January 08, 2022 at 02:09PM

I learned that the “teaching” requires very specific skill set. Teaching requires skill. Learning also requires skill. One important quality of a good teacher is an ability to see the participants “Learning Skill (or Condition)”. We all have different expectations, preferences, and understandings in learning. In today’s society, “just telling in one direction” will not complete the “teaching”, especially to adults. For that, I am proud of my achievements in the last 4 years of my teaching. The more I offer the workshop, the better I get in teaching. All of the workshop is, for me, a one-time shot. Therefore, I get nervous. Well, I am happy that I am nervous (I will stop teaching when I do not get nervous). For that, I am serious in Sashiko — A side note. Because of my seriousness & nervousness to my workshop/classes, some workshop organizers didn’t enjoy my almost “compulsive” preparation request. Well, my goal is to pass down the Sashiko to a person who wants to learn, not to please someone around.

Anyhow. This is another weekend of me teaching Sashiko. I enjoy sharing Sashiko Stories here. When I teach “Sashiko” to someone, it gets more “comprehensive” because of the “teaching skill” I have been developing. It is okay that one learns Sashiko casually from me, but being serious in “teaching identity my life with Sashiko. Serious doesn’t mean strict or scary to students. Strict to myself.

Online Sashiko Class & In-Person 3 Days comprehensive workshops in FL are available for Jan. 2022. Join us to see what Sashiko is for us. You will see another side of “Sashiko”.





実は今週末、かなり緊張するワークショップが入っています。オンラインなのですが、ある意味では一発勝負というものです。僕が個人で普段運営しているワークショップは、自分の時間の費やせる範囲で募集をかけているので、基本的に「できるまでサポートしまっせ」という体制です。もちろん緊張はするのですが、「ミスや誤解、ご不満な点をいつでも取り返せる」というのは大きな安心感の一つです。対面だと、第六感を使いまくって言葉に出てこない不満な点を見つけ出して事前に誤解が大きくなる前にカバーできたりするのですが、オンラインだとそれもなかなかに難しい(不可能じゃないけどね)。

手の動き。針の動き。筋肉の緊張具合。指の角度。数え切れない程の細かい点を、目が痛くなるほどモニター越しに確認して、学んでくれている人が「苦しい」と感じている所を察して動く。刺し子を本格的に教えだして4年ですが、教える技術は相当上がったなと思っています。それだけ本気出し、それだけ命削ってますからね(笑)

日本語&オンラインでも刺し子の運針をお教えすることは可能です。興味を持って頂ける方はプロフィールのリンクから「刺し子運針会」についての詳細をご覧頂けると幸いです!

#Sashiko #SashikoWorkshop #SashikoClass #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #運針 #刺し子クラス


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January 06, 2022 at 08:29PM

When I ask the question, “What do you like about Sashiko?”, one frequent reply is about “relaxing, healing, soothing, and calming”. Yes, indeed, Sashiko is comforting. Since it is your foreign word, I want you to keep digging, though. Why is Sashiko so calming? There are 2 angles: (1) the practice itself as simple stitching and (2) something we don’t know how to explain, but exists. (1) is understandable. (2) is the missing part in Sashiko in English.

Do you know the word “Reiki”? According to Wiki, it is a form of energy healing. In my understanding, this definition is based on the “Western Reiki” that many respecting people structured as a “therapy” that anyone can learn. There are many Japanese people in Japan who practice this Western (Seiyou) Reiki. Due to a gift I received, I have many friends in this field as well. Why do Japanese practice “Western Reiki” though?

Because “Reiki” itself is(was) quite ordinary for the Japanese people. Verbalized or not, Japanese culture is applying this ordinary to our daily activities, even today. For us, Reiki is a “something invisible but exists” from spirits and Nature. Without this “expectation”, one won’t enjoy the Ghibli movie fully.

