This is a question for non-Japanese people out of my curiosity. What is your “standard” to trust a teacher or a master?
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The work pieces, the publications, and the title (like Ph.D) are good benchmarks. However, wouldn’t you expect a master of Japanese culture to be able to speak (fluent) Japanese…? At least, I would expect a master of Western culture in Japan to be able to speak English… When I meet an authentic Italian chef, I expect them to learn from a master in Italy while living in Italy. For some reasons, in crafting, anyone seems to be a “teacher” or a “lecturer” without proper understanding of the culture. Is this because the “masters in crafting” underestimate the audience/students? I don’t understand how & why.
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I do not consider myself a master/artist. I am learning how to teach & what is Art. At the same time, being Japanese does not qualify me to be a teacher/lecturer by itself. Therefore, I share stories here. Therefore, I share my “unedit version” of stitching in Live Streaming (Youtube) so that people can expect what they can learn from me. ALL of my western friends who are in a profession of Japanese Culture can speak fluent Japanese – and they all say their Japanese is nonproficient & their understanding of the culture is insufficient. I am not saying one needs to master Japanese language to enjoy Sashiko. I just don’t understand how “one” is chosen, for what qualification, to teach something they don’t know fully.
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This leads to another question as well: do we all have to learn English to protect the culture from Cultural Appropriation?
I guess the biggest misunderstanding in Sashiko is that people think Sashiko is a mending technique. Although “mending” is a very important part of Sashiko practice, the mending itself is NOT a principle. “Making Fabric Stronger/Warmer (in harsh conditions with limited resources)” is the principle of Sashiko – therefore, Sashiko thread matters – therefore, we use geometric patterns – therefore, we take “process” seriously. Sashiko was(is) a piece of wisdom (practice in the ordinary) to make fabric last long from the ordinary wear and tear. Therefore, although mending is a part of Sashiko, damaging fabric for mending purposes is completely opposite of Sashiko’s philosophy. One is trying to prolong the fabric life. One is intentionally damaging the fabric. I hope you see how “twisted/filtered” the culture is introduced. If one claims they know about Japanese culture, then they should speak up (not knowing is okay, but some intentionally do not for their convenience). – *before reacting, read the previous posts – I am not criticizing the value of “distressed fabric”.
Thank you for all the comments about “Kintsugi”. I now learn that some people practice “Kintsugi” by breaking the pottery pieces on-purpose.
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I am not criticizing those who break pieces on purpose at all. Crashing ceramics for creating something new can be a beautiful way to express one’s artistry. Although I do not prefer distressed denim, there is nothing wrong with damaging the fabric on purpose. It is fashion. It is their way to enjoy(enrich) life. I do respect their choices and creations.
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The pain (C/A) occurs when they mix their choice with foreign words(culture) with (intentional) ignorance. Breaking/damaging items for the purpose of practicing the culture (Kintsugi or Sashiko) is also fine. Teaching(profiting from) others the culture as if they know the whole picture while ignoring their lack of understanding is the problem. “Cherry Picking” is a very serious cultural concern. This isn’t even picking a good part of the culture – it is just repainting the culture to the color they like (or probably this is the cherry picking in the cultural discussion?)
Do you know a Japanese culture(practice) called “Kintsugi”? It is a practice to repair(mend) broken pottery pieces with lacquer. It is introduced as a metaphoric symbol of embracing imperfection. Sashiko/Boro are in the same category. However, I haven’t seen an artist who breaks a pottery piece with a hammer, and repairs it then calls it “Art”, yet I can see numbers of photos damaging the good new fabric with files/sand-paper, then mending it for their “Art”. What is the difference? Do people break pottery piece on purpose to mend with Kintsugi in Western society (It may be just me who do not know).
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Extracting an idea from foreign language is very attractive. There are so many Japanese words which are “condensed” with filtering. “Wabi-Sabi”, “Mottainai”, “Ikigai”, they are probably more than what you know – so is Sashiko.
I would like to consider myself a story-teller rather than an activist for Sashiko. I thought, as a story-teller, my mission is to share a series of “new” stories. Therefore, I try to write something new in every post. However, I may have to change my view. If I am asking for a change to those with (intentional) ignorance, then what I do is more like an activist. It’s the matter of definition, but I learned the importance of sharing the “Same” stories over and over again.
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I do not still consider myself an activist yet. I am NOT here to change anyone’s view. I just want to “leave” my voice so that someone (like you) will understand what `”Sashiko”would be ” when our Sashiko is wiped away by populism & commercialism. I summarized important information into videos. Please check them on our Youtube. There are NO rules in Sashiko – just respect to an origin (No rules doesn’t mean whatever is good).
