I have never had any education in Art. If they call me an artist, what I do is Outside Art. My understanding of Art is extremely limited (I am learning little by little). Being said, does Art justify a creation over someone’s pain? A cultural pain has to be suppressed by ignorance if one shouts, “It is Art ”?
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“Inspired” is a very scary word. It can be respectful. Also, it can be a ticket to destroy the culture. A video of “artist using a rotary sander for their “Sashiko/Boro” work keeps bothering me. One may say, “the art inspired by Boro (how it looks like)”. How about the culture & stories behind how it looks? What if the newbie thinks it is Boro to “damage” the fabric on purpose? People made Boro because they didn’t have a choice but to have damaged fabric. Damaging fabric on purpose for the “looks” is completely opposite of Boro.
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I am NOT saying “distressed fabric” is all wrong. It can be a part of Fashion & Art. I respect the challenge & their preference. However, then, why do they call it Sashiko/Boro? What are they inspired by? Are they so shallow & ignorant to use foreign words to get attention & more customers? If so, then it is degrading. We believed a spirit in fabric – and therefore we could make Boro.
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If you read this, and worried if you are a part of this, you are NOT. Don’t worry. The people I fear like above intentionally ignore my voice. Please, please help me to spread the voice. If a customer stops supporting these ignorance, they will move onto something different to make money. Sashiko/Boro isn’t a marketing term for non-Japanese.
When you are willing to pour more tea, first empty your cup. This is a very famous Zen-teaching. What I share may sound philosophical, but in reality, they are very practical. If you want to make the even stitches, do not try to stitch. Filling the “answers” requires a lot of concentration, and we can only keep concentrated for a limited time. Therefore, try not to concentrate.
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In a process of translation in Sashiko, the “result” or “appearance” or “technique” of Sashiko were somewhat introduced in other languages. Unfortunately, not many people translated the core & essence of Sashiko. Therefore, I say, the Sashiko in English today isn’t wrong, but insufficient. Something very important is missing.
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Our society today focuses on “results”. What we made is much more important than why we made it. Therefore, many ask for How we make them. Why do you “choose” to hand-stitch in today’s society where you can use sewing-machine? And Why do you call it “Sashiko”? (Please read/watch my view of Cultural Appropriation before you react.)
I am NOT sharing Sashiko Stories to change someone’s view. Sharing stories is the method of sharing a different perspective to the majority group. After all, the goal of sharing the Sashiko stories is to pass down the Sashiko with as few “cultural changes” as possible.
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We live in a society ruled by the Law. I am grateful to embrace our life under the law instead of being dominated by dictators. However, we are human with ethics & emotions outside of the law & logic. Sashiko is one of those – in order to fully understand what Sashiko is, continuous learning in Japanese ethics, courtesy, philosophy, and how the “legal system” was developed in Japan would be very important. It is almost impossible to learn them without mastering the Japanese language. Therefore, I am sharing as many stories as possible. I am not here to change how they look at Sashiko. I am here to share that the Sashiko they think they know are probably insufficient. Sashiko is easy, but not shallow – years of layers of their (our) days.
Slowly, I am getting calmed after the 3-days workshop in FL. I enjoyed it very much. However, it was very challenging for me to prepare it under Covid, for the first 3-days workshop. I guess the accurate description would be “I’m relieved”, and it took about a week to relax.
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I will go back to teaching Online again. At the same time, I hope I can start “selling” some items to achieve another goal that I had started. I end up not being able to advertise what we offer/sell in this account by focusing on Sashiko Stories. Please follow our business account, @UpcycleStitches for the pricing & what is available now. Some new Items, some new colors are waiting for my time to make their debut.
This is the same Jacket in yesterday’s post. A bit different angle. Have you realized that this jacket has no “knots”? It is a single layered Jacket. What’s in the photo is mostly the “inside (hiding side)” of the Jacket. In Sashiko, the Japanese didn’t have the luxury to cover the “wrong side” with lining fabric. However, they wanted both sides to be as “clean” as possible, at least on the garment. This Jacket is made in 2021, appreciating the technique & wisdom we have received – with the same idea. No knots & making both sides of fabric as neat as possible.
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There is nothing wrong if you decide to make knots in Sashiko. However, asserting that “the (whole) Sashiko uses knots to hold the stitches” is insufficient. I often read/hear, “It is Art, so we should celebrate the beauty before how it’s supposed to be” . Well… it is a true statement, but it can be only valid when this person “can do” all the techniques & and then understand the culture behind it. Otherwise, it is a form of “Innocent Happiness”. Another example of excusing themselves from learning with favoring the “Artist Taste”. They are washing off the Japaneseness from the word Sashiko/Boro… and I should be quiet? No, it is time to speak up. It may be too late, but I need to speak up so that they may “reconsider” what they are doing.