That “something (Let’s say Reiki here)” often comes from the hands (palms). Sashiko is often stitched by hand, spending so much time and “praying” in it. What if one naturally puts “Reiki” into stitching? Isn’t the Jacket one stitch becoming clothing with healing energy? This is one of many explanations why I gaze at the Sashiko stitching I like. It happens to non-Sashiko handcrafting. It isn’t only Japanese culture. Yet, when we talk about “something invisible” related to Japan, then I believe we need to keep learning what Sashiko is for Japanese people to fully understand it. I really hope one day you can touch what we make: you will find “something” is there. (The In-person workshop in FL still has some open spots. Waiting list for QuiltCon 2022.)





金曜日は配信の日です。お昼は英語で。夜は日本語で。配信でもご紹介しようとは思うのですが、今年の「刺し子な福袋」、一部まだ、お求め頂けるようです!ストーリーの「刺し子な福袋」からの詳細にてご検討頂けたら幸いです。3日までにご注文頂いたぶんは全て発送済みです。ご購入された方でご感想や質問等ありましたらDMかコメント下さいませ〜。僕も写真を恵子さんにお願いしてみます。

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January 05, 2022 at 10:24PM

I have one powerful, yet scary, question that I have been thinking for 2 years or so. The answer to the question will explain a lot of the current situation. My goal is to pass down the Sashiko we practice: I choose a vehicle to do so by Sharing Sashiko Stories. The question may identify how far the trend of Sashiko had gone (or how close it still stays) – 言葉の一人歩き – the word may have been wandring off… or even gone off. The question will clarify a lot for me.

There is no such a thing as “Right and Wrong” to this question. I do not judge any answers because that’s how they feel, react, understand, and accept. One may cause the Cultural Appropriation, but the series of C/A repaint the original color – which I need to speak up for. This question is like a diagnosis for me. Therefore, I am so scared of asking this. But, I decided to stand up and gather courage.

The Question is: “What do you like about Sashiko?”. I will try to talk about it on tomorrow’s Live Streaming, starting at 9 pm EST on Youtube.

For us, Sashiko is… umm. The Jacket Keiko made in 2015 would probably explain a bit without words?





2015年の恵子さんの作品です。恵子さんの遊び心に、「遊び心」と名付けた頃の作品です。「これは刺し子なの?」と聞かれると、ふむ〜と考え込み、「あ、でも刺し子は好きです」と答える恵子さんの出発地点です。

日本生まれの日本育ちという、ある意味での「特権」から移民になって、一層自分を大切にするようになりました。大袈裟に言ってしまえば、失ったからこそ理解できた特権です。基本人間は、想像のできる範囲で、あるいは快適に思い浮かべることができる範囲で物事を理解しようとします。想像を超えた場合は現実から目を背けるか、どうしても目を逸らせない場合は物事そのものを無理に「快適な型」にはめ込もうとします。良い悪いの話ではなく、そういう社会に生きている……というお話です。

その「視点の違い」を確認する時に、正解だの間違いだのという二元論を持ち出すと、相手の本質を見る前に仲違いしてしまう場合があります。逃げることに躊躇ない(あるいは逃げていると認識していない)現代人において、一度逃げると決めると修復は大変です。ではどうやって「話している相手がどれだけ違うのか」を確認するのか。それは、「○○(共通テーマ)のどこが好き?」という質問です。僕であれば、「刺し子のどこが好きですか?」と。この問いに対して頂くご返答に正解も間違いもありません。様々な回答が想像できます。同時に「違い」もわかるし、逆に「見知らぬ同士」を見つけることもできます。

このテーマ、実はずーっと隠してきました(笑)トランプで言えばジョーカー的な質問なんです。日本語で問うと、僕の勉強しなければいけない課題が増えます(笑)。英語で問うと、落胆してしまうかもしれない。投げ出してしまうかもしれない。両言語においてリターンもリスクも大きすぎて、これまで言葉にはしてきませんでした。でも、敢えて2022年はこれを使い倒します。配信でのテーマにも登場します。「貴方はなぜ、刺し子が好きなのですか?」(日本語での回答に間違いも正解もなく、また僕が批判的になることはないとお約束します。それが例え「注目を浴びられるから」というものであっても)。

