Category: Sashiko

It has been almost 7 years since I had encountered this beautiful project: Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko  Project. I sometimes refer this project as “Otsuchi Sashiko”. The official name for the project is  Otsuchi Recovery (Fukko) Sashiko Project (大槌復興刺し子プロジェクト）.

After the earthquake followed by Tsunami on March 11th, 2011, the five volunteers established the project to support the people in Otsuchi, especially those who had nothing to do but sitting in the evacuation shelter. The men had a lot of things to require the muscle power after the disaster. The young generation also had many tasks to revive the infrastructure such as distributing the support goods and clean. However, those who wouldn’t be able to move, mostly elderly women, did not have things to do and had to wait for nothing in the non-private shelter.

Not only the fish (support goods such as food and blankets) but also a fishing rod (a method to make a living).

The project tries to create jobs for those who couldn’t do hard labor outside.

They have been trying to create the community where anyone can gather for the purpose of stitching.

We all then hope that the stitching can be a part of the purposes of their new life after the earthquake.

I, Atsushi, first join the project in June 2011.

Then, visited Otsuchi for an advice on creating a business (creating jobs) in November, then two months in February and March in 2012. Ever since the first day I met the project, I have been thinking what I and Sashiko can do for them.

I had written many articles and reports regarding the Otsuchi Sashiko in English, but I had to give them up when my father passed away and the stakeholders decided to shut down the website. Well, even after the sad reality of me leaving Sashiko behind for while, my mother, Keiko Futatsuya, kept in touch with them. Now, she is the advisor of Sashiko technique and designing in Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project.

I do not find many articles about Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project online in English.

It is my mission to write it down what this amazing and remarkable recovery project is. This is a story of Otsuchi Sashiko throughout my eyes and emotions. The story may be biased a bit, but I believe I am introducing the fact as sincerely and accurately as I can.

Brief History of Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project (OSP)

Otsuchi town was badly damaged by the earthquake followed by Tsunami, including the loss of town hall and the mayor and more than 1,280 of people’s life. The survivors how needed an evacuation shelter by losing their house were more than 9,000 people.

A role for “mothers” and “grandmothers”

In the evacuation shelter, mothers and grandmothers, who were very much hard worker in their own house as a house-maker, didn’t have anything to do. There were no kitchen to cook, no living room to clean, no dishes to wash. Men and young generation could work for the cleaning debris, but the job required a lot of muscle power. Mothers and Grandmothers couldn’t help them even if they wanted to.

No car to commute. No place to work when a big part of the town is damaged by the Tsunami. The days of ladies in Otsuchi, well known for the hard-workers, had changed drastically.

The answers they had come up with was Sashiko, in which requires only a needle, thread, and piece of fabric. The Sashiko was doable in a limited space of the evacuation shelter. The mothers and grandmothers wanted to do “something” instead of just waiting.

One stitch by one stitch with hopes

A vision of OSP

*Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project = OSP

Toward high-spirited Otsuchi

OSP strives to cheer up people in Otsuchi and related to Otcushi throughout the Sashiko Project.

When a mother, who enjoy Sashiko, is happy, the household will be filled with smiles. If the household is filled with smiles, the town of Otsuchi will be energetic. When the town of Otsuchi become energetic, everyone in the town and related to the town will be happy.

Our goal is to contribute to the recovery of the town of Otsuchi.

Tell the value of Hand-made culture

We strongly respect the value of hand-made craft culture with spending so much time and putting the good-heart in it in the era of “speed” and “efficiency (productivity)” with mass-production and mass-information. “Hand-Made Craft” provide us “Care” and “Mindfulness (Mental Wellness)” by thinking of other, and using our own hands.

We actually perform the handmade craft in every day and tell how previous they are throughout the project

We also value these 5 categories throughout the OSP activities

Locality (respect to Otsuchi)

OSP rooted the town of Otsuchi, and try out best to contribute to Otsuchi throughout the project.

Particularity about Hand-Stitching

We are particular about providing the hand-stitching items for those who respect the culture of hand-made crafting. We care of customers and try our best to tell the value of hand-made culture.

Encourage the Self Esteem of artisans

We encourage our artisans (Sashiko-san) to build self-esteem of what they do by providing the opportunity to improve their skill and understandings. We also respect each other who enjoy the hand-made crafting (Sashiko)

Aiming the best continuously

We continuously try our best to improve our technique and product, and we strive to provide the best Sashiko product.

