Great advice. Why don’t I repost. Reposting my messages I had shared will not take so much time & energy. I hope it will be a re-think moment for you if you are a long-time follower.
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【Repost from 5/15/2019 – where I learned the word “Cultural Appropriation”. I was still so naive… (Slightly Edited)】
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I encountered one discussion on FB about Sashiko. I try to be sincere. I try to reply to the emails & comments as much as time allows. Since I believe Sashiko is more than stitching, when the question is about the Sashiko as the culture, I answer pretty much all of the questions sincerely. (I unfortunately limit the service to answer the technical questions to my workshop students – limited capacity situation – and many answers are already answered online).
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Yet, my replies caused discomfort on one FB group. The angry discussion led us to the fundamental question, why do you (they) call it Sashiko if they were not willing to learn the Japanese culture? It seems they only care what “Sashiko” looks like – not Japanese culture at all.
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Is it my English that is causing the discomfort? If I made confusion because of my writing, and encouraged “the people who are angry” by not reading what I wrote, I understand. I have reasons for writing a long story. However, if it is actually me that is creating confusion – then I would like to learn how to improve.
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The last angry comment was like this: “There are many Sashiko teachers that are welcoming and generous with their knowledge.” If she is calling me “not generous” wihtout reading my messages, then something is missing … and I would love to understand what I am doing wrong. I wrote something very important at the end of the article. It gave me a chance to reconsider what I want to be doing & what my challenges are. Thank you very much for your help in advance.
In an ordinary village in Japan, Sashiko (or something similar) existed. It is about the past. Many Sashiko Stories seem to be buried in history without names. Various kinds of Sashiko we can enjoy today are mostly “revived” versions of the Sashiko based on their local voice & stories. Most of the Japanese who had to practice Sashiko discontinued stitching for survival when they became wealthy enough to choose not to stitch. Their choice is a form of culture. The other people’s choice where they decided to revive is also another form of culture (*1).
You may wonder. Is there such a thing as “real Sashiko” in Japan now? Although I say most of the Sashiko we can find today are “revived” versions, Sashiko isn’t the history yet. As long as there are people stitching with living in Japan practicing Japanese culture as their ordinary, that is one real Sashiko I can define.
Well… It is very difficult to define what “real” is in Sashiko. Is it about the pattern or design? Is it about what to make for what purpose? Or the technique and how to? Although all of them can be a part of the definition of the “real Sashiko”, one very important essence of defining the real Sashiko is a sense of “community” – where people can belong. This is also my long-hoping dream to make it true – to make a place where people can feel as a community. (If you read Japanese, you can probably find me saying “居場所を作りたい（I want to make ‘the’ place)” all over the posts & videos.
For this essence, Otsuchi Sashiko is probably the closest to the “real” Sashiko. They get together to do Sashiko, and they stitch not only for their leisure, but also for making their ends meet. This is the Sashiko community where we have not introduced ourselves in English well.
Although most of the Sashiko in English are discussed based on the documents left, Sashiko is still an ongoing culture. I agree with the fact that the culture changes over time. It is changing now by those who practice Sashiko for their community. It will never be a whole picture of Sashiko when one ignores the on-going change in Japan.
Otsuchi Sashiko Project (previously, it was called Otsuchi Sashiko Recovery Project) started as a welfare project to support the Tsunami survivors from the NorthEast Great Earthquake in 2011. It has been 10 years, and they have worked with so many local people there throughout sharing the Sashiko on-going practice. Sashiko isn’t in history yet.
It is my sincere privilege to be able to join the Otsuchi Sashiko project. In my stay there (2011 Nov to 2012 Feb), regardless of my position as “teacher” or “advisor”, I received a lot of learning from them. To be honest, “learning” is not a sufficient word for what I have received. It is something more important than “learning” – like enlightenment. I would like to share what I learned there because it is what I indeed received from the Sashiko practice.
Japan Tour Visiting where Sashiko Exists
The main theme of the Japan Tour we organize is to share the “On-Going practice” of Sashiko. There are a lot more I can share with actual people & their stitching. For example, some say it is impossible to make “authentic Boro”. It is a true statement because it requires a few hundreds years to create one. However, we can make the “future authentic Boro” by stitching as the Japanese would have done so many years ago. I would like to take you there to stitch together, enjoy together, and share the “place” created by Sashiko.
The town of Otsuchi is very far from major cities in Japan. The transportation isn’t so convenient to visit. Therefore, I will not plan a visit (unless I specifically design the tour to visit) Otsuchi Sashiko Project in my own Japan Tour. For the Tour in May 2022, thanks to a great organizer Koshiki-san, we will visit them and spend some time together – in the place Sashiko would connect us regardless of where we are from.