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January 04, 2022 at 09:01PM

I am glad to see the beauty of Sashiko inspires many people. Yes, it is beautiful. Have you ever thought of why Sashiko can be so beautiful or inspiring? Since I had decided to speak up, many people tried to define “What Sashiko is” based on “How it looks”. Sure, the design can be unique… but is “that” unique? There isn’t such a thing as “Sashiko Patterns”. We have just the “(Japanese) Geometric Pattern” we use often in Sashiko.

For me, the beauty of Sashiko exists in the practice & the ordinary. The ordinary is a series of our own stories. The collection of the ordinary becomes the “culture”. Therefore, I am speaking up. Focusing on “How it looks outside” for the showing-purpose or Artistry is an important part of Sashiko, but it doesn’t explain the whole. It is okay to have “outside (Tatemae) and inside (Honne)”, yet one has to be (able to be) mindful of that. Not taking care of the back of fabric (clothing) saying “Oh, no one can see it so we don’t have to take care of that” is not following the Sashiko you may find “it” beautiful.

There are so many stories of why. There are reasons for the Geometric Pattern, and I have probably shared it in this account somewhere (or on Patreon…?). The “why” create the “technique”, and that’s what I teach in my Class. The superficial technique without “why” may be just an excuse not to learn. Sashiko is extremely easy and simple, but not shallow or superficial. The photo is inside of the Jacket I had shared yesterday. Keiko’s work. She decides what is “showing” and “hiding”, with stories.





ここ米国ではクリスマスが一番の「休暇」の盛り上がりで、年末年始はおまけみたいな感じです(笑)なので、学校も仕事も3日の月曜日からフル回転。休み中は妻に頼って仕事を増やしていたのですが、これからは主夫業も大切な役割になります。家事だけで一日潰れる事もあるよね(どうやってみんな時間作ってるんだろう)。慣れも必要なので、少しずつ刺し子のお話も増やしていけたらと思っています。恵子さんの、日本の日銭を稼ぐ仕事にも、もう少し手を差し伸べたいんですよね。そんな余裕が僕にあるかどうかは別話なのですが(笑)良いものは作れるんです。でも「商売」は下手。だからこそ余計に……ね。

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January 03, 2022 at 05:29PM

“You need to speak up your ideas?” – in my college time, “speaking up in the class” was one of the most challenging things to do. As you can see now, I improved a lot by following this American culture. Often, Japanese are criticized as “quiet” people. I believe it is true. However, it doesn’t mean that we are empty inside. The language is designed to share mutual expectations in communication, and therefore, we can communicate without words among “same” people.

Then, how do we communicate without words and definition? Well, in my understanding, it is “mutual understanding based on Japanese Culture”. Crane. A symbol of Longevity and Happy Marriage (often interpreted as good health and Happy Family). Most Japanese know it by just “living” in Japan. We don’t have to verbalize the meaning of “Crane”, yet it can be something new & unique for non-Japanese.

I really want everyone to enjoy Sashiko. However, Sashiko is full of these “(non-verbal) mutual understanding”. I am verbalizing one by one via sharing Sashiko Stories. Please learn instead of teaching me “what Sashiko is”. Sashiko introduced in English isn’t wrong, but insufficient.