One Story per day. I apologize I couldn’t accomplish it yesterday. I couldn’t get up from the bed. I haven’t been feeling well last few weeks. A story per day. It is a voice from my heart. I cannot just observe someone overpainting my memories regardless if they are good or bad. Sashiko isn’t anyone’s possession. However, my memories are my own – and everytime I acknowledge ignorance, I stop to fight back in the sorrow. If you have any issues with what I write, read my desperate messages here. Don’t read what you think I would write. I am tired of explaining myself.
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Some say, “Hey, if you are in that much pain, you should stop it (sharing, teaching Sashiko, or business itself)”. I know they mean well, but that is the last knife to end me. Do I have a choice to give up sharing? Privileged people do whatever they want no matter what… so I should just observe them overrunning my culture – and my own memories?
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If you are not willing to learn what Sashiko is to us, stop teaching & calling it Sashiko. (Before you react, read my insight in Cultural Appropriation with Sashiko). I have been screaming for 2 years. I will continue if I cough up the blood. My messages are my life. Do not degrade someone’s life by saying, “It is your choice”. Sashiko isn’t a choice for me. It is my life.
Teaching Sashiko in Western Culture always gives me an opportunity to learn how different we can be. It is the beauty of diversity, and let’s appreciate the difference. You know it by now. I do NOT intend to exclude non-Japanese from Sashiko. I want them/you to enjoy Sashiko. All I am asking is to “learn”. It isn’t always about “Right” or “Wrong”, “True” or “False”. This dualism is already a filtering system in Western Culture. If you think you know about Sashiko without the Japanese cultural/linguistic understanding, then please doubt what you know is enough.
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[Sashiko literally means “Little Stabs”.] is not a wrong statement. However, some well-educated Japanese wonder if it is satisfactory. I shared this concern a few years ago. I am still learning & researching.
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As a native Japanese who spends most of my life in Sashiko, I often wonder “Who is Sashiko for?”. Sashiko doesn’t exist for me, but my life may exist for Sashiko. Sashiko can be a remedy for social issues, but Sashiko isn’t a magic bullet for their temporary needs – with cutting & pasting a “part” of Sashiko. I am happy to share Sashiko for anyone – but Sashiko isn’t just for the Joy of people with privilege.
Are you interested in Sashiko & sightseeing in Japan? If so, the Sashiko Tour Japan Spring 2022 with Tampopo Journey is the all-in-one package tour for you. Sashiko – a form of hand-stitching developed in Japan – has been introduced in English very widely. With some keywords such as “slow-stitching” and “visible mending”, Sashiko has became a trend in crafting & textile field. However, Sashiko is more than just a trend with slow stitching or visible mending. It is a part of Japanese ordinary days, and traveling Japan to visit Sashiko artisans with an active Sashiko artisan (Atsushi) right next to you, will provide the comprehensive expereince of the Sashiko we have been practicing.
With collaborating to Tanpopo Journey, an experienced tour agency, it will be a very unique & comfortable Sashiko Tour Japan to satisfy your expectation & preferneces. I will travel with you to share the Sashiko we have been praciticing. In addition to the Sashiko experience, you will enjoy “tourists” part of Japan. I am happy to share the Sashiko we practice in Japan with visiting many beautiful places & enjoying the delicious Japanese meals.
Two Sashiko Highlights of this Tour
This is very unique tour because Atsushi, a Sashiko artisan & Storyteller, will travel with you in most of the itenary (Atsushi will not visit Kanazawa to prepare the workshop in Takayama). On top of that, we will offer the very special Sashiko Workshops collaborating with our family & friends – Keiko Futatsuya & Otsuchi Sashiko Project. There are many Sashiko Tours to Japan available. However, I can say out-loud, these 2 workshops with Atsushi’s translation & explanation will be available only in this tour.
If you are interested in Japanese Sashiko, and have not yet heard about Otsuchi Sashiko Project, then your understanding of Sashiko in Japan may be filtered (biased). Otsuchi Sashiko Project is one of the “community business” where people apply Sashiko to maintain their economical sustainability. Sashiko has become a form of hobby. Not many people can make ends meet by just doing Sashiko. I respect those who have been trying to revive the Sashiko from history & trying to pass it down to the next generation as a lifework (like me & Upcycle Stitches).
The essnece of Sashiko exists in the ordinary of Japanese culture. For that, Otsuchi Sashiko with trying to keep the economy moving within their project (a form of community business) is the on-going phenomina of Sashiko in Japan.
I will share everything I know about the Otsuchi Sashiko.
Learn about Otsuchi Sashiko Project via Upcycle Stitches
10th year of Otsuchi Sashiko Project (in writing).
Meet Keiko & Learn from her artistry
I say Sashiko isn’t (Fine) Art because the essene of Sashiko existed in the ordinary. The definition of “Art” may bring Sashiko to the extraordinary side, and therefore I have not still yet considered Sashiko as the Art. However, what Keiko makes me think that Sashiko can be an Art. Her Sashiko isn’t traditional (which I will explain why in the tour), yet following the essence & core of Sashiko very much.