Of course, throughout the tour, I will be there with you and for you to learn what Sashiko/Boro for us. I have spent more than 400 hours to share more than 750 stories about Sashiko on Instagram & Facebook. I feel that I still have only shared 10% of the whole stories I would like to share. Yes, the core & essence of Sashiko can be mastered by taking my Online Sashiko Class or In-person workshop. Yes, there are many information available online to learn from. I just think, however, that the time I would spend with you in Japan focusing Sashiko would be incredible memories for us. I would like you to find your own “Place” – which you may have already so you can add to your life.
We offer Japan Tour visiting where Sashiko exists.
*1: There may(should) be a form of Sashiko in which the Japanese did not choose to discontinue. In Koginzashi & Hishizashi, there are another pile of many Sashiko Stories that I am not qualified to talk about. When my stories are completed, I will work on introducing their voices as well.
700 days. I made myself write a story per day. In May 2019, I learned the concept (pain) of Cultural Appropriation. When I say, “the information you know about Sashiko in English is insufficient”, I felt a sort of “responsibility” to explain why it is not enough. I believe I have done a good job so far, although I feel I have shared only 10% of all stories.
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As I have mentioned before, I tried to customize myself to repeat the same message here. Then, I realize how burned-out I am. At least 30 minutes, sometimes more. I had spent more than 350 hours in 2 years. It has been my wish to offer you something to think about – once a day – where you can sit with it and think/feel it through. If I were to “customize” to repeat, then the wish would get diluted. Well, there is a reason I had to “customize” myself. I need to balance my life (make ends meet).
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I am burned out. Therefore, I will slow myself down, and “may not” post everyday. I will continue sharing and repeating Sashiko Stories. Unfortunately, Nothing has changed over the last 2 years. The “superficial trend” of Sashiko keeps bringing me pain. However, I met many caring people who read mindfully what I write (like you) – you and I may probably change something together. To do so, I will keep sharing the Sashiko Stories.
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If you are new here, please try to read as many posts here as possible. Also a lot of information can be found from the link on my profile. If you are busy, listening to Youtube videos while you do something can be a good start. I appreciate your interest here.
“Use whatever you want” is a valid statement when they know the difference & how hard the origin worked to make it happen. A thimble and Sashiko needles (with specific length) is “optional” for Sashiko only when they know how to use them (otherwise, it is just an excuse for their lack of skill). Stitching from the back of the fabric? Making Knots to stop or NOT making knots to stop? It is a choice of “Sashiko practitioners”, not a rule or answer – therefore, if they teach, they need to be able to do both – Again, it cannot be an excuse for their lack of skill and understanding.
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If Sashiko is a practice of filling the “each stitch printed on the fabric”, then the stitchers experience a part of Sashiko. There is nothing wrong with stitching on the “each stitch sized pre-printed fabric”. I can do that if I have to (I do not prefer the fabric to tell me what to do, though). However, after experiencing the moment of “letting the needle run”, then we can talk about Sashiko. Try not to control the needle as your partner too much. Ask him/her what they want. When you run, don’t you trust your legs? Or… do you measure how long each interval has to be in each step?
We all have our own beliefs and justice. No personal belief is identical even in the same culture & language. I am sharing something foreign to you (Sashiko) in my second language (English). Of course, my stories can be different from your expectations. However, that’s the reason you are here. The difference (uncomfortableness) is the seeds of understanding. Since you are interested in Sashiko & Japanese culture, please learn the difference. Ignoring the difference & forcing your value on me (& Sashiko) is the (only) problem I feel = it leads to many types of cultural issues.
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Since I expect this, understanding the difference, my activity occasionally ends up with disagreement. It can be quite ugly – especially when it is based on “business (profit)”. I fulfill my responsibility that I agree no matter what. However, I do not compromise my belief either – since I am teaching Sashiko there.
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I ask a returning student to bring their thimble & needles to the 2nd workshop they take. Some dislike this expectation because it will not be convenient to the students – all the supply should be available. My expectation is based on the story of “spirit”. I do not want to encourage them to minimize the feeling of that – by offering another extra set of tools. It is PERFECTLY fine to have several sets of tools. It is fine to lose needles & thimble. They leave when they want. However, the teacher should share this cultural convenience over the “convenience”. Am I being extra difficult? Probably so. However, someone gotta share it regardless if it pleases the customer/owner or not. Please do not ignore the difference. There are always stories there.
It is a great honor to be part of MQG (@themqg) again.I am very excited to share that I will be coming back to Quiltcon 2022. I had such a blast in 2020 sharing what we practice with Modern Quilting Lovers. In 2022, I will be offering the same Sashiko Workshop (Core & Basic), and one applied version (Applied & Practice). I stopped using the word “Advanced” because learning the core & basic is the most important process – there isn’t much about getting advanced, but there are many practices we can apply the core & essence I shared in the first workshop. Therefore, the one “Applied & Practice” has a prerequisite of “Core & Basic” from QuiltCon 2020 or other similar workshops such as my Online Sashiko Class.