恵子さんと一緒に、刺し子と真剣に向き合うようになって8年の月日が経ちました。「最後まで自分の人生を刺し子に」と決めてから5年。沢山のご縁を頂いて、様々な思いを形にしてきましたが、原点は恵子さんの刺し子に対する興味であり、また刺し子を通した「私達が好きな人へ届けたい願い」です。僕も恵子さんも厳しいことはほとんど言いません(笑)。針目が揃っていようが揃っていまいが、そこに「人間味」があれば、とても興味深く拝見します。そんな恵子さんの刺し子への興味を一言で表した言葉が「遊び心」であり、僕が抱くようになった願いが「居場所」です。ぶっちゃけ形にはなったし、大きく広げる必要も最優先事項ではないのですが、「自由を叫んで本質を捻じ曲げる」可能性がある今、やっぱり僕の仕事は残っているんだろうと思います。

刺し子は本来自由であるべきです。……というか、自由です。答えなんて無い。その「答えなんて無い」が本質で、自由を目指す為に作られたルールに縛られるのは、滑稽だし本末転倒なのです。でも、自由を叫ぶ人ほど、仕組みやルールが好きだったりします。だからこそ、言語化された言葉も必要なんだろうと思います。理想は、僕たちの刺し子を見て頂いて理解して頂くことですが、その「見る」ことすら、色眼鏡を掛けてしまうと全く違う色になってしまうのでね。

染め抜かれた鶴と刺し子。愛とかLOVEだとか、言葉にするのは苦手な日本人。だからこそ、模様に願いを、意味を、そして祈りを込めたんだろうと思います。6年前の恵子さんのこの刺し子を見て、ふと立ち止まって、嬉しくなったんです。これまで頂いたご縁を省みる中で、「あぁ(僕があの時に描いた)刺し子は残るんだろうな」と、ふと実感できたから。「変化しながら守る」というのはとても大変なことですが、でも「何を守ればいいか」分かった時、不可能から可能になります。今年も目一杯の一年になりそうです。

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January 01, 2022 at 08:04PM

I realize what I am trying to do is extremely difficult to achieve in todays’ society. I am asking the audience to be mindful in learning where awesome free(cheap)-entertainment is available everywhere in every minute. It is like asking one to eat the chunky, plain, and ugly looking vegetable while soft, sugarly-sweet and colorful candy is available for free unlimitedly in front of them.

Being mindful requires incredible brain power. Our consciousness needs to keep convincing the brain to choose “what is best” for us. We live in a society where simulation is everywhere made by experts & geniuses. For me, marketing is the incredible achievement of human activity – like programming to tell our brain what to do, yet can be harmful when it comes to “Cultural Sustainability”.

One of the tricks we really have to realize, or probably the fact I finally need focusing on is, that “One has to DO it to really enjoy it”. There are Tons of contents available with both free & paid. Movies, Tutorials, MasterClass, you name it. Most of them are great entertainment. The issue is, though, no one can be a master by just watching it. We know that we do not become a professional cellist by just watching Yo-Yo Ma talk about it. His teaching is extremely valuable, but one has to actually practice to play “Cello” to be like him. Or, put the expectation to play the Cello like him aside, and enjoy his music.

For some reasons, in Sashiko, some think that they can be a Great Sashiko Artisans by just watching the video without practicing it. One has to “Stitch” to get the core & essence. I understand that many of my audience are here for the “technique”. Therefore, the most of the questions I receive is “how to”. They gotta “stitch” instead of looking for the comfortable information – ideally the way the Japanese practice(d) if they want to call it Sashiko, not by someone’s interpretation or marketing.

I see the sweet candy, too. But, I will resist it, to keep my dignity and identity. It is my resolution in 2022, and has been the same since 2019.

今年も変わらず、愚直に信念を突き通していく所存です。続ければ続ける程、とんでもない無理難題に挑戦していることに気がつくのですが、諦めるという選択肢はありません。(日本語でのご説明も頑張ります!)

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December 31, 2021 at 10:03AM

Last day of 2021. So many Sashiko Stories so far, and toward the future.

There are (of course) reasons why I keep “writing stories” instead of switching everything to Reel or Youtube. I understand Short Videos are strong to deliver the message. However, what I ultimately need to do is NOT message delivery: Delivering the message is just a vehicle. The Destination is to pass down the Sashiko we practice.