Place & Community

We respect the concept of “community”, the place everyone can gather and socialize. We provide the place where Sashiko-san (the artisans) can gagther, even without any purposes, and then the customer would like to visit to meet them.

OSP Facts

Coming soon. (Confirming the lastest numbers with Otsuchi Sashiko for their 10th anniversary)

Purchase / Support the OSP

Purchase Sashiko Items from OSP

You may purchase Sashiko items, such as workman jacket and bags, that OSP provides at the Sashiko Exhibition including the one in the major department stores. You may contact me (Atsushi) if you have a specific item (or an idea of what you would like to purchase) for the detail. I am happy to provide as much information as possible. Not many products are listed online, but I believe I can provide the good amount of information for an online order.

For example, the bag below is about $350.00 in Total. ($300.00 for the bag plus shipping and handling of $50)

You will receive a card signed by the artisan (Sashiko san) who made the bag. Since everything is hand-made by the individual artisans, each item is completely one-of-a-kind.

Support by Donation to Non-Profit Organization

The OSP is managed by the certified Non-Profit Organization, Terra Renaissance.

If you wish to make a donation to the Otsuchi Sashiko, please contact me (Atsushi) for more detail. I will try to translate and connect you to the appropriate individual in the certified NPO Terra Renaissance. 

Support by purchasing the thread for OSP

Keiko and Atsushi Futatsuya have been supporting the Otsuchi Recovery Sashiko Project by providing the thread (initially free then specially discounted price for the continuously).

Needless to say, Sashiko thread is the key material to make Sashiko products. We have the campaign to ask the general public to purchase the thread for OSP naming “supporting thread” to connect Otsuchi and Takayama (where Keiko is located). If you are interested in this campaign, please contact Atsushi for the detail. (Working on the page for this now.)

More Photos from OSP

I believe you have come to our website to look for the Sashiko Information. The Sashiko information you would like can be an advice on how to do Sashiko appropriately or what is the “right” way to do Sashiko Stitching. I have been receiving many questions regarding “How to do Sashiko”, and I am happy that I have been sharing what I do on Youtube, on this website, and SNS such as Instagram. The comment I made on Youtube Live Streaming on 5/2 was somewhat memorable, and here is my writing about what I truly would like to share throughout Sashiko. No more Judging your Sashiko, and No More Judging what you do.

Answers are Important, but no Judging Your Sashiko

I understand that the comprehensive direction (Answers to your questions) in crafting are very important information. Most of the questions start with either “Should I…” or “Is that okay…” for my answers. I try my best to explain what I share is merely an advise but not the answers. However, I also understand that the audience prefers the solid answers than freedom such as “you can do whatever you want.”

The website and Youtube videos are for you to find the answers to your questions instead of me giving you the solid answer full of my preferences. Once you get the solid answer, you will start judging your Sashiko with saying “This isn’t beautiful enough….” and “What am I doing wrong….”. The judging yourself is a very critical process to get better in most of the art and crafting. However, I sincerely would like to share that the Sashiko is a process of needlework with caring others, not the process of judging your Sashiko Stitching.

A machine does the perfect job. We are human, though

If I only would like to have the perfect Sashiko Stitchings, I may use a machine to make the completely even stitches. Some of the sewing machines have a computer programing built in it, so the result will be perfectly accurate. However, many people enjoy the hand-stitching Sashiko. Why? It is because that the people enjoy not only the result with human-like imperfection but also the process itself.

Since we enjoy the actual stitching, I would like you to focus on the caring part than the judging part. I understand that you cannot stop doing it, but I would like you to try that. Instead of judging how uneven the stitches are, I want you to just observe the stitching and move the next line or next project. The result will be great if you keep doing it with appreciating the process.

The process of Judging is based on the problem-solving society. It is very important to have a critical-thinking-skill to be “successful” in this society. The successful business person will analyze the situation, find the problem to be improved, then solve it. It is the necessary skill to have in business, but not in Sashiko.

Instead of trying to “fix” the problem, I want you to try “observe” it. In fact, I want you to “keep” observing it. One day, you find that not only your stitching but your mind are pretty well-ordered. This is the mindfulness of “Sashiko” and the “Slow-stitching” I call. The stitching itself doesn’t have to be slow. It is silly to just try to be slow on everything. I just want your right brain (very critical skill) to be slow a bit. At least, when you enjoy Sashiko.

When you seek answers, then you will not be mindful.