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I hope & I will do my best to bring the same contents to the MQG again. I hope to meet you if I haven’t met you. I am looking forward to seeing you (those who I have met in 2020).
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*Believe it or not, in-person, outside of the classroom, I am very shy… Please say hello to me if you find me in Phoenix & QuiltCon 2022.
I didn’t know the word “Emotional Pain” until I moved to the US. Of course, we have a similar way to describe it in Japanese, I cannot think of the exact word to imply “Emotional Pain” as English word does (It requires some description to explain it). Similarly, many Japanese words I introduce here (such as “Ibasho”) require additional description to explain the whole. When I can exactly translate the word from JP to EN, I wouldn’t introduce the Japanese word.
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Emotional Pain is as suffering as Physical Pain. It exists. We just cannot see the actual bleeding.I would never understand your pain as you will probably not understand my pain. It is okay. I am not here to “convince” you that you are okay. I am here, with as less judgement as possible, sharing why it hurts so much when people intentionally filter the culture while ignoring the voice.
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I have a strong belief. “We can survive in the worst harsh situation when we have warm food & 1% of laughing, and “a place” to be (even temporary). This place doesn’t have to be by physical location. More like a sense of belonging to. As I said, I cannot help you. I wish I could offer you warm food with my jokes in person. However, I can offer a place here. I would like to offer a place like here to share the Sashiko we practice.
Some of you may have realized it. Yesterday’s post, it is not only toward you but also to myself. The Internet caused the emotional pain I have never felt. However, it also created a place for me to be. No matter how bad I feel, I know you are here to read. I made it here again today, and so will I be here again to write another story. “a Place to be (Ibasho)” is one of the reasons I can continue this painful journey without return (in regular successful measures such as money or title).
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Some may wonder, “Isn’t this account related to Sashiko”? Yes, it is. Their wonder explains how much they do not know about Sashiko. I believe the concept of “Ibasho” is more essential than how “beautiful” one can stitch in Sashiko. In Japan, in patriarchy, women served for the family. In such limited (emotional) resources, they probably shared the time in stitching here and there – a place for them to be. They learned Sashiko in a place (either family or community), and therefore, there is no such a thing as “Right or Wrong” in Sashiko. Did they ever want to be a Sashiko Artist? The majority didn’t think of going outside of the community. It was their honor to protect the “place to be”, and their pride to “keep improving” their stitches.
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It is my honor to offer the place for you to be, and my pride to keep “sharing” the Sashiko stories instead of “filtered information” to profit off from indifference in the place I would like to protect.
If you find me recently, you may see me as “stubborn, clinging-tradition, and conservative.” If you follow me for a while, you may find me as “acceptant and progressive”. I have to accept that I am stubborn, but please understand that I have determined what is important to share. I accept the change in Sashiko (tradition). However, in order to change, the original form/mindset should be acknowledged. We may wrap anything with seaweed and call it Sushi. But if you put “it” into the piece of bread… It is a sandwich! Learning is the way to be progressive.
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Almost 15 years ago, I mixed Sashiko-ish patchwork & Denim. I received many criticisms from my artisans/senior-stitchers. However, that’s my box of imagination. My creativity limits me to go outside of the box. Therefore, I say, I am the past, and you (who cares for what Sashiko really is) are the future of Sashiko.
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I am just asking the world to “learn”. At least, acknowledge it. I understand my voice can be noisy and uncomfortable. Without learning the tradition/origin, a change for profit & convenience will hurt someone. I brought up the question that English translation of Sashiko, “Little stabs”, may not be correct. That’s how insufficient it is in the discussion & learning of Sashiko. Please be creative & artistic, but also, please learn some Japanese do not consider Sashiko as the Art.
Sashiko and Animism. The article I wrote almost 4 years ago (!) still describes my point well. Shinto (Religion which originated in Japan) is not equal to Animism, but they share some similarities. Shinto is animistic at some level. In Japan, following Shinto, they believed in the existence of “spirit” in every matter. Since Shinto respect lineage, the spirit is often “something” related to the (family) line. Like, as a rough example, my father resides in my thimble (which I think he does not – his spirit resides in something that requires a long story).
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Recycle, Repurpose, and Reuse is an important aspect of Sashiko. Being said, I hope my stories on all of my platforms together introduce what they believed in Sashiko more than “what to do (for the purpose)”. Ask a Japanese why they take good care of a material. The reply would be “just because”. “Mottainai” is a close word for this, but it also requires a long article to explain (it is available on Patreon).
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For me, a thimble is like a family. No matter what, they will support me. A needle is like a partner in stitching (to make a dialogue with fabric). Therefore, a pincushion is also important where my partner can rest well. There is no “the absolute answer” in Sashiko, but there are millions of stories there. I hope they become open minded instead of filtering the stories by focusing on “The (convenient) Answer”.