With visiting Keiko, we will have a day with Keiko’s workshop – making “Authentic Boro to be” pieces in playing with the fabrics (Both vintage & authentic Japanese fabric).
*We no longer offer the Sashiko Workshop by Keiko. A workshop may be arranged for those who took Atsushi’s Online Class and/or in-person workshop. Even that, due to Covid-19 & her condition, it will most likely “impossible” to offer her workshop. In this Sashiko Tour, I will make sure to be there with her and support her workshops. This is the opportunity to meet Keiko & learn from her (She doesn’t talk English, but I will be there to translate.)
Other Highlights of this tour
Please visit the official page for Sashiko Tour Japan Spring 2022 with Tanpopo journey for the details of itenary. The tour is focused on Sashiko, but it includes many other sightseeing & expereience opportunities as follows.
Welcome dinner & sashiko workshop
Take a tour of the Tsukiji Fish Market and have fresh sushi for lunch
Day-trip to Shirakawago, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Fabric Shopping in Textile Town
Farewell Dinner
Travel Details – Sashiko Tour Japan Spring 2022
Date: May 8 – May 19, 2022 price: $5,999 per person, single occupancy*
what’s included: – Hotels & local transportation – Workshops & demonstrations – Some meals – Guide/interpreter – Transportation to/from hotel on the first/last day of tour – $100 charitable donation to Otsuchi Sashiko Recovery Project (NPO)
what’s not included: – Travel or medical insurance – Flight to/from Japan – Personal spending including: – Shopping, alcohol, laundry, some meals – Online-sashiko workshop / In-person Sashiko Workshop prior to the tour (Prerequisite)
Please imagine that we will go to a Cycling Tour to Japan with planning to visit mahy cycling courses. You would need to learn how to ride a bycicle before the Cycling tour. This Sashiko Tour is operated with the similar idea. We will enjoy a lot of Sashiko stitching in 11 days tour. In those experience, the core technique of “Unshin (Needle Movement)” is a necessary skill to have. The participants do not need to “master” the technique or posture. However, they have to be aware of the idea & technique so that we can practice in the tour.
Some may think that they are experienced in Sashiko. However, unfortunately, I have not met anyone who practice Unshin like we do without taking our Sashiko Class. Therefore, in order to be fair with everyone, the Sashiko Class by Atsushi is prerequisite for this Sashiko Tour Japan.
If you have taken Atsushi’s Workshop (more than 3 hours length), please contact us with the email you took the workshop with. We should have you in the system, and we are happy to welcome you with some follow-ups.
I have made this announcement several times in my other accounts (@upcyclestitches) & website (UpcycleStitches.com). Just in case, right before June 1st, here is the announcement for the Online Sashiko Class.
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Due to the steep increase in Shipping Cost from Japan to the U.S. as well as some inflation, I increased the Online Sashiko Class to $330.00. I set the month of May as the adjusting period, and one may register their workshop with the previous price of $300.00 with agreeing that they will start the workshop sometime in June or later. Also, the waiting list to receive this pricing is available until 5/31.
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The goal of this Online Sashiko Class is to encourage & enable you to be able to stitch as we do. Therefore, it comes with a Live Session for me to check their learning & adjust my teaching to each individual. I set the maximum number of the students per specific period, and I believe the learning can be their life-long benefit. Once they learn it, they can use it for their life-time for their Sashiko. Since I do not plan to go back to an in-person workshop to NYC anytime soon (I may offer something in PA), please consider this Online Sashiko Class to enrich your Sashiko experience. If your goal is to have even stitches with stitching in good speed, this is a great opportunity for you (check our Youtube how we stitch). The link is available from “Story” today.
I had several great feedback on my latest article on Patreon. Another analogy of my fear in “filtering” what Sashiko is – Sashiko & English as a language (it ends up with a long article…)
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[He do not have many furnitures.] Don’t you feel strange? It should be [He does not have a lot of furniture.] in “standard” English. The fear I have in Sashiko is similar to having an English teacher who thinks the first sentence is “correct (a whole picture of)” English. The first sentence may be okay when the teacher uses the sentence on purpose. However, wouldn’t it be a problem (culturally filtering) if the teacher is teaching the (1) is the English, and no one around point it out?
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Language (culture) changes. I agree. I often write, [They does], when I would respect the diversity. It is a change with acknowledgement. However, don’t you feel fear when your language is filtered by someone outside of your culture with ignorance? Without even knowing the standard? This filtering probably happened in the history of “Colonization” but we don’t live in that age now – or do we face colonization when it comes to cultural matters because of the Internet? Again, the change is fine. I am saying the change shouldn’t be made by ignorance.