There isn’t much information you need in Sashiko. Most of them, I already provided in Youtube videos and here. You will find your own answers by being mindful, and that is the Sashiko I would like to develop from the history of Japanese and share in this world.

Grey in the middle of Black and White

Sashiko is(was) a very ordinary needlework for Japanese for the ordinary Japanese people. Therefore, culture of Sashiko is strongly related to the Japanese culture and philosophy. I would like to share many similarities of Sashiko and the Japanese culture.

The people in the 21st century, including myself, would like to categorize the “color” either black or white. After categorizing the difference, we tend to label them. In most cases, these categorization ends in dualism, pretty much “Right (Correct)” or “Wrong (Inaccurate)”.

The Japanese didn’t have the strong influence from the dualism. We believe in something in-between, so like “Grey”, to blur the conclusion. Although it isn’t the best attribute in terms of business, I find it very interesting in Sashiko stitching. Most of the questions regarding “Right Sashiko and Wrong Sashiko” comes from Western culture, not from the Japanese.

I am not saying you have to follow the Japanese philosophy. What I am trying to say here is that Sashiko is not only about stitching, but also the culture behind it. By introducing the Sashiko’s concept, I believe I can contribute to the Japanese culture, and it is the best thing I can do as a Japanese.

*I can think of many other interesting story of Sashiko & Japanese philosophy relationship. I will keep updating this entry. It will be a long one 😀

Are you seeking for “Correct” Sashiko? It is one of the most popular questions on this website. Is my Sashiko correct or wrong? Here is my answer to the long-discussed topic: Correct Sashiko Wrong Sashiko.

About Rules and regulation in Sashiko

I wrote an article about rules and regulations in Sashiko.

There isn’t such a thing as Rules and Regulations in Sashiko. 

I am sorry for saying it, but there isn’t because Sashiko was (is)  too ordinary to Japanese. I understand the human prefer the solid answer than unregulated information. It is always easier to follow rules and manuals than starting from scratch.

The key of Sashiko is to enjoy hand-stitching and appreciate the fabric.

As long as you are following those concepts, I respect you as a Sashiko practitioner. There are techniques, advice, and hints to make Sashiko beautiful and efficient. However, it is not a form of rules telling you “What to do and what not to do.”

An Analogy to Correct Sashiko Wrong Sashiko discussion

Again. I understand that you prefer to have sort of rules to clarify your question of Correct Sashiko Wrong Sashiko. “Do whatever you want” is not a great approach in a process of learning something new. Therefore, I have many tutorials to share how “I” enjoy Sashiko and creates so many Sashiko items in a limited time. I would like to, however, avoid mentioning what is Correct and what is wrong. There is Sashiko I like and Sashiko I do not like. Would it make sense a bit more?

Pizza in American culture would be a good analogy for my understanding of Sashiko.

There are many kinds of Pizza in the United States, and in the world.

There is a Italian style Pizza, Chicago Style Pizza, New York Style Pizza, Frozen Pizza to Delivery Pizza. More and more.

Can you define which is “Correct Pizza” and “Wrong Pizza”? Please do not say that a Frozen Pizza is not a Pizza. I understand that people have the preference. Some people prefer deep dish Chicago pizza, and the other people may like cheap junky taste pizza.

Pizza is too ordinary for us to categorize what is Pizza and NOT.

Sashiko is(was) like this Pizza for the Japanese in the past. The ordinary Japanese, especially those who were in the poor region, performed Sashiko and each village, each family in the village, each family member in the family, had their original Sashiko.

Sashiko is merely a form of stitching

Sashiko Art items are so beautiful. I agree with that.

The people found the beauty in the repetitive stitching and its simplicity. They found the value in the concept behind Sashiko and its products such as Boro.

However, Sashiko is merely a form of stitching.

It is free to collaborate with any other textile culture, Art, and anything you can think of. For that matter, the reader of this article has more possibility than I do because my imagination in Sashiko is very limited to the traditional (and sometimes referred authentic) Sashiko.

I sincerely believe that Keiko (Sashi.Co & Keiko Futatsuya) is a genius in Sashiko field.

Regardless of her 30+ years of experience in Sashiko field, she can create something new with the concept of Sashiko & its technique. If you are wondering what Sashiko is… and concerened with the discussion of Correct Sashiko Wrong Sashiko, please visit Keiko for her Sashiko items. They will clear all of the questions and motivate you to enjoy Sashiko more and more.

The previous article about Sashiko Rules.

Sashiko Rules | Right & Wrong in Sashiko Stitching?