What I say may be painful to some of you. I do not change what I say based on who I am talking to. I do not sweet-talk for profit or other convenience. No matter how many people find what I say “annoying”, I will keep writing, sharing, and speaking up – or even fighting against ignorance. If you aren’t Japanese (don’t use the Japanese in ordinary), Sashiko isn’t your culture. It is perfectly fine to enjoy Sashiko regardless of who you are. I welcome everyone to enjoy Sashiko together. However, please know that their “innocent happiness” or “artistic taste” may be hurting someone severely. My “annoying” message comes from my real pain. I am tired of being suppressed by superficial joy or “freedom over someone’s sacrifice”, created by people who constantly ask for validation.
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Some may say I am arrogant. Well, no, I am just being honest. If you consider “honest” as “arrogant”, then you are probably in a privileged group or never experienced to be in the “suppressed side”. Minority speaking up honestly is considered arrogant or aggressive – that may be the foundation of Cultural Appropriation and Filtering. Sashiko isn’t just trend or marketing phrase for what they do.
In some fields, the “age” limits one’s possibility. For example, no matter how hard I wish, I won’t be a professional soccer player at my age. In another field, anyone “can” be a professional regardless of the age, but it requires an unbelievable amount of time to practice – like a pianist. Just watching the pianist playing the piano on Youtube won’t make one a pianist. In other fields, one may not need that much time to be professional, like Sashiko. A few years with good guidance can make one “professional” level. I have seen them to be as good as the professionals. Crafting (on the table with hands moving) can be “taught” pretty easily in comparison to other fields. One doesn’t need that much time to be good at (in comparison). However, it doesn’t mean that the culture is shallow. There is a place where only those who spend so much time can reach – it is just a place where we cannot explain with words. Therefore, it is very important to ask the practitioners to know who they are learning from. Does your teacher know the “place”? Or at least, does the teacher know the people who have reached the place? Sashiko is easy. Anyone can enjoy it. By just copying what to do, anyone can make a similar thing – and I recommend copying it by watching our Youtube. However, please know there are more than that before teaching. Otherwise, the culture will be oversimplified by someone outside of the culture. It is so sad and I need to speak up to prevent it.
It is my sincere pleasure to share the plan of Sashiko Japan Tour in 2022. I cannot believe I have not been back to Japan for more than 7 years. Last year, in October 2020, I had planned to visit Japan with my Sashiko friends as Sashiko Japan Tour 2020. However, due to the pandemic, I had to cancel the whole trip. Although the global pandemic is not over yet, with proper vaccination, I sincerely hope that we can travel internationally again. In 2022, we have one Sashiko Japan Tour already planned throughly, and another Sashiko Japan Tour which is still in a stage of brain-storming (asking for preferences). In order to avoid confusion, I would like to explain the difference here.
Focuses on Sashiko Japan Tour
The focus & theme of Sashiko Japan Tour is, of course, Sashiko and its related topics such as Boro, Kofu (vintage fabrics) and other hand-stitching culture in Japan. The 2 tours planned for 2022 has different itenary to fulfill everyone’s preference. I hope this article will be helpful to decide.
Sashiko Tour with Upcycle Stitches (Sometimes in Sep/Oct in 2022 / About 10 days / No Link Yet)
*I receive many request to arrange the workshop in Japan. We are very limited to do so currently. Joining the tour is the best way to get the workshop by Both Keiko & Atsushi. (Article about Sashiko Workshops in Japan).
If you are interested, please fill out the Google Form so that I can follow-up with your preferences.
This will be a very well-organized tour to Japan with focusing on Sashiko & other textiles. Koshiki Smith, the organizer & travel guilde is very well experienced in the travel in Japan, and everything will be arranged by her. I will be in charge of the workshops related to Sashiko and Boro, and some other small lectures & small-talks in the trip.
The Sashiko Tour I had planned in 2020 was very “Sashiko & textile-Focused” tour. Since the idea was to bring my Sashiko friends to Japan, there wouldn’t be any “sight-seeing” opportunities (unless the participants plan it for themselves before or after the tour). This Sashiko Tour with Tanpopo Journey includes many sight-seeing opportunities on top of the core Sashiko experience. Please check their website for the details.
