want is to keep the Sashiko we practice with reasonable changes, and I need to make my ends somehow in order to continue that. 

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Well… those who may copy & teach what I share are not reading this story anyway. What they want is “technique” and “how to”. Same as Boro. Those who “copy” can only copy… and the original can keep sharing the original. However, due to the Internet, anything can happen including “ending me” in the process. So, please, please consider supporting the original instead of someone who copies & does a better job in marketing & communicating. I know the importance of “how to deliver the message”, but I have other priorities. I am doing my best to accommodate the reasonable request: and I hope I can pass down Sashiko as a “whole” to the next generation. I believe & hope that I can continue, but I sometimes get weaken in spirit.

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少し長くなりました。また配信でご紹介します！

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The more I share my stories, the more I realize that my “ordinary” has now become the “extraordinary”. Sashiko is what I do: and it requires the Japanese mindset to fully understand Sashiko as a practice. Although I haven’t reached a full understanding yet, it is astonishing that my common sense can be someone’s remedy. 

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Come to think of it, it may be “wisdom” we call. Some of you may have received a “Grandma’s Recipe”. In modern society, visiting a family in a rural setting and cooking Tomato Sauce together may be rare things to do. The ordinary Grandma’s Tomato Sauce became something extraordinary: that’s how we change ourselves.

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In terms of Sashiko, I am privileged because I received (forced to receive) those recipes. It isn’t just about stitching, but all around Sashiko including their life-long wisdom. In order to explain what Sashiko is to me, I need to provide enough stories for the audience to be on the same page… and therefore I feel I have so many more stories to share. 

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It is okay to dislike/disagree with what I say. I am questioning the “fun Sashiko” and it is a big “No” in today’s market. However, I want them (you) to trust me in one thing: If you are looking for something to help you in the practice of Sashiko, you will find it with/by/from me. I do not give it to you, but you will find it, as you may remember the Granda’s Recipe. 

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よくよく考えるととんでもない話なのですが、博士号を取得した先生や、その分野の最先端の方とお話をしている現状です。それほど、刺し子についての情報があやふやで曖昧。その曖昧さが西洋では理解し難いので仕方ない話ではあるのですが。ずーっと言っていますが、僕の目的は「おばあちゃんの知恵袋」的な存在でい続けること。まだまだ智慧は足りないので、しっかりと勉強し続けようと思います。皆様のお力を借りながら。

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