Reading (Stories) is Good. Can you guess Why (many answers)? For me, it is good because reading can tell us what our own “expectations (form of thinking)” are like. In reading, we usually encounter the moment of “YES!!”, “Ah-ha”, “W-T-F”, “No Way”, “Never thought of that” and so on. Reading is not only for acquiring new knowledge. Reading can visualize who we really are & who we want to be. I would like to share the opportunities for us to “be mindful about our choice” by going through those “moving moments” in sharing stories.

It requires us to “move our hands” and “chew” to see what we are eating. Unfortunately, what is popular in Sashiko now is something “spoon-fed” and “smashed” already. When it is brought by someone’s hand & pureed, it is difficult to understand to see the full picture of what we are intaking. It is okay to be spoon-fed the pureed food, but they need to trust the one who helps them. Do they even know who is spoon-feeding them? That’s where my fear comes from (issue with innocent ignorance and intentional indifference).

I won’t change my style no matter what happens. My life became much easier when I realized my fate, although what I have now is much less than before. I want you to enjoy Sashiko – the Sashiko you will find, not modified or filtered by someone based on their convenience. I hope you have a great New Year Day!





大晦日の配信もお付き合い頂きありがとうございました。日本は新年。あけましておめでとうございます。ここ米国はもう半日。これからは家族の時間を過ごします。おせち作っても誰も食べてくれないので、今年はあんぱん祭りにします(あんこは作った)。

何も変わらず刺し子を伝えていければと思っています。引き続き応援頂けたら嬉しいです。何か刺し子で僕ができることがあれば遠慮なく連絡下さい!(写真はやっぱり運針会の皆様と作ったジャケットで!)

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December 30, 2021 at 01:43PM

I often receive a request to share my idea for Cultural Appropriation (C/A). I am still learning about C/A, and nowhere close to the “expert”. However, as the one who experiences it now, I am sharing my honest feelings. The simplest point is “Acknowledgement”, not right or wrong, while many talk about the “Fairness” in C/A.

We can probably summarize one part of the issue of C/A like this: “One [appropriating] the culture that they do not belong to for their profit”. Some think that “applying the cultural perspective itself is the issue”, but I do not think like that: therefore, I say, anyone can(should) enjoy Sashiko regardless, as long as they acknowledge the stories behind it. How about profit? Many think it is the issue to make money by using foreign culture. To be honest, I am okay with that. Even if one decides to make money out of Sashiko/Boro with no connection to Japan, I won’t be in pain so much, “AS LONG AS THEY ACKNOWLEDGE the stories behind it”. We all have to make ends meet, and it is important to think about the profit if one wants to spend that much time in one practice.

“Innocent Ignorance” is one issue in C/A. However, there are much worse cases: It is “Intentional Indifference”. If you learn Sashiko from non-Japanese sources (in English), please doubt what they teach. They aren’t wrong, but insufficient (filtered with their own understanding & limited source). Usually, Japanese will not say that they know the whole thing – the more they know about the topic, the less they feel confident. When one says they know it enough, that can be “Intentional Indifference”.

“The Stories behind the Culture” aren’t only about the past. It can be happening right now. One “Appropriate” Culture in privilege (Ability of Speaking English is one privilege) can harm someone in the Culture. I have seen that, and I do not want it to be repeated. I guess that’s why I am spending so much energy on this.

Sashiko Live in English is scheduled tonight. I may talk about it more there.





久々に英語の投稿が長くなりました。大晦日の夜、金曜日なので刺し子配信です。そこでまたご紹介できれば良いなと。まだ仕事終わりにはしないよー。配信終わりで仕事納めです。って、仕事と趣味の境目なんてなくて、全て生き様晒してるだけですけどね(笑)。また今夜に。

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December 28, 2021 at 09:24PM

While I see photos of people going on vacation, I stay at home & stitch (My wife needs to work on-call so we cannot travel at these times). Stitch & Read. Think & Learn. As much as I would like to take my daughter to “theme park & beach” in winter, I want her to see what her father does. I am making a book-mark with fabric scrap and clipped thread. We need to work to our ends meet, and I believe it is a good thing to be “wanted” in this crazy world.