The highlight of this tour would be:
Several Sashiko/Boro Workshops in the Trip, including one with Keiko
Visiting Otsuchi to meet Sashiko artisans there, where they changed Atsushi completely.
Comprehensive understanding of the Sashiko Atsushi has been practicing.
Many other Sight-seeing opportunities
Other craft workshops availability
Well orgnized trip with 2 translator (Koshiki & Atsushi).
To be honest, I cannot promise that I will make this tour happen in the Fall 2022. Depends on the pandemic situation, I may need to postpone it again. However, I am determined to make it happen. If not Fall 2022, then Spring 2023. If not Spring 2023, then Fall 2023. (Winter & Summer are not the ideal time to travel for Sashiko – too snowy or too humid).
The concept is very simple: To “Go Back” to Japan where Atsushi like(d) & live(d). I will be solo-organizer for this trip, and I do not plan to hire a travel agency for this trip. For that matter, a “tour” may not be the best description. However, I will make the itenary and will prepare all of the necessary reservations. The participants will not need to do anything but keep stitching. It will be very “experienced-focus” workshop with Sashiko, Boro, Kofu and Dyeing (the Sashiko thread/fabrics). Therefore, there will not be any sightseeing opportunity.
It also requires the participants to know me first. If this is the first time for you to meet me, I will arrange several Online Meeting opportunities & ask to complete some reading materials. I may not be able to help everyone for their translation as they needed. Therefore, if you are traveling to Japan for the first time, I strongly recommend joining the Sashiko Tour with Tanpopo Journey above. If you are comfortable to be alone at some point of the tour in Japan and not interested in sightseeing so much, this is the tour for you (You can, of course, arrange the sightseeing option before & after the workshop. I will help you as much as I can).
The highlight of this tour would be:
A few days Sashiko & Boro workshop with Keiko in Takayama.
A possible Natural Dye Workshop (Not confirmed & still negotiating).
A lot of time in stitching & experiencing.
A longer time to stay in one place – the feeling of living there (less traveling)
Date: About 10 days in September or October in 2022
Price: $5,499 per person, single occupancy (Estimate / We may stay in a house together such as AirBnB).
*If you have signed up for the Sashiko Japan Tour 2020 that I had planned, please expect the same itenary & contents. The price may go up due to the steep inflation, but I will be honest to what we can do.
*If you have trusted me & supported me by letting me to keep the deposit for Sashiko Japan Tour 2020, the deposit can be applied to either tour. Please contact me for the details.
The more I share about the Sashiko Story, the more I realize I have a lot more to offer. 20 hours of talking about Sashiko while stitching in FL. I worried if I would run out of topics to talk about. In reality, I feel I could have shared more (which I am glad I didn’t because I would have overwhelmed the participants). So, in order to share the whole picture, not only the essence but also the stories around, I would need more than 3 days. Or I would need to ask them to keep reading what I have been sharing here and there.
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In 2022, for the first time, I will join a tour to Japan focusing on Sashiko & Boro. My role is to share the Sashiko we have been practicing & apply it to Boro and other Sashiko. In this time, I will have 7~10 days to share what Sashiko is for us. In numbers of meals, after meals, in transit, before going to bed-room, in the official workshops, I will be there sharing stories & answering to your questions with almost no limitation. The Tour is planned from May 8th to 19th in 2022 (Price: $5,999 per person, single occupancy). If you are interested, please DM so that I can navigate you to register for your seat. I am so excited to this journey to share the Sashiko we practice in Sashiko where I have received it.
In 2017, when I first received an offer to teach Sashiko, I wasn’t sure what to teach. I thought all of what I could do was “normal” for many people. After teaching Sashiko for 4 years, I realize I have received a pile of treasure – a lot to share. More than the amount that I could keep sharing for 3 days, yet the students were a bit overwhelmed by the amount.
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For me 30+ years of listening to the stories, stitching (reluctantly), and watching top artisans. For Keiko, 40 years of enjoying Sashiko. I “can” offer “quick techniques”, but when one asks for “quickness”, they won’t get the core of what we do. What we do (Sashiko) cannot be summarized into a class or a book. If you do not understand Japanese as Language, please be careful when you assert a phrase in Sashiko / Boro. Sashiko may not be “Little Stabs”. Therefore, I keep sharing the stories. Boro isn’t only about visible mending, and Sashiko is more than just stitching. Anyone can enjoy Sashiko – but when it comes to “teaching”, understanding the Japanese culture becomes very fundamental to avoid unnecessary twists & filtering in culture. I do not want anyone to destroy the culture we cherish.