Sashiko in English, unfortunately, the main focus is “How they look (as a result)”. Therefore, they care for the rules and how good they can stitch. Traditional vs modern patterns are their concerns. However, the core of Sashiko is more than the technique & result. If their goal is to “mimic” how Sashiko looks, any information is good: however, they shouldn’t teach Sashiko as their speciality. If they are serious in learning enough to teach others, they need to learn more.

There aren’t many good books translated into English. More accurately, some books are translated but I feel something is “missing” or “filtered”. One book, however, “The Unknown Craftsman” by Yanagi is very well written by a great artist/potter, Bernard Leach. It isn’t about Sashiko specifically, but it is more educational than any other books talking about “how to”. If you are looking for a book for this winter, this is my recommendation.





はぎれとあまり糸で簡単な栞を作るようにしています。少し溜まってきたのでご紹介を兼ねて本棚に目を走らせて、ふと、柳宗悦氏の本の英語版「The Unknown Craftsman」が目に入ったので、少し読み返してみました。

基本的に翻訳というのは、その翻訳者の能力に依存すると思っています。どれだけ素晴らしい本でも、翻訳者が意図を汲み取れないと、なかなかにキツイ読み物になってしまうのです。その点、この本は素晴らしい英語での説明です。それもそのはず、民藝運動の中にいたバーナード・リーチ氏が”Adapt”をしている本なのです。

日本の当たり前を英語にすることは、本当に本当に難しいです。それが文化的なものであれば尚更。刺し子をしたことがない人に刺し子についての本を翻訳してもらうのは大変です。だからこそ……なんでしょうね。伝えたいのは生活の中にある美という当たり前なのですが。

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December 27, 2021 at 08:08AM

All I am doing is to be “the someone” I wanted to have when I was a child.

Everyone has their own challenges. In this society, sometimes, “What one has” doesn’t define happiness, and so was my childhood. “How much we have” is important to dodge unfortunate events, but they are all relative to the ongoing situation and “others”. In Sashiko, I am privileged, but I never “wanted” to learn Sashiko. I had to learn to survive. It came with consequences, and I often suffer from it, too, yet I feel the (unwanted) responsibility.

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”. Spiderman – A quote I learned in English in my youth. I do have great responsibility in Sashiko. In this society, “English” as a language is one form of Great Power. If one speaks English, the wall of the culture surviving globally gets lower. If not, the culture may be buried, or worse, it may be repainted to a completely different color. Therefore, I speak up as a Japanese person who practices Sashiko today. Please keep learning. I am not the one who gives you candy (comfort), but I can be the one who gives you the wisdom (answer) you may be looking for (subconsciously). Stop trying to find a comfortable place with words by saying “inspired” or “style”. It doesn’t excuse one from Cultural Appropriation unless they try to understand the Essence. It means, though, when they try to learn the essence, it can avoid Cultural Appropriation. Doubt your “expectation”. Sashiko is a simple & easy form of stitching, but it is much more than that.

When one (you) wishes to learn, I am here. When they try to learn, they don’t have to say “Style” or “Inspired”. It is Sashiko, and it can be Boro.





昨日の「刺し子な福袋」の売り出し、大きな混乱もなく迎えることができました。恵子さんも「読むの面倒」という程の長文に目を通して頂き、心から感謝しています。思いは伝わることが一番で、「伝える努力」をすることは大前提なのですが、簡素な文章で思いを纏め上げる程の能力がないので、引き続き長文を書き続けたらと思っています。長文には長文なりの長所があるのです。

本日までに頂いた注文は近日中に発送を開始します。売り切れた段階で一度販売停止とし、納期と値段を調整の上(多少値上げします)、1月初旬までは販売を続けます。残り僅かなものもありますが、まだ残っていますので是非ご検討頂けたら幸いです。リンクはストーリーからご覧下さい!

#Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #刺し子 #日本人の刺し子


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